Begin in beauty – 2015

Let it begin, then, in light with creativity shining through, percolating hope for this new year.
We took to the beach where the waves know no time but their own to give us room to find our way.
For who isn’t content to feel the sand’s support, even in the winter cold? Ben has been exploring the beaches of the Mediterranean since he was a wee pup.

And as for our rascal, Kipling? He is still uncertain of the waves and too tempted by the presence of other dogs to chase. So best then for him to remain attached to an old tripod, where he could calmly do what he loves best…to guard…
…both his loved ones and our equipment. Yes, for you see we came on a mission.
There is a photo that Remi has been wanting to shoot for ever so long. Just as I hear my stories, he often sees his photography before he picks up his camera. Yesterday, was the chosen day. Especially. And so we brought with us the broken top of a Roman amphora that had been borrowed for the occasion, along with the bells and whistles needed to make his imagined image into reality. 

But that didn’t mean that there was no time for frivolity…

…or gentle contemplation of what has passed and questions of where it might be wise to point towards next…
…as aren’t we are all searching for just the right angle, the good direction?
The waves advanced, the sun dipped down and still Remi did not have his photo. He put his tripod aside and took his camera in-hand, first sitting on his knees and then eventually lowering himself belly down into the surf until he was level with his subject. Soon, I was asked to join his side, where I stood above him holding a portable flash to add a slight push of suggestion as the light faded into night.
Finally, drenched and cold, he was satisfied, elated even. And so was I, having been stripped clean by the wind and sea, washing me down to ready. Because, without our even knowing it, we had already begun and the song was sung in beauty.

Happy New Year everyone!

It was interesting that the word that came to me this morning on my walk with the dogs was: “Freedom.” And so I wish you Freedom and Health (as they always say in France, “If you begin with Health the rest will follow”) but also Contentment and Adventure too.

With all of my Very best from Provence,
Heather

PS. This post was partially inspired by a few previous New Year’s themed posts, such as my very first at Lost in Arles here, a tale from my New York City days here and another January 1st beach visit here.  Voila! And as always, thank you so much for being here. I hope that we will discover 2015 together…

33 comments

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  3. Happy New Year, Heather…I do love the photo of Kipling with the tripod it made me smile…beautiful photographs. xx

  4. Happy, happy New Year to you, my friend. Looks like you and your boys started things off beautifully. Love your photos, they are full of magic and wonder as usual. Freedom is a lovely word to chew on as we start the year. Mine is "believe."

    Here's to freedom to explore all the beauty the world has to offer, Heather! XOXO

  5. Oh that petrolblue of the sea! My favorite kind of blue. Glazing blue. Fits so nicely with the dark warm grey of the sand and beige of your bright doggies. And the "work in progress- photo " you took of Remi is soaked with colour – so nice and blue! ( And thanks to him that he lets you take and publish it! I love this kind of "work of the work")

    I nearly forgot that you live so close to the sea. I am a secret lover of the sea. Thank you for the reminder.

    Those two closing shots are awesome and soooo quiet. Great post Heather!

  6. !While you strolled a peaceful beach we had a windstorm that rivaled a hurricane (or so it felt in this stone house on the hill) and certainly would be like a Mistral in your area to welcome us to this new adventure and new year. Wishing you happiness, health, laughter and freedom in 2015. Hugs, Jackie

  7. Thank you for bringing so much beauty to the start of the New Year. And to be wished Freedom and Health is wonderful.

  8. LAUGHTER……….that is my word for the NEW YEAR!I need MORE Of it in my LIFE!
    I adore that POT REMI scored to photograph at the waters edge…………….I do hope HE got the SHOT without catching a COLD!
    HAPPY NEW YEAR…………..it's gonna be a GOOD ONE!I can feel it already!
    XO

  9. Beautiful Heather, the simple joys and yes freedom and how fortunate we are to have it!
    All the Best to you, Remi, Ben and Kipling in 2015!

    xoxo
    Karena
    The Arts by Karena

  10. I totally understand your passion Heather… to find a great motive and to picture it ,iis one of the most
    exciting things for me as a hobby photograph too. I like it so much. Today I was in Ronda the xxx…time
    and I always find a new motive…isn't that wonderful to have such an open eye for the beauty of our world?

