My husband mentioned to me a few weeks back about the possibility of going to Virginia Beach sometime soon. I had no idea he actually meant to go Mothers day weekend. I love the beach. Coming from Michigan which is surrounded by large bodies of water, I have always loved the beach. My husband argues the fact that the beaches I grew up knowing, arent beaches at all. You see he is from Southern California, and the beach to him is REAL sand, and real waves. Doesnt matter to me, sun, water, swimming thats a beach day!
I can still remember the first time I saw the ocean. I was 21, my husband (my boyfriend at the time) took me home to meet his family for the first time. I had never really been anywhere, except Michigan, Chicago, and Niagara falls. We took the bus cross country and AMAZED is the only word I can describe how I felt seeing the country for the first time. The very second I layed eyes on the ocean, and felt the salty air on my skin, I was IN LOVE. I could live at the beach and be perfectly happy.
After starting to plan our trip home to California this year, I mentioned in passing that it would be so cool to take pictures of the sun rising in the Atlantic and setting in the Pacific. This is what gave my husband the idea to take me to Virginia Beach for Mothers day. Incredibly sweet and thoughtful of him. He booked us a hotel right on the beach, just so I could get my shots in!
This was taken from our balcony at 8:13 pm on Friday night.
In the business of Photography it is really important that your partner not only supports your art, but understands how deep this passion runs in your soul. I honestly spend about 70% of my day thinking about something photography related. Be it thinking about new ideas, or props. or just looking at the world through "lens eyes". Lens eyes, or photographers goggles is what I call it when everything you look at has a nice frame around your minds eye. Its something a photographer has to forcefully shut off in their own head. We train ourselves in a way that we are constantly scanning the landscape for the perfect shot, or the right lighting. Sometimes its hard to turn that part of your brain off, so its nice to have someone who supports it. Who plans trips like this, to let my heart be the joyful photographer. It dosent have to be perfect, Im not working with anyone else or for anyone else. Just doing what I LOVE TO DO, for the pure joy of doing it.
Aside from the photography, it was an amazing time with my family. My daughter was so happy and joyful. My husband and I stayed up and talked most of the night, watching the water. It really makes me count my blessings.
I stayed up most of the night for the fear if I fell deep asleep, I would miss the sunrise. It really paid off. I was awake at 5 am to witness the sky colors changing.
5:38am a ship passes in the early morning hours.
The anticipation was more than I expected it to be. I waited for what seemed like forever, for the sun to peek over the horizon at me. I have watched the sunset, both in lake Michigan, and the pacific ocean. Its a whole other world watching it set, then waiting for it to rise. The colors are much more intense in the absence of the sun. And most people (photographers inluded) walk way when they can no longer see the sun. If you stay around long enough after the sun is gone, thats when the true magic happens. But with the sunset, it ends quickly. The opposite is true of the sunrise. It seems to linger for hours before the sun finally peeks up.
6:04 am
This is the moment, I almost held my breath. You could see it was going to be any second now. A soft glow arose from the water line. I held my camera close to my face. Click, click click. Pause, breath, click again.
6:05 am
I was not the only one, waiting in anticipation of this glorious sunrise. The birds were flying in joyful celebration. A few men sat on the shoreline, watching and waiting for the same moment of illustriousness. At first I was irritated that they were in my shot. But as I watched them, It was as if we became connected, by this one same event. They appeared as astonished as I, at the beauty we had the privy of witnessing.
This very well could have been more than enough to make me blissfully happy the rest of the weekend. The sunrise, playing in the ocean with my loves. But we then drove to Richmond and visited the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. I love flowers. I love gardens. I love being so near to nature. I always admire the work and dedication it takes to create and maintain such places. And again, a chance to use my camera for the joy of photography.
It was a beautiful, perfect weekend. It really makes me realize just how truly blessed I am. Not only to have such a fantastic family, that really appreciates and loves me. But also for all that I get to see, and capture. Life is beautiful. Take time to stop and smell the roses, or play in the ocean. Take time to tell your loved ones you love them. Most importantly, be thankful for every breath you take, and every moment that makes you feel breathless.
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