A day away

This weekend, I ventured down South where spent the day at a breath taking place called Lulworth Cove. I left Berkshire at 8am, arriving around 10:30 somewhere totally new to me and undiscovered.

An hour later and the van is parked alongside some thatched Cottages where it is left for the day whilst we follow the path leading us elsewhere. We hike across open space seascapes, leaving the rest of the world behind, focusing on what the day is to bring.

The air is misty and I can see my breath creates small clouds when I breathe. I'm hoping it doesn't rain. But, if it chooses to, then this will flow intertwined with everything else today.

It is a day to experience something refreshing, away from the busyness of day to day life, of work and a crowded headspace.

I begin to take snaps of my surroundings, no idea on where to start. It's all worth a shot.

Using my 30mm, (one of my favourites) the camera chooses its first.

After walking for a while, I look to my left and am stopped in my tracks. There is a spot far away from where anyone else is. A small Cove within the Cove. The sand is a pure deep rooted sort of colour with high end Cliffs and a smooth chalky blue coloured water awaiting adventure..

I want to keep leaning forward to see it clearer, but if I lean any further forward I might fall.

We carry on along the coastal path, chatting, laughing and enjoying the seascapes.

My heart rate begins to get back to normal again as the steepness of the hill begins to balance itself out. This is as good as Cardio gets! Hair is all over the place, puffed like the wind and eyes bright fighting the cold but smiling too.

I need this more. Need to get away, camera in hand, ideas put into action rather than kept locked up inside.

The beach is a mixture of Pebbles and sand, it's beautiful. Natural. People are walking their dogs and families taking their kids out for the day. One wears a little safari cap, in his own magical childhood world. I miss that. Lost boys ready for whatever life brings them. Completely naive, its quite beautiful. Another squeals with excitement when his mum mentions something he likes. Good vibes.

As humans, we attract what we give out into the world. As creatives, we overthink this a lot. We meddle with our own minds and we are dreamers. We of course have choices with what we do, how we behave and the attention we give to detail.

Does an image represent what you see, how you perceive something or someone? Or is an image what you wish to represent this as?

When I use my camera, I visualise what I want to capture and what I want to represent. This creates a picture like mantra in my mind similar to what we who practice Yoga often do in class or what we take with us after we practice throughout the day. Create positive affirmations to produce these equally positive outcomes.

What do I want from this?

Why have I chosen to do this?

What has inspired me? Am I a perfectionist, or someone whose accepting of things the way they are?

Do I compare, or live on my own morals and beliefs?

Sometimes it can take some repetition of an image several times to capture the perfect one. Sometimes it happens when its least expected. And sometimes, when you think everything has it in for you, fairy dust is sprinkled on you and it all turns out well.

Simplicity in life is the way forward. Lets go back to basics.

Happiness is feeling warm energy flow through you. It is living in the present. Vibes are everything. What you feel is what you get. Place yourself somewhere suiting. New and unfamiliar but ready to be discovered and captured uniquely. Go outdoors. Camp in the freezing cold. Watch the stars start shining after the sun sets below the rippled ocean. Find the milky way, and don't forget make a wish when you do. Dream. Keep dreaming. Dream again. Fill your imagination with beauty. Envision. Close your eyes. Hear the whistling wind, the movement of the trees and your own breathe. You are grounded. Rooted. Smile. TAKE A LIONS BREATH. Simhasana Pranayama. A pose releasing tension in the face and eyes. Bringing us back to our wild thing. Our inner animal spirit. Our balanced selves.

Climb a cliff, and watch the full moon. Lie on your back and feel your body melt into the ground together with it, not separate. Always with Respect and Love. Dip your toes in the ocean, run across the sand.... you are free. Feel, follow your intuition. Your instincts. It never lies.

Leaving my coat, rucksack and the surfboard sock on some rocks, I look around envisioning future images, from previous ones. Present Images to Images I want.

I adjust according to light, feeling and framing. Coat on, Rucksack on, Surf Sock under arm, we carry on along.

Stopping, I use this moment to record something I don't know will occur again. It reminds me of a beach in Bilbao several years ago, when I first got into Photography and took my first shots of sandy footprints on its golden coast. Walks across the beach and memories once had have now become a walk on the beach and a memory to be made.

He is walking in the near distance, surfboard tucked alongside and logs stacked on his rucksack. He turns. Snap. Walks. Snap. We walk. We stop. We rest.

Camera is put down momentarily. I sit, watch the water, take in where I am.

Camera back in hand as I photograph a fire being built. The temperature has dropped and it's getting real cold. Lets bring some warmth back.

Wood is stacked, and fire is lit. It's fiery colours rise up from the ground teasing us. Attempting to increase the flames, I blow toward the bottom but nothing happens! Perhaps not my forte. Definitely something I should practice. A life necessity actually if I ever need it. Oops!

The expert gives it a go and we are off! The heat quickly reveals itself and my hands begin to warm up. It feels nice. I film moments from this evening, and moments from starting the fire.

One day soon, I will camp out and capture the night sky alongside the oceans waves and the sound of the tide coming in, going out.

Before it gets dark, we head back up toward where we began. I'm so relaxed I feel tired. It takes me all the energy I've left to walk back, and then travel back to Berkshire.

Ignoring the rest of world, I plug my headphones in. Certain chakras are feeling revitalised. It's been a good day. What more can I ask for?

#friendship #sunday #escape #findyourself #mindfulness #wanderlust #outdoors #surfersnowboarderfilmmakerphotographeroutdoors #graphics #creative