The scene — tranquil, stellar and the epitome of both strength and safe harbor — beckoned not only to mariners on the sea's horizon but also to photographers seeking to capture the potent and dynamic enlightenment emanating from this edifice's beacon.
Some close friends and I gather at this rustic refuge once every year or so, for good eating, nourishing and in-depth sharing of experience, strength and hope. And this: to take a much needed break from the superficial frenzy of modern society's demands, to actually notice and reflect upon the unfathomable, perpetual power of the ocean and the equally imponderable depth and vastness of the heavenly vault above.
Most of us tend to lose something of our soul by participating in the subtle hypnosis of pursuing the demands of work, seeking the Next Thing, and making sure that we breathlessly "communicate" our every event, thought and emotion through virtual worlds of tweets, text messages and emails. The irony of course being that as we devote more and more of our attention to the now ubiquitous glowing screens in our palms, ostensibly in pursuit of being connected, we also unwittingly become farther and farther removed from authentic, intimate interaction with our fellow humans, and with the blazing beauty richly found in the natural world surrounding us.
Thus I so relish the brief, too rare weekend escapes such as my friends and just shared on the shores of the Pacific coast. Of course, being of incurable nocturnal inclination, I was compelled to set up my tripod and point my camera's lenses hither and yon in the depths of the late evening. While there were many wondrous sights to behold in that peaceful solitude, nothing could compare to the profound expanse of the overhead sky, a dome utterly dusted with innumerable stars on this crystal clear, moonless night. Indeed, the density and population of these distant suns strewn horizon to horizon was such that I was unable to discern the traditional constellations among vast array of sparkling pin points.
Meditating on the miracle and grace of being a part of this magnificent construction was both humbling and comforting: it is the ultimate affirmation to simply exist and be included in this miraculous Realty. In the wee hours of this recent morning, with the heavy sound of waves relentlessly, eternally crashing against the cliffs just behind me, I felt an great peace and sense of healing by nature's spectacular beauty.
So, dear reader, herein I share a small, brief window into the gorgeous aesthetic which served as a sturdy, towering calling to my Spirit, one of solid, stoic, unmovable strength, potent enough to exist not only for its sake but also to serve as a safe haven all who seek such things.
Lighthouse, Pigeon Point, 12:22 a.m., September 28, 2013, #8025-7D
© 2013 James W. Murray, all rights reserved.
(click image for larger version)
Details: September 28, 2013, Canon 7D; f/2.8 @ 6 secs ; ±0 EV; ISO 1250;
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM @ 61mm
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM @ 61mm
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Visit my full photographic repository at jwmurray.smugmug.com
