Some time ago I did a post on photographers extraordinaire Richard Fortune and Sara Lopez.
Dick and Sara do not live on Sanibel Island, but they live it, breathe it, adore it through their camera lenses.
I have known this for awhile, but just remembered it again yesterday when we spent the day on Island, a beautiful day full of sunshine and fresh breezes. It did not feel like summer at all, more like early fall. We did some freshening up at Toucan House, met with some contractors, did a long walk and then shopped a bit at Bailey's General Store where we saw the latest Sanbel- Captiva calendar.
We pick these up often, gifting friends and relatives, but this year's calendar may be the best yet and, for me, it is the most stunning due in large part to the photo contributions of Dick and Sara.
Their images are just remarkable, they come alive before your eyes. My joy at viewing the cover, two Ibis frolicking in the surf, was a huge enticement to open up the calendar and view more.
And I was not disappointed.
All the images are lovely, but my favorites were those by Dick and Sara.
And, I enjoyed reading the descriptions as well, though not composed by Dick and Sara they were revealing.
One of them, a bit surprising, is related to the picture here. Of course I would have recognized it as an Egret, but never would have guessed that it is a Reddish Egret. What the information under the picture provides are the details (written by Charles LeBuff) and they are fascinating:
"The Reddish Egret occurs in two color phases; most common are those that are dark gray with a reddish neck, and less abundant are the white morphs seen here. In Florida plume hunters once hunted the reddish egret to the brink of extinction for their beautiful feathers....(which were used for) decorating the hats of the socially elite women of the day."
Today, Reddish Egrets receive federal protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Thank God for the MBTA....and for the great vision of preservationists like Jay D. Darling as well as for those like Richard Fortune and Sara Lopez who capture these creatures forever--- with no harm done.
Sanibel Island would be a poorer place without any of them, especially the beautiful egrets!
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2 comments:
I learned something new! The redish egret is one of my favorite waders but I did not know about the white morp! The head looks right. I love to watch them run through the shallows with their wings out in their search for food.
Thank you for the information!
You are most welcome, Out and About. It seems many of the waders (see my post with the tri-colored heron using the shade-the-water technique) do the same thing.
The most fun part of keeping this blog is learning something new.
Glad you feel the same way!
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