ZA2009

This image was taken on 2009-05-17, a day after some severe storms battered the Cape. I used my 75-300 mm telephoto lens. Things that make this photo stand out in my mind are:

* Color: The kite is the only warm color in the entire image. The clouds over the beach grayed-out the water. The sun on the distant mountains only serves to highlight the brown-tan rocks, whose tones match the beach sand and buildings. As I'm building this Best of the Best gallery, I find it interesting that almost all the other photos have very bold and bright colors. This one is an exception: the colors are muted and cold save for the kite.

* Balance: The kite (upper left) is balanced with its surfer-owner (lower right). Other pedestrians (lower left) balance the point on the highest tower (upper right). The sky and sea (nearly the same colors) provide top and bottom framing.

* Lines: The condos at Strand beach all have very vertical lines. I'm not sure if there is architectural intent involved, but it makes for a visually interesting backdrop. The only non-vertical items in the image are the kite (providing yet another reason for the eye to travel to the upper left) and the surfer's board (very subtle in the lower right).

* Intent: I saw this surfer and his kite and composed this shot in my mind as he emerged from the water. But then I had to wait until a gust of wind took the kite upward, above the line of the mountains. I released the shutter at just the right instant.