Ocean Views And Rare Blooms: Photos Of The Week

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Gary Barnes thinks that a photo should tell a story, and that's what he did when he stopped to take a photo of the Manhattan Beach Pier at sunset.

"The story, for me, is the surfer standing at the edge of the sea, behind him is captivity, in front of him is freedom," Barnes said in an email. "Anyone else should make up their own story - which is what’s great about photography."

Dayle Eisenhauer waited for four years for a bloom from her cereus cactus in her backyard.

"When a bud appears, it only opens in the dark and only for one glorious night!" Eisenhauer said in an email.

Steve Fredriksz documented his view from over the weekend when Manhattan Beach saw a little rain.

"A few days ago a tropical rainstorm created a very surreal atmosphere with muted color and stillness along the beach," Fredriksz said in an email.

Photographer Dominique "Nikki" Ridley affectionately named this photo of the sunrise at Manhattan Beach Pier "Good Morning World"

"The light at this time of year and morning is exceptionally good," Ridley said in an email.

Thank you for sharing your photos and commentary with us!

Want to share your photos with the Patch community? Manhattan Beach Patch is looking for submissions to feature in our photo of the week column every Friday.

If you have an awesome photo of breathtaking scenery, kids caught being kids, a pet doing something funny, or something unusual you happen to catch with your camera, we'd love to feature it on Patch.

We're looking for high-resolution images that reflect the beauty and fun that is Manhattan Beach, and that show off your unique talents.

Email it to Rachel.Barnes@patch.com with the subject line "Photo Of The Week," and tell us where you took the picture as well as a little bit about it.

Participants must include, "I, [insert name], took this picture, and I give Patch permission to publish it," in the email.