02 January 2010

Himatangi beach, New Year's Day

Pterodactyl country

As New Year's day stretched out into afternoon, cloud gathered and the wind strengthened. At Himatangi beach the crowds still hadn't dispersed, although most people had retreated to the shelter of their cars. A few tried new body boards in the grey, churning surf; a wind cart raced back and forth; sunlight scurried in patches along the beach. In the absence of cars and people, the beach seemed prehistoric.

All content © 2009 Pete McGregor

5 comments:

Paterika Hengreaves said...

Hi Pete

This seascape prints tsunami on my brain-waves.

Zhoen said...

But it was only bluffing.

robin andrea said...

I always think that's what draws us to the beach, it is prehistoric. It reminds us what is imprinted in our cells. It's like staring at the beautiful fertile womb of the world. (Or not, it could just be a very cool beach for surfing and boogie boarding!)

michael.offworld said...

A study of impermanence perhaps? Love the clarity of the light. And the colours...

pohanginapete said...

Paterika, this coast would suffer severely from a tsunami of any size. The dunes in the photo are not much lower than the land behind, for many kilometres.

Zhoen, given the weather we've had since then, it's still trying hard to bluff.

Robin, that says it beautifully. Something about coasts and oceans seems utterly profound; that environment seems like a return home. (And it is indeed a great boogie board beach).

Thanks Michael. Impermanence — yes, on scales from daily to, well, the changes never cease.