Description
Early one morning Carol and I hopped on our bikes knowing the tide was perfect for a long beach ride. We slowed as we rode past Haystack Rock and stopped in front of The Needles. The first rays of light were hitting the rocks and intensifying their color by the second. I quickly snapped a single photo with my iPhone and rode on. I found myself, later in the day thinking about that moment, and still seeing it in my mind’s eye, started working on this painting. With the advantage of several other photos I’d taken over the years from the same location I was able to augment my composition, but the primary story is first light hitting these basalt sea stacks on a beautiful morning. I designed the sand shapes so reflections in the tide pools added interest and drama to the foreground.
A minus tide is defined simply as lower than average, but the most extreme low tides take place on a full moon and always near sunrise and sunset when the sun and moon are opposite each other, pulling the ocean toward them. It’s a great time for exploring tide pools and a long walk or ride on hard sand.
