Sea lion, Newport, Oregon, 2006 by Phil Douglis

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10-JUN-2006

Sea lion, Newport, Oregon, 2006

I abstracted this relaxing sea lion by waiting for him to flip over on his back and glide beneath the water. I was shooting from a pier in Newport’s harbor, which gave me the high vantage point I needed to make such abstraction possible. I put my camera on its “multiple frame” option, and just kept firing as it swept below me. In this image, only the belly, chin and one flipper are exposed. Everything else is below the rippling water. I tilted the camera so that the axis of the sea lion becomes a diagonal, giving it more thrust as it glides on by. By showing less of the sea lion, I am engaging the imaginations of those who look at this image. I ask the viewer to, in effect, become this sea lion for a moment, and savor the joy of such a relaxing activity.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30
1/100s f/5.6 at 25.2mm iso80 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto

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Phil Douglis		29-Jun-2007 19:04
You are correct, Daniel -- the texture and reflections in the water are part of the story. They give buoyancy to the sea lion. I like the way the image encourages you to use your imagination to see a smile on the animal's face.

Guest		28-Jun-2007 23:32
One more thing-- the reflection of the water is also important because it adds a sense of leisure and a breath of fresh air. If you used a polarizer to eliminate the refelctions, I don't think the photo would have been as strong as it is.

Guest		28-Jun-2007 23:31
The texture of the water is integral to this photo. It gives off a surreal feeling and takes the viewer to another place, away from this world. The pose of the seal is key in creating a relaxing mood and environment. It's almost as if I can see the seal smiling like a child who just learned how to float in the water for the first time.

Phil Douglis		04-Apr-2007 07:34
Kicked back and lolling indeed. It must be a relaxing life. Thanks for seeing the point of the image, Ceci -- how much at home sea lions are in the water.

Guest		04-Apr-2007 05:23
How lovely, relaxing, abtract and kicked back this shot is. Seals are such masters of their environment, all speed, grace and perfection in this element, and to see this animal simply floating and still (probably with eyes shut) speaks so clearly about how much at home they are in the water. I love the pale green and brown mix, the hint of whiskers and the gentle undulation of the surface around your lolling sea lion.

Phil Douglis		23-Oct-2006 20:27
People see what they want to see in a picture, Tim. The fact that it can mean one thing to you and other things to Sun, Zandra, and Rodney, tell me that it is an expressive image. The greater the range of its meanings, the more valuable the image can be.

Phil Douglis		24-Aug-2006 17:18
That is why I made this image, Rodney. As an abstraction, I can show less of the sea lion and say more about how it must feel floating on its back in the sea. I loved the shapes of the ripples -- the big one around the head and the small one around the flipper. And I liked the way the texture and color of its belly and snout contrasts to the texture and color of the water.

Guest		24-Aug-2006 12:48
For me, the abstraction you have created allows one to really feel the texture of the water. When I see the ripples my mind subconsciously remembers what it feels like to be in a pool; its repeating wave sounds, along with the feeling of bobbing up and down in the waves. At first I wished I could see more detail of the sea lion, but then I thought "why? we know it is a sea lion...." We see just enough of the sea lion to know. Its abstraction, along with the wonderful colors and ripples, gives a sense of a painting (in water colors? ok, bad pun hahaha). It reminds me a lot of a paint-by-numbers painting. :)

Phil Douglis		10-Aug-2006 17:37
Once again, an abstract image stirs Zandra's vivid imagination. This photos asks you to enter it and feel the water and become a child again. And all to the accompaniment of music. You made my day with this interpretation, Zandra.

Guest		03-Aug-2006 10:33
Looking at this i feel liek going "Tam ta tada... tra la tra la what a wonderful day". I can smell the water when lookign at this and feel it's freshnes against my skin. It makes me long for a dip in the ocean. To splash around and play carefree like a child. Tam ta tada :)

Phil Douglis		13-Jul-2006 04:30
Welcome at long last, Sun Han, to my galleries. I am a huge fan of your work as well, and am thrilled that you want to come back for more visits and comments. You are right about the texture here -- it is what is causing the abstraction. The reason you feel that you are a sea lion floating in this water is that abstraction triggers the imagination. You have a highly developed imagination -- you not only feel as if you are swimming with him, but you seem to think a lot about food as well. The more your imagination works here, Sun Han, the more expressive the image becomes. Thanks for these observations and the many others you left for me over the last two days.

Guest		10-Jul-2006 22:10
wow, Phil, i've been always wanted to visit your gallaries, now i finally have some time. you really impressed me with your imaginative imagery and elaborated gallaries, i think i will come back visiting more often. the texture of your photo are rich and amazing, it makes me feel like being like a sea lion floating on water, i envy the pure leisure Mr. sea lion here, i don't know if sea lion can dine on their belly, i am sure some otter can enjoy their lunch by cracking oysters on their belly and gulp it water surface with ripples and waves are always magical things to look at

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