Once in a while, depending on how high the tides are, we make discoveries that delight and amaze at the same time.
The white markings are from the saltwater that evaporated and, like magic, left behind these cross-hatching marks. Each white mark adds interest to the already fascinating rock and its original colouring. No matter how often I come across these marks, I never get bored exploring them. Each rock section constitutes an artwork itself.
Thanks for stopping by today. Enjoy the images above. May you delight in their individuality and differences. Warm wishes, Anna
I actually stopped for the first time to read the plaque in its entirety…
I am always grateful for information on any given trail. The information provided here is spot on. “Second Wind Bench” is a popular resting spot for many…
“Second Wind Bench”
…some images of the area around “Second Wind Bench”
The next stretch of trail leads to one of my favourite look off points and the weather could not have been better to enjoy the view!
Yes, these are tree roots that span the width of the gorge below. The light was perfect as the trees filtered the harsh mid-day sunlight. Birds were chirping and just when I thought it was blissfully quiet I realized that the sound of a powerful motor boat was traveling across the water. This was a good time to carry on.
A little ways further up the path I located another two information plaques…
…but after that I was guided by my responses to the lush environment. The light illuminating foliage, spots of sunlight on the lush moss, bark separating from trees, smooth and shiny tree bases, the wind rustling gently through the trees…
When I arrived at this bench bathed in sunlight I reached a place where no man-made sounds traveled: Cheerful bird song overhead, the faint sounds of water from the beach below completely devoid of motor sounds or human voices. Pure bliss!
The view from the bench
Eventually I carried on toward an even better view. The ultimate destination is the look off tower, every time!
In one direction the Bay of Fundy looking toward Cape Sharp, in the other direction a mixed forest and not another soul anywhere.
On the way back I made more discoveries just following my instinct. I never veered off the path and yet the discoveries were limitless! I was especially intrigued by the curling bark.
Soon I was nearing the beach access where I started. It’s always wonderful to head downhill.
Balancing Act
These dead branches caught my attention. I asked myself how long the long branch will remain across this grouping. The next strong wind might just shift or send it crashing down. I will make sure to check next time I explore Partridge Island.
A strong reminder that summer is advancing quickly was brought to my attention just as I was about to leave the cooling trees behind: Berries are ripening in record time! This blackberry will be ready for picking very soon…
Thanks for joining me as I reflected on my afternoon on Partridge Island. May it set the tone for a relaxing weekend. Best wishes, Anna
Ottawa House Beach is a favourite beach to explore. There is a vast beach to walk on. The beach connects to Partridge Island and a little further from there is East Bay. My first time visiting East Bay was on a chilly November day last fall. I can honestly say that I was not that fond of the biting, bone-chilling wind that cut straight through my winter coat!
Yesterday the weather was much more pleasant and, after I parked my car, I decided to cross the marsh to check out the weir where, twice a day at low tide, the fish harvest takes place. I arrived during the rising tide with enough time to navigate the rocky shore and get some great images.
It was a glorious day with sunshine, blue skies and just enough clouds to make the sky more interesting. By the time the tide reaches its highest point the nets will be submerged. It’s always difficult to imagine and impossible to photograph as the marsh I crossed will also be under water. Here is a little more info on how weir fishing works.
Heading away from the weir to continue on my walk
It was a quiet day and the perfect time to head toward Partridge Island next.
Check back tomorrow when I will share my solitary excursion of Partridge Island’s eco walk with you.
“Enlightenment is like the moon reflected in a dewdrop on a blade of grass. The moon does not get wet , nor is the drop of water broken… And the whole moon and entire sky are reflected in even one drop of water.” – Dogen
Sometimes the big picture can be a little uninspiring…
…other times it can be overwhelming.
That’s when I stop, take a breath, sometimes even close my eyes to consciously clear my mind of preconceived expectations. And, just when I think there is not much to discover the sun slowly moves closer to the horizon and magic happens!
