“Storm Pools (1)”

Location: McPhillips Beach, Oregon (2019)

McPhillips Beach becomes a cratered surface with pools of ocean water during the winter.

Braving the bad weather to take advantage of these shallow pools full of saltwater that pockmarked the tidal flats, I was the only person on the beach.

Dark storm clouds could be seen dumping rain over the ocean; they would eventually bring their rain to the beach.

A strong wind whipped off the ocean. You could smell the salty brine.

As I walked, the waterlogged sand shifted and sunk under my boots.

The storm was at a momentary pause.

[Photographed during the same stormy afternoon as “Storm Pools (2)”]