I started the Ocean Lovers community on Hive because of my love for the ocean - those of you that have known me long enough here will know I have my tail fins in salt water and the rest of me on land, forever caught between the two. The ocean is my mother and healer, nourisher and nurterer. Whether or not it was a good time to start a community on Hive or not I don't know - it's sure hard, with the price low and perhaps a sense of ennui settling in. Just another wave, I suppose.
If nothing else, communities sure do create some writing ideas - from photography challenges to 'ideas' challenges such as provided by the Minimalist and other great niche groups on Hive.
This week's about your favourite ocean photo in your archive.
Whilst you might think this would be easy for me as I have so many ocean photos, it's actually way harder than you think, considering I've written so much about it over the years. Perhaps this challenge is thinking about why I separate this photo from all others. Perhaps it's simply because as I write, I bring a dead man to life, for a moment.
point addis, winter, 2024
I thought long and hard about this, wanting to post the most dramatic photo of this oceanscape, looking toward Anglesea on the Great Ocean Road. I'll get to that photo in a minute - it's the view we were looking at, after all - but the photo I'm choosing is something more poignant as it contains my father, looking at the lightning on the horizon with his long sleeved wave shirt. How the hell he made it that far with his lungs the way they were was beyond belief - the fact he'd got off the couch was incredible enough, but no one stops a grown man from being persistant, and nor should they.
He's old here, so white and weak, so flimsy and frail, so much so that Jamie had to help him into the car whilst great icy blocks of hail catapulted from the sky. Later he wouldn't even have the breath to tell his wife about the adventure, and be gasping so hard for the words to tell it that he'd look at me, imploring, as if I'd find the words to describe the electricity sparking, the swirling clouds, the contrast between earth and sky. I wonder to this day about this last adventure, and how I got to share it with him, fittingly, this elemental, monumental farewell to the coast that both of us knew was farewell, but neither saying it, and me left to remember it.
I wish I could say the photo he took was amazing, but it wasn't - it was out of focus, the colours off. A lifetime of photography can't compete with a brain ravaged by drugs and pain. There's so many photos of the last months that were awful, and there were so many times I had to sit patiently whilst he told me yet again how to use a particular setting, forgetting he'd already told me. I still haven't gone through his computer and all his photos, though one day I will. I'm yet to get courage to ask Mum to borrow his camera equipment.
But - him and that sky.
And it's true what they say - they find a way to be with you always. For me, of course, he's always in this ocean and these skies, every day I go down to the seas again and the running tide.
You know, these photos are almost enough for me to recharge the batteries for my Sony A 6300. Maybe there's more ocean photos to take.
With Love,
Welcome to the Ocean Lovers community on Hive! Please feel free to tag your ocean related content #oceanlovers for support, and connect with others with anything to do with the big blue sea - marine life & conservation, ocean sports, beach life, & everything salt water!
No, you mustn’t stop anyone who wants to go in search of their happiness, even if it’s just a fleeting moment. You’ve really moved me, and yes, he’s always there. And the proof is that you’re inspired now and feel you have photos to take. It’s him speaking to you.
Yes, it's these little things that make me feel connected to my dad. Now I just have to remember how to use my camera
Ah the thrill of a bit of a storm chase. I remember being on a packed Portsea beach during school holidays. A Perfect day, sunbathing, playing beach cricket and swimming all day then this quiet lull as storm clouds built offshore, everyone was sort of mesmerised as the sky changed right before our eyes. Mesmerised until the clouds opened up and it pissed down; people were sprinting up the beach to the car park and campgrounds with all their belongings like it was the end of the world.
I love any event that makes people leave the beach haha. We are going camping next week in the rain just because it's quiet haha
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STOPThe second photo really stopped me. It is like he is standing defiant of the storm. Both the external and internal. No doubt I would have liked to have met your father. I am sure he was a straight shooter and loved good conversation over a cold beer. Gosh you make my tears appear this morning.
I'm sorry to make you cry. Yeah everyone loved my dad. He was as honest as the day was long and had a way of making you feel very special no matter who you were.
Your dad just looked like a normal old chap out on a stroll by the sea, you couldn't really tell it was a person making a last journey to a place he loves.
Beautiful tribute to him
I know right. They do say you can be quite good with cancer. Until you aren't.
This is exactly what I told you about a work with soul. You just crushed me with that. It caught me off guard, coz I just lost my uncle three weeks ago.
Oh I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm really close to my uncle and I'm going to be devastated when he dies. You have made me go visit him today
It was a much needed release. I didn't realize how much I was suppressing my emotions because I was simply too busy and exhausted to feel them.
Visit him while he is still here and healthy. Mine waited for me to see him and crossed over the very next week, wearing the shirt I gave him. felt so much guilt for not making the time to see him while he was still around. had a good drink, a good cry, and some sleep, though. Thanks 💕
Hmm that's good and there are a lot of people with their ocean photography now they will post there and your photography is amazing 🤩
The memories, the memories... It's sometimes amazing what someone in his condition can accomplish when the mind is set...
I know right? I can't believe it still. Did I ever tell you the story how the palliative nurse came over to see how Dad was doing? He was really ill and in a lot of pain and all of a sudden he leapt up and flung the sliding door open and picked up a shoe and threw it at a rabbit. The nurse looked at him godsmacked. It's amazing what the body can do when one hates rabbits that much.
LOL!! Nope not heard that one. That would have been a bit of a shocker, and later, funny. :))