Blue Light on the Sea of Cortez

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Blue Light on the Sea of Cortez
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1223 W: 0 N: 4446] (13284)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 1993-04
Categories: Desert, Seascape, Mountain
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-05-11 8:16
Viewed: 463
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 50
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I am unable to go out much at the moment - the rape flowers, May blossom (Hawthorn) and a particularly vigorous Bird Cherry (not the common one) are giving me a bad time at the moment and my head feels fit to burst! So I am inside and have been scanning some slides from a trip to Mexico in 1993. I liked this, fairly simple composition, taken just outside the 'other' Los Angeles.

The Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez or Sea of Cortés; locally known in the Spanish language as Mar de Cortés or Mar Bermejo or Golfo de California) is a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland. It is bordered by the states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, and Sinaloa. The name "Gulf of California" predominates on most maps in English today. The name "Sea of Cortés" is the one preferred by most local residents. The Gulf opened up 5.3 million years ago, redirecting the flow of the Colorado River. To the Gulf of California also flow the rivers Fuerte, Mayo, Sinaloa, Sonora, Yaqui.

The Gulf of California came into being as tectonic forces rifted the Baja California Peninsula off of the North American Plate. As part of this process, the East Pacific Rise propagated up the middle of the Gulf along the seabottom. The Gulf would extend as far as Indio, California except for the tremendous delta created by the Colorado River. This delta blocks the sea from flooding the Mexicali and Imperial Valleys. Volcanism dominates the East Pacific Rise. The island of Isla Tortuga is one example of this ongoing volcanic activity.

The narrow sea is home to a unique and rich ecosystem. In addition to a wide range of endemic creatures, it hosts many migratory species, such as the humpback whale, California Gray Whale, manta ray and Leatherback Sea Turtle. This region has historically been a magnet for world class sport fishing activities, with a rich history of sporting world records.

The region also has a rich history as a commercial fishery. Some authors have reported witnessing tuna schools more than 100 miles (160 km) long in this region. Some argue that this region is one of the few in the world that still has potential to open new commercial fisheries, because statistics show that the fishing resources are stable. But the data varies wildly according to the species being studied, and the Gulf's ability to recuperate after years of over fishing remains uncertain. Moreover, changes in terrestrial ecology, such as the vast reduction in flow from the Colorado River into the Gulf, have negatively affected fisheries, particularly in the northern region.

The Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez, sustains a large number of marine mammals, many of which are rare and endangered. Its more than 900 islands are important nesting sites for thousands of seabirds and its waters are a primary breeding, feeding, and nursing grounds for a myriad of migratory and resident fish species. For decades, the gulf has been a primary source of two of Mexico's leading marine resources, sardines and anchovies. Water pollution is a problem in the Gulf of California, but the more immediate concerns are overfishing and bottom trawling, which destroys eelgrass beds and shellfish.

Efforts by the Mexican government to create conservation zones have been hampered by lack of enforcement resources as well as a lack of a political consensus on this issue of conservation of the Gulf. The thousands of miles of coastline are remote and difficult to police, and the politically powerful commercial fishing industry has been slow to embrace even economically viable conservation measures, much less stricter measures of conservation. Conservation of the Gulf's fisheries and coastlines is also complicated by a long history of over-capitalization in the sector, and the direct, often negative impacts that conservation measures have on the livelihoods of Mexico's coastal inhabitants. At present, the Mexican government and business interests have promoted a macro-level, tourist development vision for the Gulf, whose impacts on ecology and society there are uncertain.

Sea of Cortés communities that are highly reliant on the sport fishing industry include San Felipe, San Carlos, Sonora, Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, Loreto, Guaymas, and Mulegé. Mazatlán, on the Mexican mainland's Pacific coast, depends on the sagging commercial fishery.

I think I took this with a Pentax SFX + 70 - 200 lense and 100asa Agfa slide film (couldn't afford Kodak).
boreocypriensis, nglen, SelenE, gerbilratz, Argus, gracious, jaycee, matatur, rousettus, CeltickRanger, Luis52, haraprasan, gannu, albert, iris, jusninasirun has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Argus: Blinding sunshineJamesp 1 05-11 22:32
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Critiques [Translate]

Excellent sharp details,very nice colors and light.
Regards,
Nikos.

Hi Friend James, A splendid bluish landscape my friend. I loved the composition including the small islands as well. TFS. Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1864 W: 2 N: 4738] (18250)
  • [2008-05-11 9:49]

Hi James. Sorry you are not to good at the moment . This picture is so simple but it has a calming effect , Beautiful colours and shapes. with interesting notes .Well done TFS.
Nick..

