Schooners racing in the moonlight. This timeless and romantic view of two of the fast and able fishing vessels known as grand bankers has been captured with expert attention to style and atmosphere by the talents of James Gale Tyler.
The scene is most likely Gloucester, home of the great schooner fishing fleets, and famous for its friendly impromptu races. Competing skippers raced each other to show what their vessels would do both for fun and to get their latest "trip" of fish to market before their fellow schoonermen.
Rich in mood and atmosphere, rounding the light is a strong example of Tyler's composition skills and mastery of his light source. Note the balanced pinpoints of light coming from the lighthouse and the schooners' port and starboard running lights and how they draw from and highlight the glow of moonlight that Tyler used to bathe the sea and sky.
