Walk Within The Mangroves (5)

D700 500mm ISO200 f/5.6 1/60 tripod

Walk Within The Mangroves (4)

D700 500mm ISO200 f/4.5 1/60 tripod

In addition to anchoring the tree to the muddy soil, the mangrove roots have two important roles: (a) they filter salt out of the water (balance salt intake is evacuated through the leaves); (b) they develop aerial breathing "snorkels" to avoid suffocation in the oxygen poor mud.

The darker section of the roots on the above picture show the level of water at the highest tide.

Walk Within The Mangroves (3)

D700 500mm ISO200 f/4.5 1/60 tripod

One of the characteristics of the mangroves is their impressive roots, which stabilizes the tree in the soft muddy soil in spite of being exposed to the changes in tide and the waves.

Walk Within The Mangroves (2)

D700 60mm ISO200 f/4.5 1/125

The tide was pretty high and still on the rise. Another 10cm and the branch is in the water.

Walk Within The Mangroves (1)

D700 60mm ISO200 f/5.6 1/640

I like to visit a location at different hours to take advantage of the various lights. So this morning, I had an early walk. The sky was just beautiful with the sun brightening softly the side of the clouds. I abandoned the 3/3 rule and placed the horizon in the center of the picture to take advantage of the reflection...

While more and more people seem to enjoy fishing, catching crabs or just riding their bike to Khatib Bongsu, some tend not to understand that plastics do not decompose in the nature and that they will find their garbage exactly were left them when they come back, if the wind has not blown them into the water... A shame really.

In fact and on the above picture, I had to photoshop out a plastic bottle that was floating within the composition. At full resolution, I could guess the brand of the drink...

Back to the Mangroves of Khatib Bongsu

D700 70-300mm @ 70 ISO200 f/5.6 1/30

Back to the mangrove of Khatib Bongsu, here at sunrise and low tide. The mist was very much present this morning. It gave a particular soft feel to the picture.