I really have never understood the appeal of the beach on a sunny summer day (read: rotting washed-up seaweed, hordes of fishermen, dodging sandcastles, dodging volleyballs/beachballs/baseballs/frisbees, crazy children and crazy dogs, joggers and cyclists who don't like people in their way, parking-spot wars, elaborate cleanup rituals, sandy cars and sticky clothes). Besides, the water is southern California is cold!
Fortunately, the hordes leave en-masse after sunset, leaving the beach to the locals. This is convenient, because this is when the ocean tends to be at its most evocative. While I believe that both sunsets and silhouettes are somewhat cliched photography subjects, I am constantly struck by the touch of poignancy they add to any picture, especially when in combination.
Below is a series taken during a recent late-evening walk on La Jolla Shores beach. There is nothing overtly conceptual about these images. They're just...pretty.
...and sometimes, pretty is all you need!
