Maybe it was just me, but it seemed as if Halloween was spilling over into Christmas this year in Salem, with “Haunt the Halls” and “Grave Tidings” markets offering up dark wares and bats popping up in nearly every shop I entered: adorning jewelry, candles, and walls. Now I really do like bats, but they are not my creature of choice for this particular season; I would rather see deer, rabbits and sheep, squirrels and foxes—and fluffy fake stuffed versions of the latter rather than the taxidermy example I encountered at one downtown shop, right alongside a box of bones and more bats (real stuffed). Thankfully I was able to find light in several other shops with more cheery merchandise, the city’s bustling restaurants, and all along the streets, with so many houses lit up for the season: because we have quite enough darkness at this time of year, thank you very much. I have wanted to do more posts featuring Salem at night for quite some time, but my photographs never turn out very well. I took all the advice that was offered on the web, and began my photo safari at dusk as recommended, and I think I came up with some pretty good shots, but for every image you see below there are about six or seven blurrier examples. I felt a bit voyeurish sneaking up on all these Christmas trees but that’s why they are in the window, right? And all those lights are why Christmas is so great in the city–much more so than silver bells these days.
And a blur of red: Lunch for Santas and Paxton’s penguins at dusk and later.
Merry Christmas!
December 23rd, 2018 at 10:19 am
MERRY CHRISTMAS, Donna!
December 24th, 2018 at 11:45 am
And to you! And Happy New Year too!
December 23rd, 2018 at 12:46 pm
Thank you for sharing these photos Donna!
December 24th, 2018 at 11:46 am
You’re welcome, Bill. Merry Christmas to you and Thomas and your families!
December 23rd, 2018 at 5:53 pm
Donna, great pics – really does work better at dusk, eh? Beautiful Salem.
Best for Christmas and the New Year – Helen B
December 24th, 2018 at 11:48 am
You you and yours as well, Helen!
December 23rd, 2018 at 9:52 pm
You seriously live in the wrong town Donna.
Merry Yule to you!
December 23rd, 2018 at 9:53 pm
And to you as well!
December 24th, 2018 at 11:00 am
Lovely, thank you! Have a wonderful Christmas!
December 24th, 2018 at 11:46 am
I hope your holiday is wonderful as well, Laura.
December 24th, 2018 at 11:30 am
I think you night photos are a great success. They are tricky, so don’t worry about the 6 or 7 that don’t work, esp. in these days of digital. Merry Christmas, Rick
December 24th, 2018 at 11:47 am
They’re ok—still live in awe of a trio of Salem photographers on Instagram who get great shots whatever time of day! To you as well, Rick.
December 25th, 2018 at 2:41 pm
These photos are lovely, especially
those before the sunset. I’ll remember that tip!