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Moving sands


Moving sands
Photo Information
Copyright: Janice Dunn (Janice) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-01-08
Categories: Seascape
Camera: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P8
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/1600 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): RARE or SIGNIFICANT contributions to TN 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-01-30 3:43
Viewed: 1493
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
SAND DUNES OF OMAHA
Omaha Beach is a four kilometre white sand beach with crystal clear water on one side and an estuary on the other, and moving sand dunes that change daily.

SAND DUNES
Sand dunes are formed at the interface between the sea and land. They are formed from sand which is eroded and ground rock, derived from terrestrial (e.g., glacial or river) and oceanic sources (e.g., coral reefs). The form of dune systems will be dictated by a number of factors, including the shape of the coastline, shape of the beach, currents and swell of the ocean, prevailing wind, frequency of storm events, and particle size of the sand.
The dunes are colonised by a typical array of sand dune plant species including PINGAO / PIKAO, a regionally rare native sand sedge, and SPINIFEX SERICEUS. This area is also a nesting site for the rare New Zealand dotterel, the threatened variable oystercatcher, and pipits.

PIKAO (DESMOSCHOENUS SPIRALIS)
This is an endemic plant formally widespread on most of New Zealand’s dune systems. It is now only in a few isolated coastal areas, these usually removed from the effects of encroaching plant and animal pests. Pikao has the unfortunate characteristic of being very palatable to most grazing and browsing animals.
A sedge, pikao grows best in sand. Pikao, usually spreads from established plants by way of rhizomes, which push through the sand sending up new shoots at regular intervals. The adult plant excretes an inhibitor that inhibits the growth of seedling plants immediately adjacent to the parent plant.

SPINIFEX SERICEUS
Spinifex is a tough coastal plant - Silvery Sand Grass, that can cope with salt spray, drought, extreme temperatures, strong winds and shifting sand.
Spinifex sericeus is a type of grass that puts out strong, creeping runners or stolons across sand dunes. The plant catches sand as it blows up from the beach. Although the sand falls on to the dune and partially buries the plant, the spinifex grows through it. This is how it helps to produce sand dunes. It also stabilises the dunes by holding the sand together with its roots and stolons.
Spinifex has male and female plants. The female flower looks like a big, spiky ball. It is made up of spikelets which have the seed wrapped at their base. The balls of seed are blown across the dunes on windy days, as a way of seed dispersal.

Contrast and Exposure
Cropped and Sharpened
red45, carper, PDP, Callie has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To rlortie: Omaha Sand dunesJanice 1 01-31 23:01
To cafecrem: Hi JoannaJanice 2 01-31 06:35
To Nico: Thanks NicoJanice 1 01-30 04:39
To red45: Hi GregJanice 1 01-30 04:29
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Nico Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 209 W: 1 N: 332] (1313)
  • [2005-01-30 3:52]
  • [+]

It is good that you also show us nature in the wider context. Nature, after all, is far more than the faces of pretty animals. In this way we are learning about nature.

  • Great 
  • sev Silver Star Critiquer [C: 25 W: 0 N: 0] (56)
  • [2005-01-30 3:57]

i really appreciate this landscape, good composition and vry good notes too !!
very well done janice !

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2005-01-30 4:14]
  • [+]

Looks like our Baltic Sea! Most of it has got sand dunes or beaches with plants like on your picture Janice. Great sea/sand/sky picture! TFS.

Very nice one Janice,
I like the composing of the phto, the good low point of view, the fioone details, the high horizon and the good colours, very good photo again.

Very clear and beautiful.
Just sandy beach, grass and sea. I like that kind of simple photos.
Well done!

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-01-30 4:46]

The wet and the dry, very nice landscape Janice. I like the colours and the composition, well done.

Nice landscape, but there is something's disturbing me but I can't find what, maybe the frame.
TFS.

Hi Janice
Open landscapes have a certain alure, and I , for one, has been cought in this many years ago. Can have someting to do with the fact that I was born and bred in South West Afrika, now Namibia, where we know the vastness of the open planes. So, this one hits theright spot, TFS

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2005-01-30 15:03]

This is a very interesting post and you captured tha scene very well. The image also has a lot of depth.

Very well done and thanks for posting.

I would like to go for a walk on this beach! Just wonderful! I need warmth!!!

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-01-31 6:30]

This reminds me instantly of NZ and the great time I spent there. :) I like the low angle you chose. Good colors too. Well done Janice! I agree with Netfalls that the frame is a bit disturbing.

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2005-01-31 13:03]

Janice, another beautiful landscape you post, and this one is nice too.

The composition, to me, is just right, and the blue shades on the upper half are great.

Very interesting landscape and note of sand dunes. They very fragile environment and we must take care of it. TFS.

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