During a quick trip to the beach late in the day to catch some fresh air I set myself a little challenge. The idea for the self-imposed challenge was sparked by the following comment I so often hear: “Your photos are so wonderful. I could never do this…” When I disagree with that particular statement and suggest that anyone can learn to “see” people often shake their heads and move on or switch the subject altogether. The challenge I set for myself was simple and it can be copied by anyone. Here is your invitation!
The beach was illuminated and sparkled like the treasure chest in a pirate’s cave when light falls upon the hidden jewels. I quickly decided to find several square foot areas with typical compositions presented by Mother Nature. The shell and kelp featured in the slideshow above was one such composition. I made an image of what first caught my attention, then I moved closer and responded to the way the light was creating areas of shadow and dimension. The closer I moved in, the more I discovered and felt compelled to photograph.
I moved on and, only about three meters away, the evening sunlight presented the most mesmerizing show with the help of these flat foliose dulse blades.
Dulse and kelp continue to be a source of rich inspiration for my beach photo excursions. Whether they have recently been left behind by the receding tide or they are are in various drying stages moving toward decay near the high tide mark, dulse and kelp alike naturally demand attention.
The last slideshow example of an everyday find on the beach is a close up study of twisted wrack, a seaweed found in abundance covering large rocks that are completely submerged during high tide. Wave action pulls the individual plants loose and deposits them on the beaches. One might carelessly walk past until we take a closer look: Bend down, move in and let the light guide you…
May your week be filled with unexpected discoveries and may the light be favourable to draw attention to these treasures. Explore your backyard shortly after sunrise or just before the sun sets. You will be amazed how different flowers, fruits and even ordinary weeds will present themselves to you.
Enjoy! Make it a daily habit and you may just find a continuous source of inspiration. Warm wishes, Anna
The practice of contemplative photography requires an appreciation of the familiar. The photographer who wants to see and who desires to create fine images must recognize the familiar, the mundane others may walk past without pausing to observe. Remember: One’s ability to see is not increased by the distance one puts between oneself and one’s home! If we do not see everything that is around us at home we will not see what matters when we travel to a new city or explore an unfamiliar landscape.
I was reminded of the fact that “good seeing” begins with careful observation of my surroundings a few evenings ago while exploring one of my favourite beaches, Wasson’s Bluff. I looked across the low tide plane toward Clarke Head. Framing the images brought my attention to the large boulder a few feet away. What caught my attention immediately was the area where the wet sand reflected the evening light. I moved a little closer to make the boulder my main focus but I immediately realized that what really drew me and constituted the flash of perception all along was the space that let the light pass through.
It is this skill of recognizing and evaluating the subject matter on its own merits that really counts when making fine art images. The camera is a good tool to employ while honing this skill but, over time, we observe and identify such flashes of perception naturally. It is not necessary to always make an image. We can move in, see what has demanded our attention, internalize the moment and move away. It is a form of meditation to walk through familiar and unfamiliar surroundings, seeing subject matter, taking note and moving on.
I encourage everyone to try “seeing” today. Let me know what you think and leave a comment below. Enjoy your day and the exercise, Anna
“Develop interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature, music – the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls, and interesting people. Forget yourself.” – Henry Miller
Living a creative life demands a lot of attention. Attention is a way to connect and survive. Over the years I have discovered that living that creative life also calls for infinite patience.
I chose a slide show of flowers for today as I equate gardening with limitless patience. At the same time, one also requires a sense of adventure when adding new plants to a flower bed especially after moving into a new home during the winter. The plantings in the yard are yet to be discovered and during spring and summer the discoveries are constant and rewarding, sometimes more and sometimes less so. Patiently waiting for a plant to mature and show its true potential, then decide whether to dig it up to transplant or discard because what you are identifying may be an invasive weed, demands attention and decision making power.
