All Work and No Play - NEVER !

Crystal Beach, TX - Last week I spent the week with the family in Crystal Beach, TX. Its a small town on the Bolivar Peninsula near Galveston. We stayed in a great house on the beach and had a great time. Of course the camera was in tow and I think I took 750 shots while we were there. I don't post much personal stuff here, but since some of the photos were worth talking about, I'm doing it now. Some need a little explanation, so follow along.

First, the night we arrived was the 5th of July. Normally that means we've run out of fireworks and we're back to our normal quiet nights at home. Well someone forgot to tell the THOUSANDS of people on Crystal Beach that the 4th of July was the night BEFORE !


Next, Angie found a quiet moment alone to watch us play Little Tikes basketball with Connor. I just liked the light in this spot and the pattern of wooden stair rails made an interesting pattern.

Next, my daughter Chandler and I found that perfect golden light on the balcony of our beach house.

Next, this is a shot from crystal beach. Its a LOT darker here than it appears. The sun had already set when this shot happened. I liked the pattern created by their height, and the fact that everything I work for is right here in this shot.

Next, this is one of the many faces of Connor when he watches The Robinson's on his portable DVD player. The blinds made a cool background and the morning light coming in the window was just right. A big door made a perfect catch light in his big hazel eyes.

Next, my father-in-law took on one of those wave machines at Schliterbahn in Galveston. He's 54 I think and he did better than about 99% of the people attempting it. If you ever take your camera to a water park and shoot in a really bright situation like this, be sure to tell your camera to OVERexpose the shot so that your subject doesn't look like a big black blob in the center of a bunch of white water.

Next, Chandler and I got a kick out of the gulls that were brave enough, and hungry enough, to take a piece of bread right out of your hand. This is on the ferry between Crystal Beach and Galveston.

Next, Connor and me enjoying the ferry ride. Photo by Angie. I figured since most of you don't even know what I look like, now you do. I'm the big one in the green shirt.

And last, my favorite shot of the trip. No, it doesn't look like much here, but it is something to talk about. That little SPECK of something in the seagulls mouth is a SEAHORSE ! Now if you would have told me that a seahorse would wash up on Crystal Beach, and you'll photograph a seagull eating it and flying away with it, I would have said you were nuts. First, I didn't know seahorses were swimming around out there. Second, I didn't know a seagull would eat a seahorse. Third, I never thought I'd see one in the other's mouth even if it did happen. And last, the hardest part, be there with my camera to catch it. There's also a super-crop version so you can see what I saw. This is when the 12 megapixels comes in handy on the Nikon D300.

Ok that's my photo safari from Galveston, TX. Enjoy and call me to book a session.