Whispers From the Dunes

Description

Top down aerial drone photography of sand abstract formations in Cape Cod, 2025.  “Sandscript Series”.

Welcome to my “Sandscript Series” …….

It was a sunny, late afternoon in October 2025, I could feel my excitement to fly the Cape Cod marshes with my dear friend and famous Cape photographer, Betty Wiley. Marshland scenery is full of intricate ecosystems essential to the vitality of wildlife on our planet. The marshes hold a quiet beauty from the ground However from the air their sinuous tidal creeks snake through the green/gold expanse like veins carving intricate networks that glow with reflected light during tides. Little did I know I was in for an unexpected surprise.

I have been searching for abstract sand formations around New York and New England since 2021. For the most part the patterns have been too far spread out to capture meaningful transitions from under 400ft in the air.

I launched my drone with zero expectations, just hope and faith that Mother Nature would guide me. I started following a seagull, as I often do, he took me right past the marshes where I was surrounded by the most beautiful tidal sand formations I have seen on the New England Coast to date! As summer algae dies off, the water clarity increases this time of year.

The low tide zones (subtidal fringe, exposed only during the lowest tides) are very biodiverse, staying wet longer and supporting species adapted to brief air exposure. Photosynthetic Microorganisms are bountiful in these areas and form the base of our food web. They are tiny, single-celled or simple multicellular organisms that use photosynthesis to convert sunlight, carbon dioxide (CO₂), and water into energy-rich organic compounds (like sugars) and oxygen (O₂). These, along with sky reflections, create an array of color formations from the sky.

I was mesmerized by Earth’s movements, subtle sand shifts, green algae in all the right places, and a blue sky for special reflections. I knew this moment was fleeting, the tide was coming in and the sun was going down. I was feeling intense gratitude not just for our planet, but for the confidence in knowing I was in the exact right place at the right time, and all I had to do was find the compositions that pleased my eyes the most.

For licensing or print inquiries please include title, size, and medium (paper, metal, acrylic). This photograph is a 2×3 ratio.