We just got back from a vacation in Myrtle Beach; my brother and sister-in-law moved down there and I am always–always!–a fan of visiting family, particularly if they’re in new/fun/interesting places.
D) All of the above.
I’ll be discussing more of what we did in later posts, but as is my penchant, George and I (and my brother, who really didn’t have to get up with us, but he’s a trooper) went to the beach for a sunrise photo shoot. Bear in mind that sunrise on the beach was 6:08AM. And it’s like a fifteen minute drive from their house to the actual beach-beach. Yeah, we were up at 4:30. That doesn’t happen much, if indeed ever at all. But you know…you’ve got to go where the photo ops are, they don’t come to you (unless, maybe, you’re Annie Leibovitz, but I digress).
So we went to Surfside Pier, a fishing pier that was built in 1953 and rebuilt three times since then. I wanted something that would add an extra bit of visual interest, since relying on waves and sun can be suspect, especially if you’re looking at the weather reports and they’re telling you it’s going to be cloudy. Sure, I could have looked at the forecast and not gone, but I was awake at 4:30 in the morning. There’s no going back from that.
And so, with no further ado…here is Myrtle Beach, 28 June 2013, somewhere between 5:30 and 6:30 in the morning.
Alongside the pier, insanely early in the morning.
George and my brother, and acres of empty beach.
The moon was still far from setting.
Across the tidal beach.
One of the maintenance vehicles left its mark.
I know it’s not a boardwalk. I still want to sing…that song.
Now we’re starting to get some color.
The first other people we saw on the beach.
Seriously. I. Frigging. LOVE. This picture.
Thankfully, Mr. Metal Detector Guy showed up.
The tide can do funky things to the sand.
Good morning.
Hats off to the lone fisherman.
From under the pier.
The pull was such that I lost my flipflop twice under this thing. Retrieved it both times. Score!
The cover refused to break, but it was still pretty.
And the sea is liquid gold.
From behind the dunes at the edge of the beach.
This makes me want to run back down to the sand.
Groovy? Funky? Crappy? Hotel, right on the beach.
With lots of places for creepsters to hang out. I can only hope The Warriors came here for refuge.
And finally, one of my favorite things about Surfside Beach…
Who wants to be a member of the elite Sunbathing Patrol?
That’s it for now! I hope you think they’re as worth the 4:30 alarm as I do. Thanks for dropping by.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I spent many Easter sunrises at Myrtle Beach connecting with my dad’s family… and I too LOVE the photo you said you loved! They’re all fun and that beach house/hotel looks like places I’ve photographed in Central America… how fun!
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Ah! You’re very welcome. I’ve never been there before but I anticipate more visits in my future, since bro & sis-in-law don’t plan on coming north if they can avoid it! LOL Thanks so much.
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These beautiful pictures are definitely worth the early morning rise.
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Thanks, Colline. Sunrise photography is very special to me. I’m glad you “get” it!
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LOVED these! Time for logging on to WordPress has been scarce lately, but your photos made this late night visit entirely worthwhile!
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Thanks! I’ve been wondering how you’ve been lately! I’m so glad you dropped by. xo
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oh, i haven’t been to the beach in so long.. but there i was knowing how that cool sand feels under my feet, scouring off the calluses! Beautiful pictures. what an eye you have, my friend…
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Ann, the sand was so HOT the day before! Of course, that was at 1 in the afternoon… LOL Thank you, friend.
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Well I guess the early bird gets the gorgeous photos…those are exquisite!
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Thanks, Marjorie! Makes that 4:30 wake up call more and more worth it all the time… 🙂
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Whoa! These are great! I love how the colors all go well together. My favorites are
“Good morning.” (beautiful golds!!!)
“The first other people we saw on the beach.” (I love everything about this)
“Alongside the pier, insanely early in the morning.” (emerald green’s my fav!)
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That emerald green rocked my world! LOL It was from those green safety lights they had along the pier; George and I were talking about them ourselves. They look almost otherworldly or something, no? Thanks so much for your feedback.
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Gorgeous photos – it’s tough to pick a favorite, though I do love the colors of the hotel and the liquid gold sea. Stunning work. And now I know the difference between you and me. You: “Oooh, Mr. Metal Detector Guy is in my picture. Cool.” Click. Me: “Excuse me, Mr. Metal Detector Guy, would you please get out of my picture?” (it turned out great, despite the interloper)
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Interloper!!! Bwa ha ha! See, I generally think that if you wander into my shot, you’re fair game. LOL And Mr. Metal Detector Guy had “local character” written all over him. 😉
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I often shoot the locals. Come to think of it, the only time I get frustrated with an interloper, it’s when Hubby steps in front of me to take the same picture I’m trying to take.
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Which is precisely why I’m so delighted that George doesn’t do photography himself. LOL 😉
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