Gold Coast - the Beaches

They're Spectacular
Though reminiscent of Southern California, the beaches here have a special beauty.  The skies look to have been painted in watercolors without a hint of imperfection.  This was shot with a miniaturization filter, giving a blur to the skyscrapers that tower over this stretch of beach. 

Here is a similar shot without the filter.

Looking south in the afternoon light, the contrast between sea and shore was strong.

We drove south along the beach about 10 miles until the tall buildings receded into the horizon.  These three canoes sat empty for just a few minutes.

These ladies grabbed them and headed off into the surf just as the sun began to set behind the inland hills.

As the sun set, the light changed quickly and I snapped a few shots a few minutes apart.