Impressions at the Beach

Despite the heat, Summer is slowly winding down and a day at the beach becomes precious. The Labor Day holiday offered a chance to spend some leisurely time enjoying a quiet day of play in the still refreshing waters of the Atlantic.

What surprised me as I took pictures was the results I received near the end of an almost perfect day. As usual click each photo for a better view.

I never use filters so I am always amazed how light will play in a photo. I particularly liked this photo which is slightly out of focus, yet gives an almost Monet feel of broad outlines cast against an early evening sky.

Again the play of light. I moved a little and once again took another shot that is now more in focus with a blue cast. There is sharper focus but the figures still have the outline effect which somehow I find appealing.

There are always walkers on the beach and this bird is taking his (or her) evening stroll while looking for treats left on the beach by sunbathers.

And yet... this walker somehow seems very similar to the little bird as he and his dog have been caught in mid stride. I am fascinated by the way the man is looking up and off into the distance and the dog seems to be dragging him along, straining to get to some unseen something in the sand.

I like Vilano Beach because it is a somewhat undiscovered area that after 6pm is ruled by dogs. This miniature poodle, named Paris, caught my eye as she walked along the beach. What got my attention were her paws which appear like little high heels as she stepped lightly along the sand.

If you are a regular follower then you know I like taking pictures of the commonplace to illustrate how the things we see everyday possess a degree of uniqueness. I too took a walk down the beach and was struck by the patterns made in the sand as waves moved back and forth against the beach shore.

The patterns demonstrate a random beauty that when viewed in isolation can truly amaze you. This shot was taken a little before sunset and the patterns are a marvel for the eye. I never tire of viewing it as my eyes seem to roam the shot and wonder how the water flowed to create each line. If I had not told you what it is what you would have guessed?

Yes, we are in the heat of Summer but each day reinforces to me the preciousness of a day at the beach.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road...

I find it more than amazing that you can start out, like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, in one direction and end up in a totally different place. For the Labor Day Holiday we decided to visit a State Park that offered canoeing only to have our plans derailed when we found out it was pretty much closed.

Alex did some quick thinking and we decided to drive a little further down the highway to Daytona Beach. I had been there ages ago coming in for a visit from Denver, so it seemed like a great way to take some pictures and end the Summer. As usual, click each photo for a better view.

To reach the beach, or "Beach walk" as they call it, you have to go over one of several bridges. The one we took offered an interesting view of some of the others.

Daytona Beach is a tourist area, sort of like Disney World, only the beach is the main attraction. The City has built in other things to do while you enjoy some of the nicest beaches around but you get the feel that the beach is why you visit the area.

Several massive hotels dominate the beach front. And, I liked how this shot came out because it highlights just how much these hotels dominate the skyline.

There is also a strange combination of the faux old and the modern. Like this fake old castle, which is really an amphitheater, with a modern style mall and movie theater right next to another big hotel.

But the fixture that got our attention was this ferris wheel on the beach walk. It was just beginning to get dark and we hung around to take pictures against the night sky.

I really like the way this one came out! You can almost feel the motion as you view the wheel.

And this one has an eerie look to it. It almost appears to be some strange machine like a Transfomer ready to change shape.

And what would a visit to the beach be without taffy? We didn't buy any but took shot after shot of the machine as it twisted the sugary concoction round and round.

Not a bad end of the summer trip... and we didn't have to fight even one wicked witch!