Life is like that. Patience is something I have to work on continually. Yes, these days I am paying attention to a new yard and the plants that are still emerging but I am also exploring my new town and natural surroundings. I am meeting more people now that Covid measures are beginning to relax. I exercise patience and hone my observation skills as this town’s vitality is returning with the promise of cultural events, as I connect with newcomers and those who might have been born here. There is a certain amount of excitement that demands my attention. I love that I live close to the centre of town but am not in the middle of the hustle and bustle. I make the decision when to join in and when to stay on the periphery…
In my creative life I am connecting with artists and those who live for and support a creative lifestyle. Patience and the ability to pay attention are helpful as one gets to know the greater community made up of various personalities. I have lived in large cities and small towns and unincorporated communities. Each time I learned something new. In a small community one might meet the individual citizens over a shorter period of time but it also requires patience and careful listening to the individual to get to know and appreciate them. In a larger centre it’s easy to drift in and out of groups and take time to “test” the social structure, in a small town it is vital to exercise cautious enthusiasm and positivity while meeting new acquaintances.
Just like in one’s garden we observe and naturally gravitate to those whom we connect with on a deeper level through shared interests and experiences. As I get older I become brutally aware that my time is precious and my energy limited. Negativity has no place in it as it clouds my vision, diminishes my patience and prevents me from paying attention to the things that feed my soul. I love our new hometown and the wonderful people I meet whether I am on a walk around the block with my dogs or on my more remote beach excursions. As another newcomer friend keeps reminding me: “We live in paradise!”
Thanks for giving me a place to share my experiences and insights. Wishing you a fantastic day filled with new discoveries. Best wishes, Anna
Approximately 20 minutes from Parrsboro Five Islands Lighthouse Park in Colchester County is a great destination. Touring one of the newcomers to Parrsboro I made it a stop along the drive. We left town in a grey shroud with drizzle. When we turned onto Broderick Lane in Five Islands the clouds parted and the sun illuminated the landscape before us. What a sight it is!
I love the five islands landscape. Moose Island is the largest, followed by Diamond, Long, Egg, and Pinnacle Islands. Their appearance changes with the light conditions and levels of the tide and I am never disappointed by what is on offer anytime during the year.
The beach at Five Islands Lighthouse Park is secluded and somewhat sheltered. A couple had claimed a spot for sunbathing and swimming. The water temperature in the Bay of Fundy has risen steadily to 14 C. I am not much of a swimmer but I have several friends here who swim in the Bay of Fundy for up to 10 months of the year. Biohacking at its finest! Perhaps this couple belongs to that somewhat “exclusive” club?
I often walk the beach at Five Islands Lighthouse Park. The beach connects to Philip Filmore Beach down shore and stretches a fair distance in the other direction along several impressive cottages.
There wasn’t time to walk during this brief stop but, there is always time to get close to the flowers and weeds.
Hope you enjoyed today’s short stop at another great beach destination. Have a wonderful day. Best Wishes, Anna
A few days ago I pulled a book from my library that I have not held in my hands in a long time. “Photography and the Art of Seeing” by Freeman Patterson is a gem. First published in 1985 I own a second print copy from 1989. I remember the day it fell into my hands, literally, at my favourite second-hand bookstore in Penticton. When I scaled down my library in 2017 this book was one I could never part with.
At four in the morning it drew me to that corner of the book shelf where it was neatly tucked away after I unpacked the many book boxes last February. I began to flip through the book, back to front not particularly certain why it had to be this book that drew me in, when I stopped on page 36 and began to read the first paragraphs under the chapter heading “Relaxed Attentiveness” I knew why it had to be this book.
Black on white the following words confirmed my own insights: “When did you last lean back in your easy chair and contemplate the patterns of light on the ceiling, rather than pick up the newspaper or turn on your television set? When did you look thoughtfully at the butter melting on your morning toast? When did you stop to examine the structure of a cabbage, as you bisected it for cooking? In photography, observing is the first and most important skill we have to learn. Learning to observe requires us to set time aside to “see” familiar things. But, even if we take the time, we may find it difficult to observe carefully because we are tense and preoccupied with other things. The first step in learning any skill is to relax. As long as you you are worried, tense, or concerned about success, you are thinking about yourself – not about the skill you want to acquire. The second step is to be able to pay attention to somebody or something else. The trick is to learn how to switch yourself off, so you can switch your subject matter on. You have to ‘let go’. Effective photographic expression depends on it.” Freeman Patterson, Photography and the Art of Seeing, Key Porter Publishing, Toronto, 1985, 1989, ISBN 1-55013-099-4
I know I read these words when I first purchased the book in 2013. They slipped somewhere into the recesses of my mind and became part of the foundation for the contemplative photography path I embarked on with conviction in 2016. These four short paragraphs continue to guide me subconsciously every time following the insertion of the fully charged battery into the camera body, the reformatting of memory cards and checking the ISO settings.
