Keeper of the Pier

About this piece

A snowy egret stands on a weathered pier railing, its white plumage set against vivid blue sky and turquoise sea. The converging lines of timber and a leaning fishing rod draw the eye toward distant anglers, placing the bird within a shared coastal space.

The story

I paused beside the railing, drawn to the egret’s yellow feet against the weathered wood. Beyond it, the sea shifted from turquoise to deep blue, while people gathered farther along the pier with their fishing rods. I framed the bird against that open color, leaving the boards and rails to carry the eye into the distance. For me, the photograph holds two kinds of waiting: the anglers’ and the bird’s.