I don’t live far from the beaches that look out at the Irish Sea and across the mouth of both the River Dee and the River Mersey. On countless occasions I’ve sought some kind of refuge in moments looking out over the water, and no matter how many times I’ve stood on a beach looking out across the waves, the allure has never failed to captivate me.
I took these pictures standing on the beach at Waveland in Mississippi. Looking out toward the Gulf of Mexico there was a storm brewing. Rain fell from dense dark clouds that hovered over the water like an alien mother-ship. I stood there in the sunlight watching the dark clouds advance slowly like an ancient army of invaders coming over a hill to do battle.
On a different day I marveled at the towering mega-structure clouds that seem to hang in the air locked in shapes that reminded me of the photographs of galactic star-forming pillars of gas and dust taken by the Hubble space telescope.
And finally, who wouldn’t want to be sat there on the beach in that last picture? When I tell people I visited Mississippi they often look at me with an expression that begs a further explanation. “Mississippi?” They ask. “What’s in Mississippi?”
I’ll confess now that I’m tempted not tell them.
Wrote the following comment on Aug 15, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Great photographs and what a terrific sight to see. I remember going on holiday to Italy’s great lakes in the mid 1990s and we witnessed a tremendous thunder storm. We were stood on the lakes shore and could see the for lightening coming over the lake towards the camping site. It was one of the most sensational natural things I have ever seen. The expectation and suspense about what it might be like when it reaches us. The boats started to bob up and down more and more and then we decided it was time to go back in the tent (trailer tent!). The storm was sensational and it pelted down with rain and the lightning was amazing. Did you stick around to witness this storm?
Wrote the following comment on Aug 15, 2007 at 10:07 pm
You tricked me! I was admiring the beach shots thinking, “that looks just like our beach!”, and of course it was…
Great photos!
By the way, if you had known me pre-Katrina, you and I could have gone sailing in Eric’s little sunfish, though his sail was solid white (for racing). Unfortunately,the sunfish was another Katrina loss.
Wrote the following comment on Aug 15, 2007 at 11:52 pm
reminds me that no matter where you are and what you have or have not heard – seen – known in relation to traditional beliefs, the reality of the beauty of Him is always able to reach straight to the depths of the soul.
Wrote the following comment on Aug 16, 2007 at 12:09 am
The pic with the chair reminds me of the those Corona commercials.
Wrote the following comment on Aug 16, 2007 at 11:03 am
oh yeah…. i agree with matt. I’ve always wondered how to get into a corona commercials.. never knew it could be as close as Mississippi.