Island Light: December Days
Scallops cover the shore by the Bangs's shuck shack.
Scallops cover the shore by the Bangs's shuck shack.
Clearing the Camp Ground of atumn's traces.
Clearing the Camp Ground of atumn's traces.
Deer graze with geese in a Chilmark field.
Deer graze with geese in a Chilmark field.
Working on the Edgartown Great Pond cut.
Working on the Edgartown Great Pond cut.
Nathan Gray readies his bait on the Edgartown wharf.
Nathan Gray readies his bait on the Edgartown wharf.
Fred Fisher guides the horse and carriage rides in Vineyard Haven.
Fred Fisher guides the horse and carriage rides in Vineyard Haven.
Popular Cristmastime tradition.
Popular Cristmastime tradition.
Santa greets shoppers over the weekend.
Santa greets shoppers over the weekend.
Sunning in the warmer rays in Oak Bluffs.
Sunning in the warmer rays in Oak Bluffs.
Shellfisherman heads out in Sengekontacket Pond.
Shellfisherman heads out in Sengekontacket Pond.
Moss greens up after a bit of rain last week.
Moss greens up after a bit of rain last week.
Pausing on the steps of the Old Whaling Church.
Pausing on the steps of the Old Whaling Church.
Wreath is hung with care on the Edgartown Light.
Wreath is hung with care on the Edgartown Light.
Hawk glides over Katama plains in search of food.
Hawk glides over Katama plains in search of food.
Fishing boat docks in Vineyard Haven.
Fishing boat docks in Vineyard Haven.
Wooden boat.
Wooden boat.
Sunset over Oak Bluffs avenue.
Sunset over Oak Bluffs avenue.
House on the hill in Tashmoo.
House on the hill in Tashmoo.
Sunset Lake Christmas tree cheers the soul.
Sunset Lake Christmas tree cheers the soul.
Night at the museum.
Night at the museum.
The rural reaches of the Island are cloaked in deep quiet, and native holly and winter berry stand out in sharp relief against a background of gray bare-branched woodlands. Hardy sheep, cattle and horses wear their own homegrown woolly winter coats. Out on the ponds shellfishermen drag for bay scallops, their orange and yellow foul weather gear dotting the shoreline like spot color in an Ansel Adams photograph.