Tide Pools beneath a Rocky Arch

Low tide has left a chain of clear pools between dark coastal rocks. Pale sea anemones spread their tentacles in the nearest water, while limpets, mussels and striped shells cling to the wet edges. A natural arch rises across the back of the scene, opening onto bright surf and a strip of blue sky.

The foreground is busy, but every pool has a different outline and reflection. Begin with the largest green anemone and the pale shell cluster beside it. From there, the slick rock ridges lead towards the arch, where the sea becomes softer and more distant. Seaweed lies in loose folds across the stones, adding warm brown and olive patches among the charcoal surfaces.