Focal Point

It really does matter where the camera is focused.  Learn to manipulate your focal location.  Isolate a point and align your focus point on it.  Half press your shutter release and then recompose your frame as needed.  You don't have to just point at the subject and let the camera decide where to focus.  You do it.  It will make all the difference in the World.

Folly Fish Camp

Folly Beach, South Carolina.

I was in the sand early in the morning.  Tripod set up and stabilized, sipping a large Cup O' Joe: cream and four Splenda is my thing.  These two chairs were positioned for the father/son fish camp.  Behind them was a cooler for bait, undoubtedly shrimps and squids.  Can I saw "shrimps and squids?"  haha- I just did.  There was a coffee steaming for them both.  Maybe one was hot chocolate.  The dad worked the baiting and casting of these two lines.  He then stood them into the rod holders.  He took three steps back and stood beside his son.  I watched the whole thing happen nearly in slow motion.  It brought a big smile to my face.  They were sharing a beautiful memory.  Moments later I was focused on the sun drenched chairs silhouetted in the bright warm sun.  Happy accident... the bird flew right into my frame with perfect timing.  In hindsight, I wish I had approached these two and gotten an address for them.  I would love to be able to share these photos with them for their life's scrapbook.  I've done that many times before for people. This morning it slipped my mind. Maybe I just needed a little bit more "Joe" to wake me up for that thought.

Under Ravenel

Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

Not a normal crop for me when I take flora photos.  I think you know by now that I like the "up in it" G. O'Keefe style.  Not this time.  The very shallow DOF took the  background and faded it into a color field only.  This makes the flower POP out and into your face.  This was at the new Mount Pleasant park area under the Ravenel Bridge in Charleston.  There is a fishing pier, children's playground, walking trails across the bridge (2.5 miles?) and a war memorial.  It was a beautiful place to spend some time.

Gulf Fritillary- a longwing.

The flurry of flutterflies fanned fantastically and foraged lantana.

It was a beautiful sight and needed a small place in my mind.

Of A Feather (IOP)

Morning Gulls. Isle of Palms, South Carolina.

Daybreak at Folly.

Daybreak. Fishing Pier.  Folly Beach, South Carolina.