Arctic Ocean Today

The delicate colors of the sky, along with the return of the ice pack inspired me to take some photos today! I would need a wide angle to even come close to how pretty it was, standing on a cliff over the beach. But these will have to do. See the ducks? See how huge they look in the far away pics? I thought they were seals at first. Does anyone (Teresa, your son??) know what kind they are? They seem to come around every year when the water is getting really cold, and I always wonder how they can stand it. They were diving, also. There must be some yummies in that freezin water for them.

Comments

[jay]

Hey Annie: Beautiful photos. I went out to get some but had waited too late and it was a little too dark.
I am almost sure, from the shape of the head, that the ducks are Eiders. I saw them out there today as well.

Jay

[Shelf Elf]

Hi Annie!

I'm a frequent lurker here at your blog, admiring your gorgeous artwork and the photos you take of your amazing arctic backyard!

I'm wondering if you would give me permission to use some of the photos of the arctic that you have here on your blog. I'm creating a booktrailer (video podcast) on Rebecca Stead's MG novel, "First Light" that's set in Greenland, and I know that some of your photos would be perfect for the images I'll need. I also plan to use some copyright free stuff, but you've got some lovely ones here. I'm a teacher (and kidlit blogger at Shelf Elf) and the trailer is for a course I'm taking right now. I would also likely post it on Youtube and at my blog. I would of course credit you for the photographs in the trailer itself, at the end.

If not, no worries at all! I'll still lurk here admiring your work.

You could just email me to let me know either way.

Happy weekend!

Kerry
Shelf Elf: read, write, rave

[Shelf Elf]

Forgot my email (not sure if it shows up in your comments on your TypePad dashboard)

lizziemillar(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

:)
Kerry

[Annie]

Hi Jay,

Yes I bet you are right- eiders. They have the strangest heads- really big bills!

They must be strong as tanks to be able to hang out in that water.

[Teresa]

Annie, I finally got my guys to come check this out, and they also concur with Jay: probably common eiders. :)

BTW, I just put 2 and 2 together and finally realized that your Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out book is written by a fellow IN-SCBWIer! April posted about her news recently, and I checked out her website, and thought: Annie Patterson! I know her! I told her I'd have to have both of you autograph it for us. =)

[Emma Wallace]

These photos are breathtaking. It's amazing to me (in Florida) that someone actually lives in the midst of that beauty. Thank you for posting these!