Fuji 160s, processed in Nik Silver Efex
During my drive up the California Coast in January, I stopped at a beach where sea lions spend their days basking in the sun. It turns out I arrived there at exactly the right time of year, in the middle of breeding season. The beach is called Pierdras Blancas, and below I’m going to quote from their web page because their descriptive text is just a wonderful accompaniment to my images.
Ektar
“The number of elephant seal pups born at Piedras Blancas in 2001 was about 1950. The total population of a rookery is difficult to estimate because all members are never present at the same time. Researchers multiply the number of pups born times 3.5-4.5 to get an approximation. The total population for Piedras Blancas at the turn of the 21st century was estimated to be around 8000.
Ektar
The elephant seal breeding season begins at Año Nuevo in December, when the first males arrive. From fourteen to sixteen feet long and weighing up to 2 1/2 tons, these huge bulls engage in violent battles to establish dominance. The successful bulls do much of the breeding, with most of the duty falling on the “alpha” bull at the top of the social ladder.
Fuji 160s
In late December, the females begin to arrive and form “harems” on the beaches of the Reserve. Much smaller than the males, they average ten to twelve feet in length and weigh 1,200 to 2,000 pounds.
Fuji 160s
Three to six days after she arrives, the female gives birth to the pup that was conceived the previous year. Normally only one pup is born to each female, and she nurses for 25 to 28 days.
Fuji 160s
Ordinarily, a mother nurses her own pup, although if they are separated another female may adopt the youngster. Feeding on its mother’s rich milk (55% fat), the pup grows from approximately 75 pounds at birth to 250-350 pounds in less than a month. Some resourceful pups nurse from two or three females. They can weigh 600 pounds and are aptly called “super weaners”.”
Fuji 160s
I had two film cameras hanging around my neck that day; my FTb and my EOS 3.
Fuji 160s
My goodness, but being there was a wonderful experience for me. Very sacred place, and I was very happy that California was protecting places like this.
The one thing that these images cannot capture is the sound of the beach. Just an amazing constant roar and bellows of the sea lions talking about whatever was on their mind.
Photography not only gives me joy in the act of creation, iy also brings me to places I might not have seen had I not wanted to ‘get the shot.’
This was one of those places.
