Algae on the Beach

Algae on the Beach

8 photos

This was an impromptu shoot during an afternoon walk along Upham Beach on a late December afternoon. Photography wasn't really on my mind as the nice morning light had yielded to the harsh afternoon sun. It was a walk along the beach and nothing else.

Then we stumbled, almost literally, over a bloom of Ulva intestinalis, the bright green "gut weed" that washes up on Gulf beaches from time to time. It quite literally carpeted a fifty-ish foot length of shoreline. Its bright green color was quite beautiful and the textures made me wish I had a macro lens with me. I only had my iPhone, but figured I'd take a few photos anyway. I like the views from above the best. The wind-combed ribbons and swirling mats cut a hard graphic edge against the wet sand and lines of sea foam. The rock shots are interesting too, where the strands seem to climb off the beach and reach for the sun. I grabbed a quick shot looking up the trunk of a palm tree to give a quick nod to the setting.

I'm glad I took the time to take these photographs, despite not having my mirrorless with me. They're still a unique presence in my catalog.

Close-up of vivid green algae or seaweed strands, wet and combed into flowing, hair-like ripples with darker shadowed grooves running through the bright green surface.

Flowing Strands

St. Pete Beach, Florida; December 30, 2017
Thin strands of green algae hang on a brown rock face like wet hair, ranging from pale, bleached tips at top to vivid green tufts pooling at the bottom.

Ascending Strands

St. Pete Beach, Florida; December 30, 2017
Aerial view of a bright green algae mat with swirling, wind-combed patterns meeting pale, foam-streaked wet sand along a sharp vertical edge.

Equilibrium

St. Pete Beach, Florida; December 30, 2017
Aerial view of a swirling green algae mat bordered by a thin white line of sea foam, meeting pale wet sand on a beach.

A Line in the Sand

St. Pete Beach, Florida; December 30, 2017
A vibrant aerial view of a beach where lush green algae meets sandy shore. The algae forms swirling, textured patterns, contrasting sharply with the smooth, wet sand. White foam from gentle waves edges the algae, creating a dynamic boundary. The scene captures the natural interplay between land and sea, highlighting the vivid green hues of the algae against the neutral tones of the sand and water. The overall composition is fluid and organic, emphasizing the beauty of coastal ecosystems.

Green Wave

St. Pete Beach, Florida; December 30, 2017
A vibrant aerial view of a beach where lush green algae meets sandy shore. The algae forms swirling, textured patterns, contrasting sharply with the smooth, wet sand. White foam from gentle waves edges the algae, creating a dynamic boundary. The scene captures the natural interplay between land and sea, highlighting the vivid green hues of the algae against the neutral tones of the sand and water. The overall composition is fluid and organic, emphasizing the beauty of coastal ecosystems.

Shoreline Defense

St. Pete Beach, Florida; December 30, 2017
Long strands of bright green algae cascade down a brown rock face onto sand, resembling flowing hair with pale bleached tips.

Rock Climbing Algae

St. Pete Beach, Florida; December 30, 2017
Upward view along the textured trunk of a palm tree to its crown of fronds fanning out against a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

The Upside of a Palm Tree

St. Pete Beach, Florida; December 30, 2017