Custom House Wharf Portland Maine Black and White Street Photography
The Porthole Sign Above an Empty Cobblestone Street
The hanging Coca-Cola sign caught my attention first, then the empty street drew my eye beyond it. I photographed Custom House Wharf in Portland, Maine, in the early hours of an overcast morning in 2009. With the roadway quiet, I could give the buildings, wooden walkway and uneven cobblestones the full frame. The Porthole’s sign became a clear point of focus along that long perspective.
Its stacked panels stand out against the close horizontal lines of the siding. Windows repeat along the upper floor, while doors and storefront openings form a second rhythm below. I like the way the wooden sidewalk follows the building’s edge, creating a narrow path beside the broader cobbled road. Both lead towards the distant end of the street, where the shapes become smaller and closer together.
Black and white gives equal attention to the pale walls, darker upper siding and irregular stone surfaces. The soft sky keeps the lighting restrained, making the texture of the street especially noticeable in the foreground. Overhead wires add a few fine lines across the open space. For me, this photograph carries the character of Portland’s waterfront through its everyday architecture and familiar sign. As a print, it offers a quiet New England street scene with a strong sense of depth, inviting the eye to follow the wharf beyond the immediate storefront.
© Dan Kosmayer, 2009
Premium Archival Fine Art Prints
Each photograph is produced using archival pigment inks on premium fine art paper, chosen for excellent tonal depth, fine-detail reproduction, and long-term image stability.
The refined surface provides beautiful detail while reducing distracting glare under normal indoor lighting, making it particularly well suited to both color and black-and-white photography.
Each photograph is sold as an unframed fine art print, allowing it to be framed according to your space and personal style.
Every print is made to order specifically for you.
Free Shipping
Shipping is included with every fine art print at no additional charge.
Your photograph is carefully packaged for protection during transit and shipped directly to your delivery address.
Tracking information is provided when your order ships.
About My Fine Art Photography
Every photograph in my collection comes from my own travels, explorations, and years behind the camera.
I create my work as photographic art rather than mass-produced decoration. From street portraits and abandoned places to landscapes, architecture, and the unusual subjects I discover along the way, each image begins with something that made me stop and look.
My photographs are available in multiple sizes so the same image can work in anything from an intimate wall space to a large statement installation.
