The Life in My Years

Is there anything that touches the senses like water? A drench of water cools us on a sultry day and a warm soak takes away the chill or soothes an ache. What tastes better than a cold draft of water at the end of a run? Water in its many forms and shapes provides us with exhilarating, awesome, beautiful and even frightening pictures. Listen to a rippling stream, or a surging river, the ocean’s waves, the lapping sounds of a lakeshore or the sounds of raindrops on a leaf. Ever smell the ocean? There’s really nothing like it. Scientists will tell you that the smell comes from bacteria digesting dead phytoplankton but without the ocean water that unique smell wouldn’t exist. So I choose to credit the ocean.

“No one can see their reflection in running water… 

…It is only in still water that we can see.”    Tao Proverb

There were those summer and early autumn days when the promise of a sunny ocean day would be fulfilled, when I would go to the beach, drowse under the sun and soak in the warmth of the sand and those special sounds of the sea. The sounds of the sea are matchless. What other sound could roar and soothe at the same time.

“The ocean is so magnificent, peaceful, and awesome.” ~ Paul Walker.

“Waves after waves broke on the boulder-lined banks, lashing and hollering, making a colossal display of restlessness and rage and resignation.” ― Mukta Singh-Zocchi, The Thugs & a Courtesan

Water is one of my favorite photo subjects.  How could it not be? It’s forms, it’s shapes and it’s fundamental value for sustaining and nurturing life provides endless opportunities for inspiring words and pictures. My hope is to publish semi-regular features on that most wondrous of resources – water.

This post is a contribution to Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge for the week – Water. To view Cee’s contribution and those of other contributors please click on the link.

Banner Photo – Gray Whale Cove, Montara, California.