Beach Flock
I captured these images at Balos Beach, Crete in September 2024. Getting to Balos requires a hike or a boat tour, so most of the beachgoers are tourists. I opted to hike. I joined a stream of hikers winding through the desert towards the smell of sea salt. From the lookout point, I could see people cavorting in the sands and shallows. A goat greeted us as we began our descent to join the crowd below.
Later that afternoon, the goat and a few of its friends descended upon the beach. The wool of the sheep echoed the colors and textures of Crete's rocky landscape; they were the only locals here. The beachgoers, eager to take selfies with the animals, lured them with snacks from their bags. This reward made the creatures more aggressive. I ran barefoot across the sand to catch a group of sheep as they barreled towards a couple who had been feeding their companions (and had begun to regret it). Another tourist was recording the entire scene on her phone–I couldn't resist adding her to the shot too.
Later that afternoon, the goat and a few of its friends descended upon the beach. The wool of the sheep echoed the colors and textures of Crete's rocky landscape; they were the only locals here. The beachgoers, eager to take selfies with the animals, lured them with snacks from their bags. This reward made the creatures more aggressive. I ran barefoot across the sand to catch a group of sheep as they barreled towards a couple who had been feeding their companions (and had begun to regret it). Another tourist was recording the entire scene on her phone–I couldn't resist adding her to the shot too.