From Old Ship Picture Galleries - a huge collection of nautical photos, old postcards and paintings from around the world (via):
More specifically , from the Ports section. Full size.
No details or dates, unfortunately. The Abbey just visible in the distance, and the water surprisingly calm. Presumably late nineteenth century.
The obvious candidate would be well-known Whitby photographer Frank Meadow Sutcliffe, active from 1870-odd till the early 1900s (horrible brown-tinged website - better just to search images), and best known for his 1886 Water Rats, but I can't see this anywhere in his collections.
It occurred to me that by today's definition 'Water Rats' would be considered child porn, and the photographer likely arrested and charged.
Posted by: DaninVan | August 25, 2012 at 05:28 PM
Well yes, very likely. At the time Sutcliffe was "excommunicated" by the shocked local clergy, but in those pre-paedophilia days that was for the nudity rather than the fact that they were children.
Posted by: Mick H | August 25, 2012 at 05:48 PM
No sign of an adrift freighter originating in the Black Sea, mysteriously deserted but over-run with rats, and whose cargo consisted solely of boxes filled with earth?
Posted by: grassmarket | August 27, 2012 at 02:15 PM
Is the water so calm, or has the choppy surface disappeared in the exposure time? Cool stuff.
Posted by: clazy8 | August 28, 2012 at 04:48 PM
I would guess the long exposure time, but then the reflections of sails etc. look so clear. I don't know.
Posted by: Mick H | August 28, 2012 at 05:03 PM