Located In the town of Chilmark on Martha’s Vineyard is a small fishing village called Menemsha. It is homeport to local fisherman, some of whom are from families that have fished there for generations. During the summer months, Menemsha is intensely busy. Residents and tourists come to walk the boardwalks, get freshly cooked seafood and watch the fishing boats come in and out. At the end of the day, weather permitting; come the most dramatic sunsets.
Once the summer residents return to their winter homes and day tripping tourists cease to visit, the spirit of this historic fishing village reappears. When I am there in the dark hours, I feel like I have the whole place to myself. I never know which lights will be shining or what they will illuminate. It’s a joyful surprise when there is magic in the air and if the fog is in, well, that is a total bonus. I feel like I’ve come to a different place and I soon get lost to the moment as I wander in search of that spot where the light is in perfect balance with land, sea and sky. My exposure and post processing decisions help me to create these images that I consider a view to an altered reality, a glimpse into a vision you can otherwise not experience.
Bob Avakian and his wife Gail visited Martha’s Vineyard for the summer in 1973 and it has been home ever since. He is a fine art photographer whose home is on an island. His love of buildings as well as the nighttime hours has led his work to evolve as an exploration of the solitude of the night and the rural habitat. He has received numerous awards for his work, including: Photolucida Critical Mass 2013 Top 50 and awards in the Neutral Density Photography Awards and the International Photo Awards . In 2018 he participated in Rfotofolio’s “Depth of Field” show at the Center for Photographic Art. In 2013 he was awarded a solo show of his night photography at the South Shore Art center in Cohasset, Ma.
Bob’s work is in the collections of the Boston Athenaeum, Martha’s Vineyard Hospital’s permanent art collection, the Danforth Art Museum and other notable institutions. His photographs have been featured in Lenswork’s Seeing in Sixes, Lenscratch, Rfotofolio, Peta Pixel, and Dodho magazine among numerous others. On Martha’s Vineyard, Bob’s images can be seen at Granary Gallery in West Tisbury.
