The Afternoon Yawn  

As I wander the east coast of the U.S., I  spend occasional time crossing from Delaware to New Jersey via the Cape May Lewes Ferry.  I highly recommend it.  On almost every return to the shore of New Jersey off the ferry, I make my standard pilgrimage to the Cape May Lighthouse, and then my obligatory wanderabout through the old Victorian town of Cape May.  I have noticed over the last few years as I wander about Cape May, that the porches of the wonderful old Victorian homes that now are restaurants, bed and breakfasts, shops and quite miraculously, still some private homes, There is a gorgeous collection of old porches that adorn the old sea-weathered structures of these old Cape May jewels.  On one of my visits in the early afternoon after departing the lighthouse, I came upon a sunlit porch that had a wonderful feline sitting confidently and quietly close to the front porch steps.  The light was bathing the cat in a wonderful afternoon aura, so I stopped my vehicle and got out to inspect the scene.  I was standing in the street, focusing my lens upon the young critter when as if on cue, he or she worked themselves into a wide and serious yawn, which typified the kind of day it was… early November crispness but a wonderful warmth from the bright, intense sun.   What made the image so soft though, was the way the light was passing through an old chestnut tree that had grown in the yard in front of the house.  The light was filtered wonderfully through the sparsely remaining leaves on the tree. “The Afternoon Yawn” was created as a few passing cars crept by me in interest of my subject, and once seen by the other drivers, they too stopped and admired the scene.  I was going to name the image the Victorian Yawn, but the afternoon light got the best of me.  After the image was preserved, the animal continued the leisurely study of the passing vehicles and photographer, and as I left, like many of my live subjects, the cat continued unfazed by my interest and continued the afternoon quite happily.  

Barry W. Hollritt