Sketching from the Strandline

I had intended to write a post about illustrating birds of prey, but perhaps I will do that once I have finished my owl drawing.

Instead, I will introduce you to a few mysteries of the strandline, that area on a beach where natural and man-made debris gathers after the tide has gone out.  The position of the strandline on the beach can vary according to what type of tide there has been.

You may wonder what mysteries I am referring to, especially as it is April 1st !

I visited our local beach at Meon shore which overlooks the Solent between the mainland of the south coast of England across to the Isle of Wight.  I never tire of visiting here, as one side of the road is the shore and the other side is where Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve is located.  Regular readers of the blog have no doubt heard me mention this place before.

 The tide going out revealing the shingle spit and looking across the Solent to Fawley Power Station.

Can you spot the Turnstones ?

 The sun shone brightly to reveal the beautiful shades of green on the Spiral wrack seaweed

  Now for the first of the mysteries .....

As I wandered through the tidal pools out on the shingle spit, I always walk along head down looking out for Snakeslock sea anemones, but no luck today.  What I did notice was several small gelatinous blobs bobbing around in the water.  A photo wasn't possible but I managed to illustrate one in my sketchbook (bottom left above).  Apparently they were the egg masses of the Green leaf worm, which is common on British coasts in a variety of habitats.

Atlantic Puffin CLOWN OF THE SEA

Atlantic Puffin CLOWN OF THE SEA

Beyond the 50th parallel, along the North Shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, lies a remarkably beautiful scattering of some thirty limestone islands and more than 1000 granitic islets and reefs. The territory, the "Mingan Archipelago", became Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve of Canada 1984.
This necklace of land carved out of the limestone bedrock is the site of spectacular natural monuments which bear witness to the never-ending wear of the sea and of the centuries. And there is an abundance of life in this strange half-world: plants of variegated hues and shapes, seabirds gathered in colonies, seals, dolphins and whales, swarming the blue vastness in which the islands bathe.

Join me, Canadian Wildlife Photographer Christopher Dodds, for a Puffin photography workshop / safari. This trip will be limited to six participants and will surely be the trip of a lifetime for anyone seeking to get close and personal (safely) to Atlantic Puffins and Razorbills. We will be the only inhabitants of the island; we will be sleeping within 50 feet of the nesting Puffins and Razorbills! Gourmet meals included! Dawn to dusk Puffin photography.

Price is $3,995.00 (plus sales tax) including three nights single occupancy accommodation in newly restored lighouse keepers home on isolated island, all Gourmet meals, Boat transportation to and from the island, park access fees and expert instruction from Canon Northern Explorer of Light Christopher Dodds. Other subjects might include Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Great Cormorants, Savannah Sparrow (there are many) Common Eider, Grey Seals and whales. Items of a personal nature, alcoholic beverages, transportation to Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, Quebec and souvenirs a

re not included.

Clothes and Accessories Considerations for Both Women and Men

Clothes and Accessories Considerations for Both Women and Men

The primary guideline for both women and men is that you wear clothes that you love, that make you feel confident and comfortable.  All of the following advice should accommodate that primary guideline.  We’re not doing “fashion photography” here – my focus is on the closeness between you and your fiance.  Most of my clients say that what they like about my pictures is that the people look human, natural, and comfortable, not completely glam, self-conscious, or posed.

You should be comfortable in your clothes, whether they are casual or dressy.  They should fit you well, and generally should not be too baggy.  Any clothes that require a lot of adjusting and accommodating are likely poor choices, because we want you focused on each other, not on that strap, or that collar, or whatever.  Try not to match your clothes to each other too much:  coordinate, but don’t match.  Anything that can be ironed should be ironed – trying to fix rumpled clothing in Photoshop is not an option – it never works well.  Classic styles and shapes work well on most people, even though they may not be the trendiest, and you won’t end up looking at the pictures in 15 years and smacking your forehead.

The best choices for photos are usually simple solids, bold colors, minimal patterns or no patterns at all, and definitely no bold logos.  Try to avoid wearing white, including white sneakers or shoes, unless it really is how you’ll be most comfortable, as it can be so bright that it becomes distracting.  Wearing black can be great, but remember how everything tends to be visible on black:  every little bit of dust, leaves, every hair out of place, cat and dog hair, etc., is going to show in the pictures.  I’m a big fan of black and white photos; clothes that are bold colors will translate well into black and white, while pastels generally won’t.

PREPARING FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT PORTRAIT SESSION

I’ve written this page as advice to my own clients, with my own taste and style in mind;  I prefer comfortable, natural pictures that aren’t too stylized.When you’re planning your look for our photo session, just keep repeating these words:  close, confident, and comfortable. Prepare well, then just show up and have fun.