Despite being the hottest day so far in our Summer, and with the added insult of around 90 - 95% relative humidity, I went out for a walk. I even did a good stretch of the Cliff Walk, which has no shade anywhere (although at least there was a slight breeze off the water from time to time). But I have no AC here in my apartment, just a fan in my bedroom window, so I needed to get out and about.
And I was rewarded. On the little beach at the end of Marine Ave. there were a bunch of Ruddy Turnstones, a member of the Sandpiper family, running around looking for goodies in the cast-up seaweed and racing around in front of the slowly-advancing tide. I got lots of shots of them, both with and without the telephoto lens. One shot really stood out, because it not only offered an excellent bird portrait in a tight crop, it also had some scenic elements that made a wider crop possible as well. So I played a little. First I did a very tight crop to get a good portrait of the bird. Then I expanded the crop so that I got some beach and some of the advancing tide. Then I converted that shot to black & white. I like all three, so here they are.
Of course, having used the line as the title for the photo, I just had to include the song as well - the late, great Otis Redding singing "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay". Yeah, I know it's a beach not a dock, but the tide rolls in no matter where.
And I was rewarded. On the little beach at the end of Marine Ave. there were a bunch of Ruddy Turnstones, a member of the Sandpiper family, running around looking for goodies in the cast-up seaweed and racing around in front of the slowly-advancing tide. I got lots of shots of them, both with and without the telephoto lens. One shot really stood out, because it not only offered an excellent bird portrait in a tight crop, it also had some scenic elements that made a wider crop possible as well. So I played a little. First I did a very tight crop to get a good portrait of the bird. Then I expanded the crop so that I got some beach and some of the advancing tide. Then I converted that shot to black & white. I like all three, so here they are.
Portrait of a Ruddy Turnstone:
"Watchin' the tide roll in...":
"Watchin' the tide roll in..." in b&w:
Of course, having used the line as the title for the photo, I just had to include the song as well - the late, great Otis Redding singing "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay". Yeah, I know it's a beach not a dock, but the tide rolls in no matter where.
Photos & text © 2009 by A. Roy Hilbinger
As usual, your pictures are beautiful! I feel for you in the heat, too. I'm in Houston right now (visiting my sis), but at least she has A/C.
ReplyDeleteNice Roy, and you just can't go wrong with Otis! It has cooled down a bit in Mass., but still sticky( and over-cast! )
ReplyDeleteGreat studies. I think I prefer the color over the b&w, because of the background and those stylish legs . . .
ReplyDeleteYep, predictably great Roy. They're pretty birds. Send some of your heat over hear, I'm sitting on top of a heater and it's only 9centigrade. Brrrr.
ReplyDeleteGreat shot(s) Roy. If I had to choose it would probably be the first image. And as a bonus we get Otis R.
ReplyDeleteThose are great shots! I would have guessed it was in the seagull family instead of the sandpiper, but hey, what do I know living here in Ohio! ha-ha! No AC? Yikes...hope the cool weather comes back for you!
ReplyDeleteThe middle one is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteI loooooooove Otis Redding.
I've never seen a Ruddy Turnstone. I love his mottled look--reminds me of a molting Bobolink! I could listen to Otis Redding all day long...and through the evening too! :-)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite singer of all time. My favorite song by Otis? "Tenderness"
ReplyDelete