Quiet winter surfA quiet winter morning at the beach at Seaside Park, New Jersey

This morning I had to take my car to the shop.  Since it is located in Seaside Park, I used the ocassion to strech my legs and walk with my camera to the beach, which was only a few blocks away.  In the summer, this area is jamed with people, all looking for a nice tan and to enjoy a warm, refreshing day near the ocean.

 Today the temperture was 30 degrees, and the beach and boardwalk were gray and deserted. Despite the somber tones, I think the whole scene was a thing of beauty.  Winter at the ocean--or the Shore as it is called here--is a special season. Today the water was as calm as a lake, but the sand was frozen, and firm--great for walking to look for interesting shells or driftwood.  The birds were out, herring gulls mostly, with large flocks of migratory birds just offshore. The plant life was mostly barren, but in that barreness I saw shapes, colors, and tidbits of beauty which are usually overlooked or obscured when the plants are in leaf. To my photographer's eye, patterns emerged from the sand, plants and animals stand out starkly and in their most natural states, and man-made structures fit nicely or stand jarringly against nature's subtle beauty.

untitledThe beach dunes in winter, with snow and snow fence.

 Many would find the view depressing--no sun, few people, cold tempertures--but I confess that I found my short walk thrilling. As I have said before, I am mostly a warm-weather person. But I must confess that todays's cold walk near the ocean was almost as much fun as those warm walks I enjoy in July.  Hmmm....perhaps my trip to Antarctica has had more of a lasting impact on me than I realized!

untitledThe remains of a snow fence at the beach, Seaside Park, New Jersey.