Whether I go out alone, with a friend or a group, I am able to ease into the environment by letting my eyes appreciate the surroundings. I am aware and alert and ready to move in when the opportunity calls. But, I don’t have to go far. The short slide show today demonstrates clearly that relaxed attentiveness can be part of any time of the day. The images were captured during the early morning hours, with the first light tentatively illuminating the sky as the sun was making it’s presence known on the eastern horizon. Moments later the silhouettes are more defined and then finally the trees move from merely being black shapes into becoming part of the early morning landscape reflecting off the river.
It only took a short time to witness these changes going from darkness to light. I observed from my couch in complete silence appreciating the changes as they presented themselves before me as if painted by a magic brush. Witnessing the light changing early in the day sets the mood for what follows. I am grateful for the opportunities of discovery as I continue to try to master “the art of seeing.”
I hope you enjoyed my contemplation. May it contribute to your day with positivity. Pause and really see what is presented to you. Warm wishes, Anna
When we moved to Parrsboro late last fall I made daily beach walks a top priority. Each day I would venture out and walk one kilometer to First Beach from our AirBnB. It was such a treat to get out after two weeks isolation which, in reality, was closer to three weeks as we isolated in our camper as we traveled from south central Saskatchewan to Western Nova Scotia. Stepping out into the community was accompanied by some trepidation and a general feeling of uncertainty. But, with the beach more or less deserted by the end of October my walks soon helped to regain a certain fitness level and they restored my sense of adventure. On one of my excursions I met up with a Parrsboro native (who ended up to be a distant relative to Colin). Laura and I have become close friends and during the last lock down she was part of our tight bubble of four.
Spencer’s Island Beach
Since arriving in our new community I made a commitment to myself, to walk as often as possible in any weather. I managed to follow my goal throughout the winter and spring. When a new person arrived in Parrsboro a couple of weeks ago, someone I had connected with through FaceBook in January, I supported her as best as I could throughout the two weeks of quarantine. At the end of the two weeks I made arrangements to meet up and show her around.
It was a wet summer Sunday, but who is complaining when we see reports of record breaking heatwaves in the West? I decided to take the road toward Advocate with stops along the way at Fox Point Lookoff (yes, they are called “Lookoff” here, not “Lookout”), Cochrane Road Beach and our first real stop at Spencer’s Island Beach. This beach is one of my favourite walking beaches. We arrived with the tide receding and it was quite chilly due to the wind and rain. But the fresh air on my face always feels great!
Our ultimate destination was Driftwood Beach in Advocate. Isle Haute, my favourite landmark, was shrouded in the mist and the ever-present wind was driving the rain along the beach. It wasn’t “sideways rain”, thank goodness but the chill in the air was reminiscent of the cooler seasons. We took a little time to appreciate the limited view…
Driftwood Beach in Advocate Harbour, NS
…and explore the driftwood dampened by the rain and humidity.
The timing was fortunate. As soon as we returned to the car the rain reached full intensity. I felt we found the best time to venture out. I love the drive to Advocate, rain or shine. There is so much more to see but for a first outing this was a great way to get acclimatized to a new area, especially of one has never been to Nova Scotia before and bought a property via video chat.
