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When I find a white weather-washed shell on the beach I decide its beauty is worth a series of photos. It has that bleached look that comes from time in the sun that peels away layers to a sometimes dimmed pattern within. From every angle you see new artistry: tiny holey dots, scallops, frilled ridges, curves, elliptical apertures, an intricate design of coils and curls and circles and borders.
There is a log in the early morning shade falling from the headland, also weather bleached. After my brief dip, while J is still riding waves, I settle down and place my treasure on the sand and let the camera peruse it.
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Your beautiful writing has let me see every detail of this treasure Meg. The photos are an exquisite bonus, I can’t help wondering about the creature that created it and what it looked like before nature’s artist played her part.
You told me recently that you’ve finally found joy in bathing in the ocean, that’s wonderful!
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Thank you so much Gilly – I always appreciate appreciation of my writing. I have a bagful of shells for a follow-up post, showing the same species some complete and some only part way to bleaching. I take them to the beach every day, but immersion interferes! Are you an immerser?
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This one could tell some stories! And I gather all is again right with your world 🙂
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Indeed. I can live with a dysfunctional biocycle, deal with a Kindle that needs updating, and merely mourn a defunct Blogsy.
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Marvellous study, Meg….I agree with Tish’s sentiments….
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Thanks. Now I want to know how to play with negative space as I photograph the next lot. Any ideas?
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Taking the shell as an example, it is so close to the background, you are going to need to use a very wide aperture, and you might lose a bit of detail in the further parts of the shell – have a play. Or move your shell onto, say, a rock, and from a low viewpoint, photograph it against the sky…..
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Almost a meditation as you turn the shell this way and that to reveal it’s beauty.
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You are so right. And speculation too, about the intricacies of shell-building from the creature’s point of view.
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You really do have an artist’s eye for beauty. If you haven’t already read it, try to get hold of Alain de Botton’s The Art of Travel in which this concept is explored.
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Thank you. I must return to de Botton. I remember the man who travelled without leaving his bedroom and the account of the sublime. I’m hoping I’m in the right book! My head is spinning with pre-departure planning.
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I think that it is a different book, but from what you say still sounds like you read another by de Botton. I savoured it as so much relates to the way I experience travel and life. He delves way below the surface of things. The book was a Christmas present from my niece and her husband. They know me well.
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Now I remember, de Botton did explore the sublime. As for travelling without leaving his bedroom, that may be in the final essay which I have yet to read. There is a photo of “the author’s bedroom” tucked into those pages. By all means, return to this book. I will.
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It wasn’t de Botton but one of the people he featured who travelled within his bedroom – if it wasn’t someone in an essay by Montaigne!!! I’ve always attributed the story to de Botton in my head, but my head is not a completely reliable source. Good on your family for reading you so well. It’s a double gift when that happens – you always do it for me.
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Mutability in all its mysterious beauty. The sequence of images also conveys your own discerning eye. Puts me right on the beach with you 🙂
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Now right on the beach with me. THAT would be a treat. It’s the same mutability that draws Sue to fading tulips and weather-beaten everythings. Living here has trained my eye to discern: what I stumble across demands it!
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These are reallygood. The close up ones are my favourites.
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Thank you! I have a small collection of other more complete cousin-shells awaiting my attention. Now I’ve taken up daily immersion on my beach walks I don’t have so much time for photographing!
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But daily immersion enables you to notice things you might not have otherwise, about the water, the view and yourself. Very much as de Botton would say. You will have to find another daily activity to replace this one when you settle back into Warsaw. Or travel immersed in your mind.
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Certainly won’t be immersing in the WisÅ‚a!
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That’s good to know!
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Sounds like a great way to get fit though.
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A lovely study. Such beautiful detail.
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I’ve spent a lot of time with this one shell – a necessary precursor I reckon for a good portrait.
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Absolutely agree. I often take up to 200 photos of something if it intrigues me.
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