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The Photographer’s Guide to Cape Cod & the Islands: Where to find perfect shots and how to take them -- By Chris Linder

Review by John Tunney

Good ideas seem so obvious after the fact.  Chris Linder’s new book, “The Photographer’s Guide to Cape Cod & the Islands: Where to find perfect shots and how to take them” is a great idea.  It’s surprising that this is the first book of its kind to make it into print – a guide to the Cape and Islands by a photographer for photographers.  Actually, anyone interested in exploring the Cape – photographer, artist or sightseer – will find the book useful.

Linder, a Cape Cod resident and professional photographer, covers a lot of ground in the book’s 96 pages: from Buzzard’s Bay to Rock Harbor to Long Point and many places in between, plus prime spots on Marhta’s Vineyard and Nantucket.  In compiling his list of most photo-worthy locations, Linder says he looked for locations that offer unique photographic opportunities and were easily accessible. 

Each chapter covers a town or two and offers multiple locations for good shooting within the area.  For example, the chapter on Chatham and Orleans highlights the fish pier, Chatham Lighthouse, Monomoy Island, seal cruises, Stage Harbor, Hardings Beach and Stage Harbor Light, Rock Harbor, Kent’s Point and Nauset Beach. 

In addition telling you where to go, Linder provides brief tips on what to photograph at each location and how to shoot it.  About the Chatham fish pier, he writes, “…Early afternoon is a great time to hang around the pier waiting for the catch to come in…Even if you miss the fishermen working, there are always boats moored here and vibrantly colored fishing paraphernalia like nets and buoys.  Since the harbor is east-facing, sunrise will give you backlight, rendering the moored fishing boats as silhouettes.”

Linder also includes recommendations for the best time of year to go and information on parking, as well as a short section called “Diversions” which offers a ideas on what to do after the shoot.  And, of course, there are plenty of sample pictures to give you a taste of the photographic possibilities.

More than just a guidebook, Linder provides plenty of photography tips, even offering advice on more creative approaches to shooting.  “If you run out of inspiration try this technique,” he writes.  “Looking down the beach, set your shutter speed to 1/15th of a second and pan with the waves as they approach the shore.  With practice you’ll be able to capture some impressionistic photographs.”  

The book also contains a chapter about lighting and weather, as well as non-technical information about lenses, filters and other gear.  Linder also writes about how to deal with some of the non-photographic challenges photographers may face, things like sand, salt spray, insects, poison ivy and traffic.

The real test for this book was comparing what Linder says about a place with my own experience.  For areas that I have photographed, I found the book accurate and informative and often very detailed.  Sometimes, however, his writing is a little unspecific. For example, he ends his description of Rock Harbor in Orleans with the observation that, “The beach beyond the harbor is also a good sunset location.”  Talk about understatement.  

However, that’s a quibble.  Linder clearly knows the Cape and he has created a handy, easy to use guide to some of the Cape’s most picturesque spots. 

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