Hope you enjoyed this short rainy day excursion. Enjoy your day! Warm wishes, Anna
“We become so preoccupied with what we are not able to address, what we are not able to mend, what we are not able to leave behind, that we forget that whatever we are in the light of day is slowly, but surely healing the rest of us.” – Mark Nepo
No matter how often I return to a beach I have explored previously I find something new and exciting to discover. Could it be that looking through the viewfinder of the camera has a vital part in it? Perhaps… When I employ the viewfinder, adjust the focus and sharpness I can omit distractions on the periphery. I regularly surprise myself by what I have discovered by simply slowing down, sometimes closing my eyes before I begin to explore the familiar or unfamiliar surroundings. But I always let the landscape and my intuition guide me.
It has been an active pursuit to trust the process. I reflected on a turning point and came up with the end of November 2011, nearly ten years ago! It began with the discovery of ice formations along the lake shore. All I had to do was get closer to the edge where the water was freezing and voilà, I was completely immersed in discoveries I could never dream of. The images I created were the starting point for an exhibition during August 2012.
Fast forward to 2016 and a week-long course on contemplative photography hosted by Haliburton College in Ontario. I was thoroughly hooked on Miksang/Contemplative photography already. During the workshop I discovered haiku composition which led to creating my previous blog. Posting daily images and haikus for 4 1/2 years was a precursor to this blog.
I often get the question: “How often do you practice contemplative or Miksang photography?” And my answer has remained the same: “Every day.” I am committed to the contemplative practice and photography is an activity I can engage in on a daily basis. Does every image turn out the way I want it to? Absolutely not, but every image I frame and attempt to create aids in strengthening my focus, it calms me and helps me manage life’s distractions and negative influences. There are also plenty of attempts that don’t work and I walk away from the image.
When I make the time to visit the beach I know in my heart that I will find inner peace, the photographs I create are secondary and often a surprise to me when I review them at home later. Each image is created in the moment without considering the conventional rules of photography we have all learned when we participated in our “Introduction to Photography” courses. Contemplative photography is about leaving the rules behind and responding to a flash of perception.
Why would I be making the images above? Perhaps I was intrigued by the pebbles left behind in the indentations of the the rocks when the tide went out? Or was it the smooth surfaces? Maybe it was the colouration of the rock? I cannot recall what drew me into make the images two weeks ago. I just know I responded to a flash of perception most likely triggered by an emotion…
Today’s post was all about sharing what brings me a feeling of calm and deep satisfaction while escaping the routine of everyday life and its challenges.
All images were created at Fox Point Beach under the time constraints of the incoming tide. I hope you enjoy them. If you recognize one or the other from a previous post you may have caught a glimpse into my process and motivation.
Walking on ancient rocks has become an obsession for me since moving to the Bay of Fundy. An opportunity arose to take part in a guided tour offered through the local Cliffs of Fundy GeoPark yesterday. A huge thank you goes to Caleb and Lauren, our informative and patient guides. They shared a wealth of information while guiding us through the woods to another breath-taking beach, another destination to explore further in the future.
Excitement was building as we stopped frequently to find out more about the geology and historic surroundings. Thomas Cove is situated along the Fundy shore in Economy. Economy was an important town with five shipbuilding families contributing to the area. These days it is difficult to imagine such a busy town as one passes the small homes and countless AirBnBs overlooking the vast beach area. The Fundy Shores GeoPark Welcome Centre has not reopened yet since the pandemic shut down so many tourist destinations. This will change quickly now with the borders opening. I can’t wait to stop in and check out additional historic information.
Thomas Cove is named after the Thomas family who was heading one of the five shipbuilding companies. The walk along the fern-lined wooded path, located on the old Thomas homestead, was easy to navigate. Caleb stopped in regular intervals to share background information and provide us with glimpses of the beach-scape below.
On the map it looked like quite a distance before we would reach the point where a rope would be assisting us to get to the sandstone beach below. It took hardly any time at all and, socially distancing Covid-style we made our way down one by one. For anyone hesitating to embark on this excursion, worry not! An alternative route is available to those not comfortable or unable to use the rope and head down the steep slope. It was the reason I felt comfortable signing up for the tour but I didn’t need to resort to the “easy access” after all.
