Photos: Gulf oil spill affects townsfolk and visitors alike

In the bay waters of Grand Isle, La., Pastor Vidal Galvez baptizes two members of his church from Gretna, La., as the oil spill swirls offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. Full story (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

March 8, 2014 8:50 PM PT

Click here for full coverage of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico

Members of the United Pentecostal Church of Gretna, La., hold a service in the sand. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Church members listen as the pastor performs a baptism nearby. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Church members are told to leave a Grand Isle beach, which was closed because of the oil spill. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Despite the beach closures in Grand Isle, some residents try to enjoy the good weather. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Father Mike Tran greets church members as they leave Our Lady of the Isle Church in Grand Isle. His service focused on making sense of the oil spill, which has washed ashore in the tourist town. Full story of the slick making landfall (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

A gull dives in for food along the shoreline at Grand Isle State Beach. Full story of the spill’s effect on wildlife (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)