Scripps Coastal Reserve, La Jolla, CA. The receding tide and water discharged from the Scripps research center merge on the beach distributing black and contrasting light colored sand into arresting patterns. The dark and light particles appear to be different in weight allowing them to flow and settle over each other. The subtle gradations in value and the texture suggests charcoal drawings and pastels. The photos here are show as captured with minimal enhancement and manipulation.
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Water discharged into the ocean
Waves from the ocean encounter the discharged water from the opposite direction.
Water and sand merge and flow together.
The individual grains of dark and light sand are visible
The tiny white starlike specs are individual grains of wet sand reflecting light.
The water did not build up these distinct ridges and channels. Rather the water distributed the light and dark sand into patterns that the eye and mind interpret as three dimensional forms, the same way an artist uses gradations of values to create the illusion of forms on a two dimensional surface.