Diatoms in the Tide: a photo essay

In October 2011 I attended an OASL Conference in Seaside, Oregon. A friend and I were walking along the beach when I noticed an odd look about the shoreline. On closer inspection it appeared that a freighter had spilled some oil and I freaked out. We proceeded to find other evidence of humanity's often blase attitude toward, nature, aesthetics...and personal responsibility. When I returned to the hotel room I googled the Seaside coast line and discovered to my surprise that the ugly tide was in fact a bloom of diatoms...a naturally occurring phenomenon. My annoyance at humanity in general was abated some, but I was still left disturbed by THE UGLIEST beach walk I've ever had along the Oregon Coast.

In the slide show below I fancied myself a photojournalist composing an essay out of human...and nature's detritus.