Tuesday Tales – When Benches Beckon

January 15, 2013 by chiaink 4 Comments

Sunset Spit

I love the outdoors. Few things are more enjoyable to me than a long walk or run on one of the trails or beaches of this beautiful island I call home. And when a bench is perfectly perched along the way to provide a captivating view and a moment’s respite I am always happy to pause and immerse myself in that singular space.

Benches have held a fascination for me for a long time. I rarely pass one without photographing it and the particular surroundings it lives in. I say ‘lives’ for I find benches to be alive with the memories of those who have sat in them and the desires and intentions of those who have placed them in their outdoor homes. Benches speak of time, the long years they sit there watching the seasons change and the fleeting moments they share with a multitude of passers-by. They speak of love, of those who have passed but are not forgotten and those who sit together and create new memories. They speak of action, of runners’ stretches and lunches eaten. But most of all they speak of dreams and reveries and contemplations of life. They call out to our human souls and bid us to sit quietly and listen.

The print above, Sunset Spit, was created from a photograph taken while on a walk along Whiffin Spit in Sooke. The Spit, a long stretch of narrow land jutting out into the Sooke Basin, is a walker’s delight with a winding path and water all around. There are numerous benches placed along it and I photographed several, but the light and view from this one was especially magical. The shadows were long and the wind was blowing but it was tucked away in a bit of shruberry facing the setting sun, providing a quiet haven of seclusion and repose in which to reflect on a lovely day spent with a good friend.

This print, measuring 31/2″ by 5″ on 8″x10″ paper, is offered at a reduced price this week only (January 15-21, 2013) of $50 unframed or $70 framed, plus shipping costs. Please contact me at chiarina@chiarina.com if you would like to purchase it.