I wish the busy portrait season in Gulf Shores took place in September, October, and November. This is my favorite time of year to be at the beach. The temperatures are cooling down but the water is still warm. It makes shooting during the middle of the day bearable.

Today was one of those great September days. I stepped outside and saw blue skies and white clouds. Earlier in the summer I gave myself a photo assignment of shooting black and white at the beach but I didn't have time during the portrait season. Today was perfect for taking advantage of the contrasty skies.

The first thing that caught my eye in Gulf Shores were the clouds over Saint Athanasious Greek Orthodox Chapel. I had to turn around and take some quick shots. Driving through the Gulf State Park, I stopped at the weir hoping to get some good shots of the clouds over the bayou. I really didn't like the shots but I noticed a school of minnows in shallow water.

After that, I started feeling hungry so I decided to eat at Sea-n-Suds. I hadn't eaten there since the Spring and it has a great observation deck so I know it would provide some photo ops. After lunch and keeping with a theme of visiting a place I haven't been too during the summer, I headed to the Gulf State Park Pier for sightseeing on the pier. I had some family sessions this summer at the pier, but nothing on the pier. Midday on a weekday it wasn't too crowded. What I did notice were sharks swimming close to the surface and I even saw what appeared to be some jumping out of the water chasing fish. They were too far away to get a picture or it happened so fast I couldn't focus in time. While I was there one angler did manage to hook a shark. When he pulled the shark close, it made one final dive and broke the line.

Yes, September is my favorite time of year to be at the beach.

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Saint Athanasious Greek Orthodox ChapelSaint Athanasious Greek Orthodox Chapel in Gulf Shores, Alabama Gulf Shores PhotographyMinnows at the Gulf State Park Sea-n-SudsSea-n-Suds Restaurant in Gulf Shores, Alabama Gulf Shores Beach PhotographyGulf Shores Beach Gulf Shores PhotographyA couple looks out over the observation deck at Sea-n-Suds Restaurant in Gulf Shores, Alabama Gulf State ParkThe observation deck at Sea-n-Suds Restaurant in Gulf Shores, Alabama Gulf State Park PhotographyThe Gulf State Park Fishing Pier in Gulf Shores, Alabama Man in SurfA look of Gulf Shores Beach from the Gulf State Park Pier in Gulf Shores, Alabama Beach PhotographyA look of Gulf Shores Beach from the Gulf State Park Pier in Gulf Shores, Alabama Beach CondosA look at Gulf Shores Beach from the Gulf State Park Pier in Gulf Shores, Alabama FishingThe Gulf State Park Fishing Pier in Gulf Shores, Alabama Fuji Black and WhiteThe Gulf State Park Fishing Pier in Gulf Shores, Alabama Gulls at the PierLaughing gulls dive after bait fish at the Gulf State Park Pier in Gulf Shores, Alabama Fishing at the PierThe Gulf State Park Fishing Pier in Gulf Shores, Alabama Shark at the BeachA shark breaks off the line at the The Gulf State Park Fishing Pier in Gulf Shores, Alabama Shark PhotographyA shark breaks off the line at the The Gulf State Park Fishing Pier in Gulf Shores, Alabama Fishing for SharksA shark breaks off the line at the The Gulf State Park Fishing Pier in Gulf Shores, Alabama Gulf State Park PhotographyA shark can be seen swimming around the The Gulf State Park Fishing Pier in Gulf Shores, Alabama People Fishing at PierThe Gulf State Park Fishing Pier in Gulf Shores, Alabama Gulf State ParkThe Gulf State Park Fishing Pier in Gulf Shores, Alabama Beach WavesA look at Gulf Shores Beach from the Gulf State Park Pier in Gulf Shores, Alabama