Times of the Islands Spring 2019
Presents the "soul of the Turks & Caicos Islands" with in-depth features about local people, culture, history, environment, businesses, resorts, restaurants and activities.
Presents the "soul of the Turks & Caicos Islands" with in-depth features about local people, culture, history, environment, businesses, resorts, restaurants and activities.
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Yes, it’s hard to pass by a perfect pink-and-yellow<br />
sunrise tellin or a pristine sun-bleached sand dollar, but<br />
here’s an alternative souvenir suggestion: Photograph<br />
those shells to create your own stunning display that’s<br />
beautiful by nature! Our featured photographers here,<br />
Marta Morton and Tom Rathgeb, <strong>of</strong>fer some ideas and<br />
suggestions for carrying home shells without getting<br />
sand in your suitcase.<br />
The natural setting<br />
Marta Morton, owner/manager <strong>of</strong> Harbour Club Villas,<br />
claims, “I’m not a photographer,” yet she takes thousands<br />
<strong>of</strong> pictures <strong>of</strong> “whatever catches my eye” when she walks<br />
on any <strong>of</strong> Providenciales’ beaches. She has found shell<br />
treasures at Smith’s Reef, Southwest Bluff and Half Moon<br />
Bay, which she shoots in <strong>the</strong>ir natural settings and light.<br />
“I always find something to take,” she says.<br />
Marta uses “my little point-and-shoot” as her camera,<br />
a Canon Power Shot SX-720-HS with a 40x optical<br />
zoom. “I don’t do anything special,” she says, although<br />
she admits, “I can spend an hour doing different angles.”<br />
Occasionally, she will “pose” her subjects.<br />
She finishes her photos using a program called ACD-<br />
See, using minimal enhancement: perhaps boosting<br />
colour or adding to <strong>the</strong> reflection <strong>of</strong> sparkling water.<br />
Marta adds that while she knows she should organise<br />
her photos better and could print some favourites,<br />
it gives her pleasure to go through <strong>the</strong>m and remember<br />
quiet days <strong>of</strong> beachcombing. And isn’t that <strong>the</strong> purpose<br />
<strong>of</strong> a souvenir?<br />
Isolated beauty<br />
Tom Rathgeb, who bases himself on North Caicos during<br />
frequent visits, takes a more “studio” approach to shell<br />
photography, bringing each shell indoors and placing it<br />
on a black background. An old trunk used as a c<strong>of</strong>fee<br />
table in his Whitby home ably serves that purpose, he<br />
says. Then, “I wait for <strong>the</strong> afternoon sun coming through<br />
MARTA MORTON—WWW.HARBOURCLUBVILLAS.COM<br />
MARTA MORTON—WWW.HARBOURCLUBVILLAS.COM<br />
TOM RATHGEB<br />
Beachcombing can reveal beautiful surprises like this clump <strong>of</strong> tube sponges that may have been broken <strong>of</strong>f during a storm.<br />
36 www.timespub.tc
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