C&T Publications Eye on Fine Art Photography - June 2014 | Page 52

Oysters
By Carla Parris, photos © Carla Parris

Oysters are common bivalve mollusks which live in fresh water and brackish habitats. They have a rough, irregular-shaped,
unpretentious outward appearance which belies the treasures they may contain.
In some cases, the contents of interest are pearls, which may be found within the mantle of “pearl oysters,” also called “feathered
oysters,” from the Pteriidae family. These lustrous beauties are formed when an oyster reacts to an irritant, such as sand or a
parasite, by secreting a protective substance called nacre around the offending invader. In other cases, the oysters which are valued
are so-called “true oysters” from the Ostreidae family, such as American, or Eastern, oysters like those harvested from the coastal
waters of the Gulf of Mexico. These are edible oysters, which many consider irresistible seafood delicacies.
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