TexasGirl Photography

Lucky me, I made it to the beach this summer! We just went for an overnight, having spent a good amount of time there in the past; really we were just looking to get a little beach fix rather than having a full blown sunburn adventure. Port Aransas is always wonderful! I took the opportunity to make my Frugal Film photos there for the month of June (with my Diana F and Kentmere Pan 400, if you’re new to my blog and haven’t read about my Frugal Film endeavors before).

Every roll I put through my Diana makes me love it more. It’s such a great camera when there’s plenty of light! I decided to go with 16 shots instead of 12, and as usual I didn’t have the 16 mask with me, so I embraced the overlap.

We parked ourselves for the day at Tony Amos beach, which is at beach access road number 1 I think. Something I enjoy just as much as the peoplewatching and birdwatching is the vehicle watching. All kinds of golf carts and trucks go driving along the beach, with an amusing variety of flags flying behind them. One of these days we need to bring a flag for ours.

I tend to be a bit obsessed with the lines of seaweed and surf when I’m at the beach. AND another obsession of mine down around Port A and the National Seashore is the blue heron. I’ve stalked that bird for a few years, mostly without success. This year, I was fortunate enough to find one that was too busy scoping out its lunch to mind my being relatively close to it. Keep in mind I photographed it with the Diana, not a telephoto lens (I only have like 2 telephoto lenses anyway and they don’t go to the beach. I’m not getting sand anywhere near those babies).

Yep, I devoted FOUR exposures to the bird! I wasn’t sure when it would spook and fly away, so I just kept going. . . . it stayed right where it was, which made me happy since it meant I didn’t bother it at all.

I was really pleased with how the above photo of a jellyfish came out – with a Diana! Of course the jellyfish also illustrates why I spent more time walking around and photographing than diving around in the waves. I got stung 2 years ago and I’m not keen for a repeat.

We went back to the beach the morning we were leaving. It was peaceful and a little bit gloomy, which enhanced the peacefulness. It’s fun when there are lots of people all tailgating with shade shelters, music and grills etc, but it’s equally fun when it’s just kinda you and a few fishermen.

Another thing I like about the morning at the beach: finding the fragments of the night before.

Thank you for spending a few minutes looking at these photographs!