Becky and I took a mini vacation to Galveston this last weekend. We go there on ocassion when we need a short get away. She is about to enter her busy season and I have been in overdrive for the last three months since taking on a challenging position with a new employer. We could only scrape together a few days so we decided to rent a small house on the beach. Galveston is only five hours from us and an easy drive except for the traffic in Houston. October is off season so the beaches were virtually deserted most of the time.
We couldn't help but get up at dawn every morning. The Gulf coast sunrise and the cool sea air were quite refreshing. I had thought we would be sleeping late....
Part of the appeal of Galveston for us was the opportunity to indulge in an extended photo shoot.
Galveston is known for it's birds and wetland habitats, but there was plenty to shoot without leaving the balcony.
Some of us were working off alergies and needed a little restraint from gnawing on our toes.
Even the beach junk was inspirational. These two barnacle covered bottles, shot against the sky, reminded me of Magritte.
The sea was trying to recycle these bottles.
Not everything was so colorful. There was much fun in black and white too.
Shadows on the sand can be as interesting as the birds that cast them.
But flight is always my favorite subject.
Across the bridge at the southernmost part of the island there are many wetland areas. I spent the better part of one afternoons exploring them by myself and trying not to get stuck in the wet sandy roads leading down to the more remote areas.
Sometimes you just can't get close enough. This Blue Heron refused to strike a pose from a distance. I think he was ready for his close up but I just couldn't get over to him. I do love the grass though.
I had a little better luck with some Spoonbills.
The shores are full of all types of birds large and small, like this Tern.
Cool sea junk again.
Brown Egrets, Pelicans, and all types of Gulls hang around the channel. It must be the fish and ships.
The beauty of a floating sea bird hunting......something to marvel at...
These birds are capable of such grace even in strong winds. This was a slow motion landing.
Becky is also a photographer. She loves architecture. We spent a little time in the city with the idea checking out old buildings. I can never stay focused though and started shooting pigeons.
Then I started noticing the more abstract elements of the city and ended up walking down more alleys than main streets.......(that's the story of my life)
One more bird for good measure before I go totally abstract... I just love the dry wood of the fence against the texture of this guy's feathers.
Coastal towns have the greatest rust and decay. These next few shots I view as abstract City of Galveston compositions.
Whenever we go, we always look for something new, something we have not seen before. Galveston never lets us down.
(All photographs taken with Nikon D80)
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Comments: 19
This is an exceptionally pleasing photo essay, Atticus.
You've taken me somewhere new. My favorite must
be the little dog at water's edge.
(For my computer there were no pics available after the
terns and spoonbills.)
Yes Barbary, Glen Campbell. - I'm sorry you couldn't see all the pictures.
thanks so much for sharing...