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Sunday was my birthday and, before joining friends who threw a wonderful small party for me, I took a long stroll along the Fort Lauderdale beach. I’d already showered and dressed for the day, so I stayed on the brick sidewalk. The whole busy scene was laid out for me to see. Runners and roller bladers passing me on the walk. Sunseekers stretching out on the sand in front. Swimmers splashing in the waves just beyond. I could smell the sunscreen scent in the air at times while wandering first by small groups and then by large packs of beachgoers. But what struck me most of all was the number of determined shutterbugs. Cameras were out everywhere for some reason, far more than I usually notice. Everyone wanted to remember the day.
It was a pretty scene for sure. The sky was bright, the sand was washed in blinding sunlight and the sea rolled in frothy breakers off the great expanse of rich jade water. Kitesurfers wrestled with their sails in the strong breeze. Cruise ships sailed by in the distance. Somehow, I guess, all of this inspired the flurry of snapshooters who amused me as I walked. I would hesitate to call any of these good folks “photographers.” Ansel Adams they weren’t.
The first guy I saw made me smile by making himself smile. He looked, oh, maybe 25 years-old. He was alone and he was setting up one of those hysterical self-portraits you find on so many websites these days. With his back to the ocean, holding the camera at arms length, he gave the lens his best grin. I can already imagine the caption : “Me by the beautiful sea.” Or some such words. I watched people posing their families against the seascape and clicking pics of friends or relatives as they stood on the sand. One stunning young woman stopped a stranger (not me, unfortunately), handed off her camera and smiled for the people back home with the ocean as backdrop. Then there was the young couple – and Biscuit. Biscuit was a small dog. Don’t ask me what kind. The woman was pleading with the pup to stand still on the wave wall so the guy could snap Biscuit’s cute face for posterity. Biscuit had other ideas. These ideas included offering posterity Biscuit’s, well, posterior. I just chuckled to myself and moved on. It was a photogenic day at one of the most photographed beaches in the world. I’d like to think my birthday had something to do with all these digital mementoes of December 9, 2007. But I doubt it.
It was a pretty scene for sure. The sky was bright, the sand was washed in blinding sunlight and the sea rolled in frothy breakers off the great expanse of rich jade water. Kitesurfers wrestled with their sails in the strong breeze. Cruise ships sailed by in the distance. Somehow, I guess, all of this inspired the flurry of snapshooters who amused me as I walked. I would hesitate to call any of these good folks “photographers.” Ansel Adams they weren’t.
The first guy I saw made me smile by making himself smile. He looked, oh, maybe 25 years-old. He was alone and he was setting up one of those hysterical self-portraits you find on so many websites these days. With his back to the ocean, holding the camera at arms length, he gave the lens his best grin. I can already imagine the caption : “Me by the beautiful sea.” Or some such words. I watched people posing their families against the seascape and clicking pics of friends or relatives as they stood on the sand. One stunning young woman stopped a stranger (not me, unfortunately), handed off her camera and smiled for the people back home with the ocean as backdrop. Then there was the young couple – and Biscuit. Biscuit was a small dog. Don’t ask me what kind. The woman was pleading with the pup to stand still on the wave wall so the guy could snap Biscuit’s cute face for posterity. Biscuit had other ideas. These ideas included offering posterity Biscuit’s, well, posterior. I just chuckled to myself and moved on. It was a photogenic day at one of the most photographed beaches in the world. I’d like to think my birthday had something to do with all these digital mementoes of December 9, 2007. But I doubt it.
posted by LauderBLOGGER at 4:17 PM
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