soundtrack to today in California
One afternoon I managed to persuade my partner in this intercontinental love affair, to cover himself with a paste made from Thanaka powder to take some yoga photographs… It was a fun session, but what absolutely didn’t work was to apply an ‘effect’ as a neat idea with nothing more than the effect in mind. I couldn’t tell you ‘why’ this seemed like a good idea. But it did yield something a little different. But is that enough? Maybe.. What is thanaka ? It is a powder made from grinding the rind of a specific tree (than aka tree?). It is applied to protect against the sun, a natural sunscreen. This is what I understand. There may be more to it than this little soundbite of mine.
I found this little summary of places and interviews on the New York Times Vlog but perhaps my favourite discovery yesterday the photographer Noel Morata’s website, as it proved to be a treasure trove of ideas and inspirations. I love the understated feel of it, this is not a place for being ultra flashy and showy but there are so many pages to discover that I am having a hard time getting anything done as I leaf through and take his work in. http://travelphotodiscovery.com/san-francisco-views-to-die-for/
• The effects of a wildfire most likely caused by an illegal campfire that was poorly extinguished. These photographs are from our drive back to Carmel, near the Highway 1 which I just see now in the news is closed due to the Soberanes Fire which has been raging for about 2 weeks now. It had just started when we visited Big Sur for my birthday. Just think of the incredible loss of habitat for wildlife, the many people who lost their homes to the fires the irreplaceable damages caused. • Have you ever seen the sun look so red (as in the last picture) ? • • Sorry that I have been so uninspired lately to write properly, to add words to my experiences here in California. Sometimes it is easier to just observe and read.. I realise that this is really poor performance. • •
When we left Carmel, on July 26th, a week ago the wildfire was 3 days old and 5% under control. Just imagine living with this constant danger of fire! Hang in here to see a couple of my photographs from the day, as soon as I decide which ones to share..
The photos in this post aren’t all my favourites, nor the best from their sets, but what I could easily, without placing too much attachment on perfection, upload to share some of the scenes I lived within, for a brief moment in time. {above : an average street scene in Mysore, India.} {above : a large pebble rock, on top of one of the hills I climbed, unfortunately I am not sure if this was during a temple visit near Mysore or later in Hampi, India.} {above : an average street scene in Mysore, India.} {above : an unusually quiet street scene in Mysore, India.} {above : a typical street vendor in Mysore, selling household goods, India.} {above: photograph from a trip we took to Bylakuppe, Tibetan Settlement, 3-4 hours by bus from Mysore, India} {above: photograph from a trip we took to Bylakuppe, Tibetan Settlement, 3-4 hours by bus from Mysore, India} {street scene from Mysore: Man helping himself to water and struggling turning the tap off again}{street scene from Mysore: Man helping himself to water and struggling turning …
It is a sunday afternoon, time is closing in and once again feeling limited. Our 6 months in England (for me interspersed with a stay at an Artist Residency Program in Finland) is drawing to it’s close. The time was just long enough to recover from the extremities of Adrenal Fatigue. This is something they don’t tell you in other places: traversing the globe, surviving in far away places can take it’s toll on health; sometimes in a profound way.. But here I am, more or less put back together, the fractals reorganised into a comprehensive shape that somewhat resembles myself as I remember her.. Yes, it feels so long ago that I was last settled in one piece that I am no longer even sure the complete ‘me’ ever existed. But I do recall that in summer 2007 I felt: “I am whole in myself’. Just before a forest fire descended on my life. This is about 9 years ago! Incredible. The time. Can it be this long!? How did I survive this turbulence …
I finally made steps to return to my routine of caring better for my soul.
It is definite! It is official! California I am coming home!
In these photographs you can see Jason creating the beginning of a glass project that we are hoping to share in it’s full glory with the public soon.
Wherever in the world I travel I bring with me my drawing pens, my camera and thai massage skills… You can learn more about my thai massage practice on my website: http://www.senthaimassage.com
… but while I am getting ready I can’t quite tell you yet.. But here’s a clue: