Riding The Waves

A wild Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) skims the waves off the central coast of California. I've always loved watching them glide in and out of the waves, swooping up and over, just as a wave crests. Their wave-riding communicates a sense of playfulness and joy, especially because the Brown Pelican represents an environmental success story. Once seriously endangered (especially from DDT), they have made a remarkable comeback due to protection efforts.  This image is one of the first from my new Sony a1 -- a special moment in which my subject, the morning light, and the wave action came together.