LOCATION :: Waiting to Sail

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Sailboat at dock by Chip Bunnell PhotographyFriday morning and the storms have passed. Blue sky with puffy clouds are seen from horizon to horizon. The wind has picked up and the sea ebbs and flows on the shore. Only the imagination limits the journey of where this scene will take you.

At this very same moment, every want-to-be pirate trapped in his cubical during these last few hours of the work week is dreaming of casting off the lines, hoisting the mainsail and heading into adventure. The ship may be more modern and a more brightly colored than the real pirates of days gone by, but the love of the sea and riding on her waves remains the same. Whether she is a 80’ luxury schooner or a modest 20’ sloop, there is often a Jolly Roger flying to bring out the pirate spirit. Of course, Jimmy Buffett is playing in the background. …Isn’t that a given?

To me, this image captured these feelings. She is patiently tied at dock, flanked by two feathered sentinels watching over her. The clouds added great texture to the sky with the tropical landscape dividing them from the calm waters below. I exaggerated the colors slightly to show the wonderful blend of blue, yellow and green in their respective places. Whether its an afternoon on the ocean or a week in the Keys, she is ready for her captain to guide her next run.

Photo Stuff: Single frame, Processed in LR and Topaz Clarity

www.ChipBunnell.com

LOCATION :: Rush and Retreat

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Moody beach morning by Chip Bunnell PhotographyIn baseball it common to say, “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and sometimes it rains.” I had high hopes of various images I would make this morning as I drove north well before the magical moment of sunrise. I have been fortunate to “win” well over 90% of the time in the almost daily match between Mother Nature and my camera. Today, she gets to put one in her “w” column as the rain kept me off the beach. But have I lost the match? Far from it….

For example, this is an image I made last week. The skies were gray and the wind was blowing strong from the East. Along the South Florida coast that is the recipe for keeping your boat in the slip and rolling over to catch a few more minutes of much coveted sleep. To me, however, this was a perfect day to grab my gear for a creative photo session. I liked how the power of the waves were crashing against the resolute man-made pier legs. After they unleashed their wrath, they quietly retreated to the sea to gather and rush the beach once again. Fueled by the constant wind, this scene replayed over and over with no end in sight. The long exposure of this frame gives an almost ghostly feel as both the rush and retreat are combined.

Photo Stuff: Single frame with variable ND filter, Processed in LR

www.ChipBunnell.com