Come out, come out, wherever you are!

By Susan Greene
Finding your artistic voice, what does that mean? Is it anything like locating your misplaced keys or the missing sock in a pair? Maybe, a little bit, in the sense that it is there and just needs to be discovered. There is much written on the subject and even courses offered to assist people with finding their photographic voices. This month’s literary term of exploration is voice/sound.

breaking waveMost know what a wave sounds like and maybe seeing a photo of one conjures up the sound of it crashing in your mind. Some are gentler and quieter.

susnet wheelie rider on shore Others are big and powerful,

large breaking wave, redondo beach CAcrashing,

breaking wave, surfer and photographers, redondo beach CA with a loud boom.

large crashing wave, redondo beach CA Can a photo convey sound?  This month try to imagine what a scene sounded like when you contemplate photos. As for finding that artistic voice, it might be quieter and gentler thus requiring some introspection. Artistic voice is your unique story to tell how you wish, no matter the medium, you choose the style.  For a photographic voice, look to the photographers that inspire you and the things you are inspired to photograph.

I’ll be looking at the beach!

~ Susan

Ebb and Flow

There is a rhythm to the shore. This rhythm is the result of the constant ebb and flow of the tide as well as the waves. This morning I took a stroll paying particular attention to the tempo of the waves and how it effects the people, birds and items at the point where the water meets the sand.
I wandered over to explore the tide pools, a wave came in. . .

tidepools, wave

And the wave went out leaving seaweed draped over many of the rocks.

tidepools

I decided to zoom and bring the seaweed closer; then another wave came in.

beach photo, seaweed

And went out. . .

Beach, tidepools, seaweed

Turning to the shoreline, a wave was retreating leaving relative calm.

beach, shorelineThen zooming once again as another wave rolls in. Leaving the bird seemingly unfazed but the fisherman in hip deep water suddenly.

beach shoreline
Some seaweed and shells were left on the sand from a ride on a wave.

Seaweed

I zoomed again.

seaweedThe evidence of another stroller. . .

footprints in sand

is quickly erased.

footprints getting washed awaySurfers and swimmers will often pause at the shore waiting for the waves to recede to make their entrance into the water.

shoreline surfersBirds also take advantage of the ebb of the waves to hunt for sand crabs.

shoreline surfers and birdsThe rhythm of the sea is predictable in its occurrence but the effects on the surroundings can vary from day to day. Sometimes an abundance of seaweed comes ashore and sometimes a large number of seashells. There is always  something to discover at the shore.

Many happy discoveries to you.

~Sue