Blog
From the Shore: A Seventeen-Year Journey
Welcome to The Ricky Workman Arts website, and thank you for stopping by my first blog post!
For this inaugural entry, I want to share the story behind my photographic collection, “From the Shore.” This collection is the result of more than a decade of returning to the Texas Gulf Coast, capturing the ever-changing light, shifting weather, and daily rhythms of life along the water.
One of the greatest advantages of photographing a place over many years is the ability to truly understand its patterns. Light changes with the seasons, tides rise and fall, and each visit offers a different story. The more often a photographer ventures out, the greater the chance of witnessing a rare, fleeting moment—one that might never happen again.
Ahead of the Storm
One of my earliest images from this collection came from a day when patience was tested. The morning was heavy with mist and unrelenting clouds, making it feel like the day might be a lost cause. Then, in the early afternoon, the sky began to shift. By late afternoon, an approaching storm loomed over the water—dark, rolling in from the sea.
As I watched, shrimping and oyster boats rushed toward the safety of the harbor. One particular boat stood out, illuminated by a break in the western sky. The golden light touched its hull, contrasting against the storm’s ominous backdrop. I pressed the shutter.In the seventeen years of photographing this coastline, I’ve never seen a moment quite like that again.
Fast forward to one of my most recent images, taken in a place I’ve visited countless times at dawn. I often watch the boats depart for their day’s work, capturing the silhouettes and the interplay of light on the water.
But on this morning, everything aligned. The outgoing boat, its form dark against the rich colors of sunrise, seemed perfectly placed. A crew member stood on deck, quietly watching as they set out to sea. In the foreground, the bows of other boats framed the scene, pointing toward the departing vessel and the glowing horizon.
I had made many images here before, but this was the one I had unknowingly been waiting for. Seventeen years of visits, and finally, the conditions, the light, and the composition all came together.
Looking Ahead
The “From the Shore“ collection is a testament to patience, persistence, and the rewards of returning to a place over time. Each image holds a story, a moment that may never repeat itself.
In my next blog, I’ll explore the opposite challenge—creating a meaningful photographic series when time is limited and the location is unfamiliar. I hope you’ll join me on that journey.
Until then, I invite you to explore the “From the Shore” collection and experience these moments for yourself.