America: 1910

All I can think of is the Bermuda Triangle. This is one strangely unsettling shot.

If my airship history serves me correctly, what you see hanging below the airship in the water is a device Wellman called an "equilibrator" ... This was a set of metal cylinders tied together and hung beneath the crew cabin, designed to keep the airship at a constant altitude (around 200 ft) and act as ballast. Unfortunately, neither the equilibrator nor the ship itself worked very well, resulting in the crew having to abandon the airship as seen here. Fascinating photo!

[Click here for more on Walter Wellman and his flying kitten. - Dave]

What is that line of waves that seems to be going from the ship to the dirigible? Some sort of tether or anchor to allow the passengers to evacuate?

[I'd say it's a dirigible anchor. If there is such a thing. - Dave]

This seems like one of those once in a lifetime images. having never seen a dirigible in my lifetime, i'd always seen them as elements of science fiction stories.

An eerie sight. Great composition with the ship's railing, horizon line, and airship profile forming a series of parallel lines.

Wow, nothing more than a boat attached to a balloon!