‘Dragon,’ a backlit view of an amazing tree just after dawn’s first light at magical Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island.
‘Crouching Low,’ on my knees in the sand with a very low tripod mount at low tide on the ethereal shore of Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island in coastal Georgia.
‘Silhouette,’ my favorite image of three taken at the amazing Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island in coastal Georgia on a beautiful early morning.
After waking up at 2:30am from my base camp on Hilton Head Island, I pointed my trusty car southward and passed through South Carolina on my way towards Georgia. Just after the city of Brunswick (the birthplace of the delicious stew), I exited Interstate-95 and headed east on route 17 where I turned onto the Jekyll Island Causeway, paid my day pass fee, and crossed the ME Thompson Memorial Bridge onto Jekyll Island.
My goal in rising so early was to be at the famous Driftwood Beach before dawn’s first light. And indeed I was, parking in a convenient pull-off on Beach View Drive. Using my flashlight, I scouted the beach a bit in the darkness. The incredible dead trees still standing in the surf illuminated by moonlight to my back as I looked out to sea were simply awe-inspiring.
I hiked back to my car, made myself a small coffee, and prepared my camera. Finding some compositions worthy of the effort proved more difficult than expected as I try very hard minimize the visual chaos inherent in places like this.
I managed to capture three images I’m quite proud of that morning. They work together to form a delightful triptych. The incoming tide, the rising sun, and the glow on the far Atlantic horizon all combined to make me a happy photographer. I hope you enjoy these images as much as I enjoyed making them.
