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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Ninety-five: Back to the beach -- finding new stories in familiar subjects > Match point, Mission Beach, California, 2015
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12-SEP-2015

Match point, Mission Beach, California, 2015

As I watched a beach volleyball match unfold. I made many images of it as the four participants fought for points under a bright sun. This image features the climactic moment of that match. The man at right has just tapped the ball over the next, while the man leaping higher at right tries to return it but misses the ball by mere inches. The ball flies through his flailing arms and the match ends. The net’s vertical post echoes the upward trust of those arms, as well as the vertical columns of sand that rise from below their feet. Meanwhile, the horizontal flow of the net is echoed by the horizontal stretches of beach, surf and ocean behind them.

FujiFilm X-T1
1/350s f/22.0 at 50.0mm iso640 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Phil Douglis18-Jan-2016 18:17
He did miss, Tim. And yes, I loved the flying column of sand as well. I did not see it at the moment of exposure -- I was much too intent on the hand and arm action. It was a delight to find that story-telling plume of flying sand at the bottom of my image.
Tim May17-Jan-2016 21:21
You must have been so pleased to see this on the back of your camera - They're both off the ground! I especially love the sand flying up to follow the athlete. BTW - I think he missed.
Phil Douglis31-Oct-2015 19:22
Thanks for pointing out the curves in the wrists of both men, Iris. A beach ballet, indeed!
Iris Maybloom (irislm)30-Oct-2015 23:58
Love the curve of their hands.....a beach ballet!
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