  11. A magical welcome for 2015…you, Remi and the pups…creating moments to share and treasure…just as you have for the past year..so much to be thankful for…and to wish for. Your continued health and freedom..sprinkled with daily love and licks.
    Happy Happy New Year!

  12. I loved your beautiful images and words. After reading your lines, I always long for Provence.I just returned from spending time with the Bedus of the empty quarter in the Emirates and trying to adjust back to reality.
    Thank you for your beautiful post. Bonne annee…

  13. I love this post – puppies waiting/watching, sea calm, sky so colorful – what a great way to start the year!! When you said, "freedom", I thought of freedom from suffering – the suffering that we cause ourselves, mostly, from worrying, fretting, etc. And freedom from the tyranny of my moods, etc. Yes, hear hear to freedom, and, most certainly, good health!!! Happy New Year, Beautiful Sister!!!!!

  14. Bingo! Remi will be so pleased that you understood that. I have learned and am learning so much from him. I feel very grateful.

    And wishing you a fantastic New Year as well!

  15. Bonne Année à toi, Lorrie et merci beaucoup! I hope that your New Year is filled with a lot of Discovery too – since you enjoy even the littlest ones so much it seems.

    And the light really was that gorgeous…

  16. Wonderful! So grateful to the lovely Jeanne H for making the introduction, Edgar.

  17. Stephen, I have been struggling with that exact same issue for the past year or so and it was exactly the kind of freedom that I was thinking of (for me, because of course I don't take for granted having freedom in the more literal sense either!)…so I am right there with you in this for 2015. Deal? 😉

  18. It was hard work, R! But it felt wonderful to be a part of doing something creative, which means the world to us both.

  19. And you, lovely Emilia! So happy to think that we are joined by the Beautiful Mediterranean. May your joie de vivre keep shining through 2015…

  20. Merci and Mahalo, Bill. I know for sure that you have already begun in beauty!

  21. And what about Adventure, Judith? I am hoping that you have some of that this year too…non? 😉
    Gros Bisous!

  22. Happiest New Year to You All!
    Thank you for the best photography lesson I've ever read. For all the light and gadget fidgeting, the image is always about the story it tells, a magical capturing of visual words written on the mind.

  23. What a uniquely beautiful beginning to a new year. The light in your photos is enchanting, especially with that first photo where the line of white froth on the top of the waves slices through the image. Also the golden light on your dogs' coats.
    Wishing you beauty and freedom in 2015, Heather. Bonne Année!

  24. Happy New Year, Heather, Remi, Ben and Kipling! Health and freedom . . . perfect for the upcoming year! I wish an abundance of these for everyone as well!

  25. Beautiful contemplative post to the New Year which beckons.. Gorgeous, serene photography and fun seeing the pups!
    A very happy New Year to you, Heather!
    Cheers,
    Deb Carter

  26. Not the pleasure of a picnic on the beach but work. Worked you did and Remi ,with all the elements of a creative photographer, lying down on his abdomen to capture the elegant setting of the sun.

    A wonderful idea to start 2015 with beauty. Ben and Kipling were happy too and free.

    "we will discover 2015 together…” Yes.

  27. Oooh I love those puppies. Thank you for this fresh post. Freedom is a big theme of mine this year. Free from anger and from regret, mainly, trying to embrace the person I am now and grow into a new life. cheers!

  28. hard work for the first day of a new year….but worth every shot…just serene air and mind combined with fun.
    Really a great start.

  29. Ciao Heather,
    a year of Freedom and Health to you my dear.
    I needed to "hear"such soft words … "where the waves know no time… find our way" Lovely!
    Wonderful pictures of our Beautiful Mediterranean Sea! So Great and Quiet!
    It is a joy to see your ( your and Remy's) passion translated into words and pictures!
    It was a great pleasure reading and meeting you.
    Hugs

  30. What an inspiring, cleansing, and joyful way to start the new year — and for the pups too! I look forward to continuing the journey with you in 2015. Wishing you and Remi both Health and Freedom in the new year.

    xo J

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