Close-up view of a rough textured rock surface with layered sedimentary patterns and natural weathering marks.
A child with curly blonde hair wearing a light blue hoodie is shown from behind.
A scenic panoramic view of a beach with waves crashing on the shore and people walking along the water's edge.

Field Note 02:


We went on an outing to the beach — my husband, daughter, sister, and niece.


My husband went to fish, to have some alone time to just be and think.


My daughter went to fly a kite, play in the sand, and wade in the bird water.


My sister and niece came to witness her joy and to join it.


I went to reconnect with nature and slowly photograph the wispy dunes, churning waves, and solid jetty.

Two people walk along a rocky beach at sunset with waves crashing on the shore and cloudy skies overhead.
Large coastal rocks covered with green algae and seaweed along a misty shoreline at low tide.
Small child in a gray sweater sits among large coastal rocks at sunset by the ocean.
A snipe bird stands on rocky terrain while foraging for food in its natural habitat.

The Ruddy Turnstones, visitors from the Arctic, were well camouflaged, sporting a duller mottled brown and white rather than the vibrant rust tones found in the breeding season. The flock scurried quickly along the jetty letting me approach, but still preferring to keep a safe distance. They waded in the tidal pool using their bills to search for food among the barnacles and shells.

Scenic panoramic view of sandy beach dunes with tall grass swaying in the wind at sunset.

It was a cold and very windy winter day.


The course sand was flying steadily across the surface. If you bent too low, a grain or two would agitate your eyes.


The wind chill was fierce. It took the feeling out of most of my fingers, leaving them pale and fumbling as I tried to capture the moments of connection between my daughter and a couple of her favorite people.

A person in a cream sweater walks along a misty beach shoreline at sunset.
A couple embraces while walking along a sandy beach with ocean waves in the background.
A couple in striped shirts and jeans walking barefoot together along the beach at the water's edge.
Barefoot person crouches down to examine something in the wet sand on a beach.
A series of candid moments captured at the beach with people enjoying the ocean waves and sandy shoreline.

It wasn’t perfect. The weather challenging. The wind unrelenting.


But, despite that, it gave us each what we needed. Imperfectly and real.

Person in blue jacket and light pants crouches down to explore sandy beach at dusk.
Flock of seagulls soaring gracefully against a bright blue sky with wispy white clouds in the background.
Panoramic view of sandy beach dunes with sea oats and dramatic sunset sky over the coastline.
A series of beach scenes showing people walking along a misty shoreline on an overcast day.
Two people run and play together along a sandy beach at sunset with ocean waves in the background.
Coastal rocks and waves along a beach shoreline with cloudy skies during sunset.

The sandbar


Each day, I awake

Rowing to the special place

Waiting for the tide turned low

From below a sandbar is emerging


In this place that once was not

I let out my full breadth of thoughts

Worries, dreams, anger—

All the same

They find a spot to rest

Grains now intermixed

Each indistinct

Part of a greater whole


And as I sit and watch and wait

The tide starts slowly rising

Layer by layer, sand and water meet

What was solid now is blurring

The last now gone, all at rest

Tucked in a watery bed below

I thank the waves for witnessing

Goodbye until tomorrow



-LC

Large rocks line a rocky shoreline at sunset with calm waters and distant land visible on the horizon.