We spent some time at the beach a few weeks ago. I wanted to capture some more long exposure images of water. When I’m doing long exposures there’s a lot of time waiting around, so I took my handy Canon G16, a great little point and shoot camera, and walked around capturing other things while my “big” camera was working.
One of the things that captured my eye was the debris that was just outside of the sand dune fences. There was an wide assortment of bits and pieces and the patterns they made were interesting. I had an inkling that they might create interesting mandalas as well.
Beach Debris ©GSHaile
It’s so interesting to think that these lovely patterns came from a bunch of beach debris.
I love these images. I love the texture the sand gives the background. Exploring debris is such an interesting concept – I’ve been considering exploring it to some degree. So this was also inspiring to me to look at things differently and pay attention to what is around you!
Hadn’t thought of continuing with that theme. Interesting idea.
Oh these are fabulous. I’ve enjoyed poking around and looking at all your mandalas, and it’s helped me look at things a bit differently as well. Beauty in beach debris – how perfect!
Yes, it’s fun to be able to switch our internal gears and view things in a new way.
Turning junk into beauty is always a worthwhile project.
So true!
Beach debris is one of my favorite things. When I was a kid we’d spend every August at the shore. It gave me a greater appreciation for the Natural Word and the stories it tells. Love the mandalas. Have you ever read this poem before? Something about your beach debris made me think of it.
maggie and milly and molly and may
E. E. Cummings (1894 – 1962)
maggie and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach (to play one day)
and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn’t remember her troubles, and
milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;
and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles: and
may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.
For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)
it’s always ourselves we find in the sea
Oh Trish, I love that poem. I’ve never heard it before even though I’m a fan of ee cummings. Thank so much for sharing it!
Gail, what a fresh perspective you have. Taking debris and making beauty out of it. Your mandalas are so creative, they are beautiful! I am looking for a digital camera. What do you like about the Canon G16?
Thanks, Nancy. The G16 has a lot of functionality that most point and shoot cameras don’t have. It can shoot in Manual mode, which means I control shutter speed, aperture, and ISO to get the look I want. In Manual mode it also takes RAW images as opposed to JPG which gives more flexibility in processing. It also has a good zoom and works well in close up mode. It also has a dedicated underwater housing available so I can use it in water. Even in the more automatic modes it just takes really great images, even in low light.
I am a huge fan of beach glass. Can spend hours and hours wandering the sandy shore looking for just the right colour, just the right aging and weathering, just the right shape … Then I bring them home and have such fun finding new homes for each piece. Love what you did with your beach finds.
I can just imagine your collection of beach glass! Beautiful!