Hello James
I am sorry to hear you are grounded by pollens..I get it to but later in the year.
This is a simple scene but very powerful in its composition..The light is amazing and superbly captured.
A good week ahead to you James and I hope the pollen will decrease a little..Not that I am wishing rain!!
Paul

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2336 W: 59 N: 4112] (13398)
  • [2008-05-11 10:13]

Hi James,
The serene skies and the bright blue sea look so beautiful... Very well exposed and composed photo. TFS
Greetings,
Selen

Sorry about the hay fever, but with images as good as this, you need never leave your room...this is awesome, just simply beautifully done, colours, light and composition. tfs and best regards h

P/s..as you used film, it goes to prove, a good picture is a good picture no matter what you used to get it....

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2413 W: 132 N: 6649] (20861)
  • [2008-05-11 10:25]
  • [+]

Hello James,
I like the calmness of this shot, the single smooth wave and the rocky islets telling us that this is water backed by a land mass. Funny I have always imagined the Sea of Cortéz as being calm and bathed in blinding sunshine, so its a knock on my imagination to see it in these tones.
TFS this interesting, well scanned image ab´nd the great note,
Ivan

Hello James,
Hope you get well and get over it!
very beautiful blue-toned landscape and I loved the different layers of blue!
many thanks for sharing
regards
Tony

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 8 N: 4021] (13255)
  • [2008-05-11 12:56]

Hi James,

A wonderful study in blue. So simple and yet so beautiful. The darker islands give a good contrast to the sea, mountains and sky.

I empathize with you - hope you feel better soon.

Jane

A perfect monochromatic scene in moody blue tones James, astonishingly good resolution in spite of being a scanned slide my friend. TFS and cheers,
Mehmet

Hello James
fantastic scene in blue colours. It looks simple in first view, but excellent landscape shot. Thanks for sharing this beauty. have a nice week.
Ahmet

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1035 W: 5 N: 2718] (9902)
  • [2008-05-11 19:01]

Hola James.
Beautiful blue colors of this image, and as usual in Your work Excelllent Note about "mar de Cortez" It is very interesting.
Saludos
Luis52.
Ps I hope You get well soon.

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2165 W: 124 N: 2567] (8208)
  • [2008-05-11 22:19]

very nice one James,
As a landscape photograper I love a scene like this, it is artful and wel seen. good lines and a fine atmosphere in the shot, good photojob, have a nice day.
gr. jaap

Hi James,
A lovely capture of this beautiful landscape. Lovely blue hues and an excellent composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 729 W: 4 N: 1811] (8606)
  • [2008-05-12 4:18]

Hello James, Very very nice location. Lovely view and good composition. Nice view and good portrait shot. WEll done Ganesh

Hi James
Simple landscape but superb colour
Well done
TFS
Albert

Hi James,
Sorry to hear that hay fever is keeping you inside. The spring time is probably a much welcomed season for all of us. But hey, it does give you a good moment to present us with a stunning photo. The wonderful blue hue and scattered position of the small island make this a very relaxed view to look at.
TFS and I hope that you are able to go outside soon.
Niek

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 367 W: 39 N: 651] (2047)
  • [2008-05-12 5:08]

Hi James,
It sends my "blues" away.....a really uplifting blue seascape with excellent DOF and PoV. Quite an ethereal image filling one with serenity.
This into my favourites...

Hope you are able to go out soon.Take care...:)

TFS & Cheers

hello James

wonderful landscape image of bue on blue or i would say
blue tone on other blue tone, lovely smotthness of the image,

TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1555 W: 233 N: 5087] (17953)
  • [2008-05-12 8:12]

Hi James,
what a simple yet stunning image!
The blue tones are amazing and give a sort of mystical atmosphere to the photo.
Excellent clarity.
Fantastic composition.
Very well done!

Joe

Hello James. This is just a wonderful sight with hues of blue. Dreamy image in well kept perspective. Thanks for sharing and very well done. Best regards. Jusni

very calm and beautiful, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2726 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-06-06 11:47]

Hello James

Super colours and tones in this shot.
A lovely image,poster quality.
The pov is excellent.
The shot has a lovely mood.
TFS
Rob

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1687 W: 20 N: 4738] (15476)
  • [2008-06-07 7:02]

Hi James,
Outstanding shot and you have captured the blues and the mood so beautifully here. So simple but so pleasant to the eyes. Lovely colours and the soft lighting works wonders. It really is like a dream image. Excellent low POV to portray this scene and very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Beautiful serene shot. It might have been better if there were some animal for the eyes to focus on to something. But anyways, the different shades of 'cool' blue looks extraordinary.

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