my time spent with Honu.
No water, no life. No blue, no green.
Sylvia Earle
As I prepare to go on an adventure, whether it be in my back yard or thousands of miles away, I try not to have expectations about what I will photograph but rather be ready for anything that comes along. Words from a very wise friend of mine filter through my consciousness “Sheryl, expectations are unfulfilled resentments“.
Expectations are not to be confused with preparations though…I had an abundance of preparation! The first thing that I packed was my camera bag which I took as my carry-on luggage and every inch of that bag was carefully analyzed and utilized.
As I walked along the rocky shores of the beach as the tide was coming in, I caught my first glimpse of the head of the largest of the sea turtles, the green turtle.
They were a joy to watch as they surfed the incoming tide to snatch mouthfuls of algae from the rocks. I spent hours watching them and waiting for those few chances to catch them as the water swept out from under them leaving them momentarily high and dry. The gracefulness was unexpected as they maneuvered through the waves; diving for three to five minutes at a time and then surfacing to breathe for a short one to three seconds. I got the feeling that they enjoyed the ‘water slide’ feel of the water rushing them back out to sea. To get a feel for their size; the carapace can measure up to five feet and they can weigh between two to five hundred pounds.
I can’t help but feel sadness that these beautiful, herbivorous creatures are listed as an endangered species but feel gladness that steps have been taken to ensure their survival. I will treasure my time spent with them.
it's (almost always) about the water... 