Sea Star
Nine inches across, in very shallow water, Bahamas
Nine inches across, in very shallow water, Bahamas
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Dec, 2014Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
On a cruise to several Caribbean islands, our stop on Cayman gave us access to the beautiful white sand and CLEAR Caribbean water!!Time
We took a walk down a fairly deserted beach about mid-morning. It was on our way back, a couple of hours later, that we encountered the sea star.Lighting
The lighting is Nature's Own!! The mid-day sun shining on the shallow water that sparkled as if it had stars on each little 'wave' gave the perfect backdrop to show off the textures in the surface of the sea star.Equipment
The camera was either my Fugi digital or my freind's Kodak Easy Share..... we had both handy. Both were auto-focus and I use no other equipment besides a steady hand and all the help Mother Nature could give me!Inspiration
When we first spotted the sea star (most people call them starfish), it was on the wet sand, just out of reach of the water. We assumed someone had plucked it out of the water and then left it, knowing they couldn't take it with them. When I picked it up and turned it over, some of the hundreds of 'legs' began wiggling, so I realized it was still alive! I immediately placed it back into the shallow water to see if it could revive itself. I was terribly disappointed when it just sat on the bottom and didn't move. Then, the sea star began to move toward the deeper water and I realized I had handed off my camera to handle the sea star. I squealed, and a camera came into my hand...... I got my own shadow out of the frame, and snapped the shot! He quickly moved on off from there, and I just stood there, watching.Editing
The only post-processing I did was so crop the edges, completely removing my own shadow, and entering the sea star as the single focus of the shot.In my camera bag
As I continue my search for a 'real' camera, asking anyone I know who actually has one outside of their cell phone, I keep my own cell phone handy. In our ridiculous but oh-so-convenient technology-infused lives, we rely on the 'instant gratification' of so many things. My phone is always nearby, and because it takes clear and color-true photos, I continue to carry and 'shoot from the hip'....... this one is a Motorola Droid Z Play. I suppose that one day I will find a camera I love, but until then, the Droid will be beside me.Feedback
Whenever asked, I always suggest keeping an open mind and heart when looking at the world around us. Keeping a camera handy, especially with the convenience of the digital ones that allow stills, motion, panorama, and macro, is an effortless way to capture moments in time that will will never be repeated. A glance, a flip, a puff, a wiggle, a surge, a kiss, a touch........... so many instantaneous ticks of the clock that pass and are gone...... unless YOU happen to capture them in YOUR frame!! If you see it and wonder if it will make a good photo, SHOOT it!!! If the camera didn't see it the way your eye did, delete it and let it go. The camera may see the next one even BETTER than you..... so keep shooting!!!
