May 8, 2007 - Sunrise Walk, Pensacola Beach

Canon 5D, 24 - 105 mm f/4L IS @ 105 mm, f/8, 1/640 sec., ISO 400

I know of few things that we enjoy more than walking by the ocean (in this case, the Gulf) early in the morning. There are a few people up and about, but not many. The air by the sea seems fresher in the early morning, the seagulls less obnoxious, and the smell of the salt air is wonderfully invigorating. You might even find a few good shells.

Of course, this beach has seen its share of not so peaceful mornings when major hurricanes have blown through. When that happens, even the high rise hotels are in serious jeopardy. But still they build more (you can see construction in progress off in the distance in this image). In doing so, natural habitat is destroyed and the beach itself is made more vulnerable. So even as we enjoy the walk, we feel some guilt. As paying customers we are, I suppose, part of the "problem". Still, the sea and its mysteries beckon.