The textures of a rocky coastline

I’ve recently discovered my new favourite spot. All along the south coast of Wellington is a fantastically rocky coastline with craggy cliffs, mini caves, and rocks growing out of the sea like mythical sea monsters. Seabirds circle around and land on the rocks, and the occasional seal backstrokes along in the seaweed-strewn waters. The smell is so salty and delicious. I may be a bit of an emo, but I’ve been finding that the days when it is calm, grey, drizzly and moody are the most alive and full-presence-inducing.

The textures of these coasts are a feast for the eyes – large, gnarled and criss-crossed rocks, luminous yellow and green mosses, lichens and seaweed, dark sand to contrast with the white foam. This weekend and last weekend I went down in the rain and took a flask of tea and some biscuits. I felt like I could stay forever, lulled by the gentle waves. But alas – my feet got too cold! The experience reminded me of a song that came on the other day by Jamie Woon called Waterfront.

I decided to go out
And breathe in the air I was made for
There were 10.000 greys in the sky
Not a single soul around
Seems no one likes to be rained on

Come and flow wherever it takes you
Come on and flow

And on the waterfront I walked
The water was moving so graceful
I felt all of my fears fall away
And I sar down and closed my eyes
The sound on the breeze was my cradle

Here are my attempts to capture the beauty of this place and all its textures.