Vernal Pools of Ellwood Mesa

I have always loved little things. Tiny. Cute. The smaller, the better. Somehow, the more diminutive things are, the more magic they can hold. I remember being enchanted by ephemeral streams I would find in spring as a kid. Trying to make a miniature fire ring and chimney out of stones while camping. Looking closely at mosses and lichens to see their structures. Those are the kinds of places where the faeries are, you know. 

A year and a half ago, when enough rain finally showed up to snap California out of our drought, shallow depressions along my walk to the beach transformed into little ecosystems. Naturally, I was drawn to them - they are home to Fairy Shrimp, after all. *Update 6/2 - I was informed by the director of the preserve that these pools are fairyless. Still, one can dream.

Rather than spending too much time trying to photograph the pools in a more literal way, I chose to try and capture a little bit of that magical feeling I have with small things. 

More art and soul, less science. 

Vernal pools used to dot the landscape over much of the southern and central portions of the state, but now fewer than 10% remain. I have come across them plenty of times before, but this was the first time witnessing their entire evolution over the course of autumn, winter and spring. 

Spikerushes quickly broke the mirrored reflections of what would otherwise look like a common puddle. With continued rains, the edges of the pools pushed further out, while more plants grew in. The clay soil did a remarkable job of holding the water well into spring last year, and some of the deeper pools are still holding a little today - nearly into summer. 

These images represent a long term personal project, and are all from the last two years - taken at various pools along my frequent walking paths along the Ellwood Mesa. All were shot with a Leica M camera, various lenses throughout. 

The current state of affairs; the beginning of the end.