Corpus Christi, January 2008 |
| The weather was not ideal -- mostly cloudy, blustery, and cold -- but that allowed for some interesting, non-stereotypical beach photography! Here are a few that we like. |
 |
I went down to the waterfront in the predawn darkness, hoping to find some interesting compositions. It was bitterly cold and windy, but that didn't stop the birds in these palms from making a racket! |
| |
|
 |
This image was taken a few minutes after the previous one. The gulls looked awfuly cold - or maybe I was just cold. |
| |
|
 |
It had rained and blown very hard during the night, and around midmorning the storm cleared enough for the sun to peek occasionally through the dark, steely clouds. |
| |
|
 |
Here is an image in black and white from the same time. |
| |
|
 |
Our trip coincided with a full moon. Alas, it was largely obscured by clouds. I had hoped to photograph the ocean illuminated by moonlight, but I had to settle for lighting from the hotels lining the beach. A very long exposure (probably close to a minute) made the water look almost like foam, as the waves moved back and forth during the exposure. |
| |
|
 |
I was struck by the contrast between the working shrimp boats moored right next to multimillion-dollar pleasure yachts. Here is a detail shot of a barnacle-encrusted float. |
| |
|
 |
I am pleased with this photo, though it isn't what I usually do. The shrimper was leaving for the morning haul, passing by the iconic Corpus Christi waterfront skyline. |
| |
|
 |
I had long wanted to photograph some night shots of the numerous refineries around Corpus Christi. I had envisioned a sunset shot, with evening light and pink clouds. But after being accosted by a security guard for photographing too close to the refinery, we called it a night. I went back in the pre-dawn darkness and found a vantage point much farther away! |
| |
|
 |
The fortutious placement of the clouds help add to this composition of the American Bank Center. |
| |
|
|
Believe it or not, this image was not staged! To me it captures the essence of a lazy, happy day at the beach. |
| |
|
|
The natives are tired of them, but we were entertained by the seagulls. They literally divebombed us, tearing bread from our outstretched hands. Fill flash helps to separate the gulls from the dull gray sky. |
| |
|
|
I put on a telephoto lens and captured some abstract detail shots of bird parts. This is a low percentage game -- thank goodness for a digital camera! |
| |
|
|
I wanted to capture the Bay Bridge in a way that reflected its size and grace without being a stereotype, and I think I found it here. This is from the parking lot directly underneath the bridge, looking straight up. |
| |
|
|