As if on cue, the sun came out and lifted the cloud cover almost as soon as the group made it onto the amazing red sandstone formations. The sandstone’s distinctive colour is due to the iron content in the sand particles and their response to the elements. You can bend down and touch the rocks and realize instantly how soft they are. You scoop up sand particles between your fingers without much effort. Constant tidal erosion hastens the changes in the shoreline and contributes to the distinctive colour in the rocks and in the water as waves approach the beaches.
We advanced slowly across the ancient rocks. The sandstone is the result of glacial compression during the last ice age. I can never get enough of the bright colours, especially after a rain fall when the red rocks seem to glow. Our group had plenty of time to explore, pose more questions and enter into short discussions with Caleb. It was a diverse group comprised of individuals with keen interests including birding, geology and photography. I was able to distance and explore the rock formations up close.
The middle of the day heat caught up with us by the time we reached the last part of our tour. The excursion came full circle when we walked across the salt marsh and returned to the wooded foot path leading to the parking lot. Two hours well spent and with a memory card full of images (besides these from my iPhone). I look forward to downloading and editing the images over the weekend.
I will leave you with an image of one of Parrsboro’s Historic landmarks, Ottawa-House-by-the-Sea adjacent to Partridge Island. The flag is at half-mast as the usual festivities have been cancelled to acknowledge the sad and disturbing discoveries at several residential schools in Western Canada during the past several weeks.
I do know that many of you in Atlantic Canada will be reuniting with family and friends this weekend now that the border restrictions have been eased. May your day be filled with joy and gratitude.
That was certainly the perfect remedy last evening. I had not been to the beach in a couple of days (thanks to side effects after receiving the vaccine). But last night I decided to take a short drive to Second Beach for a brief time out and enjoy some fresh air.
Perfect timing… within five minutes the clouds decided to share some of the moisture they were holding on to. I was still close to the car and decided to wait out the rain.
Almost as quickly as the rain had started it stopped! Blue sky and sunshine from the west…
…rewarded us with the most glorious rainbow! It started right in front of the car in the water!
Turning toward the sun yielded even more excitement!
Moisture was rising in a fine mist across the marsh. Only minutes later the mist had dissolved and it was just as when we arrived.
Moments like this really add wonderful opportunities to appreciate the landscape here even more!
May your day be filled with unexpected discoveries. Make sure to stop and acknowledge them.
This piqued my interest in the 2021 almanac last week: “June’s full Moon will reach peak illumination at 2:40 P.M. Eastern Time on June 24, but will not be visible until later that evening, when it drifts above the horizon.“
I met the local naturalist during a short afternoon beach walk last Thursday. When he learned that we were fairly new to the area he suggested several places to watch the Strawberry Moon rise. We ended up just above Two Islands with the last sunset glow disappearing in the rear view mirror.
Swatting mosquitoes while trying to keep the camera still was a challenge. The moon began to crest on the horizon at 9:32 pm and was in full view by 9:40 pm. The bright orange disc soon began to change to gold. The cloud wisps were not visible until the moon had moved above the horizon adding a certain mystique.
The was the third and final of three supermoons. The Strawberry Moon was in Capricorn which followed one in Scorpio in April and a second one in May, which was in Sagittarius.
The Strawberry Moon appeared full for nearly three days this time, from early Wednesday morning until early Saturday morning. It arrived at a very important point, just after the Summer Solstice on June 21st and the start of Cancer season.
The name Strawberry Moon comes from the ripening of “June-bearing” strawberries, The Old Farmer’s Almanac says. June is a month when many summer fruits ripen and flowers bloom that are ready for people to collect.
On the way back to town we stopped by First Beach, across from the lighthouse. I love a full moon and I always feel privileged when I can capture it with my camera.
The images in the slide show were all taken with my iPhone, no filters or editing of any kind. I wanted to share them sooner but with other commitments on Friday and a long lasting negative reaction to the second vaccine dose I just managed to share them today. Sorry for the delay. I hope you still find this post of interest.
Wishing you a beautiful Tuesday with opportunities to stay out of the heat, especially if you are following this blog from Western Canada.
Tide Rollers & Mudlarkers... 