The sea is a beautiful creature, she shifts and changes with the turning light, with the weather, with the moon and with the ocean tides. Never the same from one hour to the next she shows us our true nature. She shows us the truth of a life in constant flux, and she shows us how beautiful this constant change can be, if only we embrace it. Sunset over the ocean is achingly beautiful in its constant change, in fact the change itself is the beauty.
The next most beautiful change we see over the salty waves of the sea is the play of sun and rain. These two elements create one of natures most ephemeral and beautiful sights, the rainbow. I was already captivated by the play of light between the rain storm and the sunlight. It divided the sky and the ocean in two, and then suddenly a beautiful arc of colour sprung between them. The rainbow flowed on down over the sea and I was lost.
Other days the sea shows us perfect warmth and colour, inviting us in to swim in her gentle caress. The sun ripens golden grass and heats the shallow waves, creating an irresistible place to rest and relax, losing ourselves in thoughts which drift off across the water.
Then she conspires with the sun and creates golden glitter to dazzle and bewitch our eyes and our souls. The urge to walk out along the path of light is strong.
Then there are days where she throws a tantrum, and the clouds boil into bruises and the light is distracted off the rocks, sucked into the horizon. All blue light leaves the sea and she brews a dark mood beneath the gathering clouds. Drama is high and tangible on storm days, and a wild excitement fills the air, expecting the unknown to burst through in bright flashes.
And then she settles back into softness and comfort, nursing us out of isolation and hardness. On these days her golden warmth would melt the heart of an ice giant, and he would melt into her silk caress, and on into the horizon.
I am off across the waves on an adventure for the next few weeks, so I won’t be able to visit and read all my favourite blogs. Please forgive my lack of visits, and I promise to post when I can, and to catch up when we get back. Thank you to everyone who follows, and especially to the wonderful people who post their thoughts and comments.
Find more gorgeous posts about the sea at this weeks photo challenge
breathofgreenair 
What a wonderful post. Each image is more beautiful than the next, and they way you express yourself if just wonderful. I am only catching up with your posts now and see that you have been away and back so welcome back and I look forward to seeing your next post. 🙂
What a beautiful farewell that was, Seonaid, and I missed it! Are you back now? Hope it’s been wonderful 🙂
Just back, and trying to catch up with life 🙂
It’s been an amazing whirlwind of adventures, and now I need to relax a little and let it all sink in!
I love that little bubble you can float in for a little while before it bursts. Savour and enjoy! 🙂
i understand you are on an adventurous trip — have a wonderful vacation – looking forward to your return too!
These pictures are, as always, poetry in themselves, and with your words…my heart is aching and soaring in the skies over the waves. You are truly incredible…again and again. thank you for being there.
Wow Anna Christine, what a wonderful comment to come home to. Thank you for being wonderfully you too. You were one of the first bloggers I got speaking to and commenting on each others blogs, and we just keep discovering so much we have in common….including being wonderful it seems 🙂
I caught a dog shot in Dubrovnik just for you….will post when I get images downloaded!
Oh, welcome back! Dubrovnik – never been there. It’s beautiful, I’ve heard. Looking forward to seeing your shots!
Glorious shots of the landscapes! amazing find..
my latest post..
http://travelagencyindia.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/glimpse-view-of-imposing-heritage-sites-maharashtra/
Thanks, and you make India look amazing
As usual these photos are amazing. The beautiful writing that accompanies them always moves me. I hope you have a wonderful trip and I cannot wait to see and read what you have for us when you get back!! 🙂
Thanks Janine, you always give such encouraging comments and make me smile 🙂
Sorry I meant the fifth one 😀
Paula, I loved that walk out among the storm clouds…..it was so full of atmosphere and drama.
Totally understandable, I would have loved it too 🙂
Oh girl, you make it look so beautiful 🙂 The fourth one is just breathtaking 🙂 🙂 🙂
So gorgeous!
Thanks Fi
safe travels!
and i’m not surprised ran shows herself from all her prettiest sides for you.
Janna, it’s probably just as well she does, as she visits here fairly often 🙂
By the time you read this you’ll already have departed. Can’t wait to hear about where you’ve been. I’m sure your media cards are empty, and they’ll be full to overflowing when you return. Looking forward to the download. D
Hey David, your prediction came true….my media cards are bursting and I must get downloading 🙂
I have visited some amazing places and will be really happy to share some of the sights here. We saw no sheep unfortunately, but lots of hot and skinny dogs and cats, and a few donkeys!
Poetic and amazing!
Outstanding, bravo!
Safe travels, Seonaid! You’ve captured the many moods of the sea! This quote surfaced as I read your post:
I must go down to the seas again,
To the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship
And a star to steer her by…”
– John Masefield
Love those lines, thank you 🙂
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stunning photos, as always 🙂
Love the rainbow shot.
I love your photos, they have some good feeling in them…
What can I say? You did it again. Pictures with a stunning mood.
All the best,
Hanna
Thanks so much Hanna, you always leave such lovely comments. I think you like nature as much as I do 🙂
Wow!!!!
These are a wonderful shots!! Love the rainbow and wheat pictures.
– Michael
– http://AmazingPicturesBlog.com
Thanks for the enthusiastic and encouraging feedback Michael. Glad you enjoyed the shots of fleeting light on shifting waves 🙂
Stunning! Is it from Scotland?
Yes, all from beaches in East Lothian….Yellowcraig and Gullane, over the past few weeks 🙂
When I saw this week’s photo challenge theme, I thought all the pictures would look basically alike. But they don’t. These are beautiful pictures that actually make me think more of the earth than the water.
All the images are incredibly lovely, but the ‘staccato rainbow’ – wow
I was so wowed when it appeared 🙂
Fabulous photos as always. Truly beautiful. What are the distant islands in the first photo?
They are rocky islands in the Firth of Fourth. The Bass Rock, Fidra Isle…. Beloved by birds 🙂
Ah – another photo to tempt to explore Scotland one day 🙂 I’m saving up already.
It’s a long way for you to come, but I know you’ll love it 🙂
congrats, Seonaid, you are living close to the sea – not me, in Berlin… – but we listened to some people from Edinburgh in Berlin! Strange English dialect, we were amused …
You mean of course that they were speaking correctly 🙂
very corrrecct with sharp rrr’s different to the American pronunciation 🙂
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Safe travels and I hope lots of images come to you.
That rainbow and those sun rays are very evocative….thank you.
Thank you, rainbows and sunlight are always good 🙂
Hi please read my blog ? I would appreciate it theyoungjournailst.wordpress.com I’m 15 and trying to make a career for myself
I was looking forward to your entry, you’ve thrilled me as always 🙂
I guess I really meant Seonaid, marvelous!
Wonderful Mackenzie especially the rainbow!!!
Really Great Blog I Must Admit I Wish My Blog Was Half As Good.
I love your rainbow that is there is you look…it is such a sign of hope.
Have a wonderful vacation!
You writing always inspire me to write better. Your descriptions are so beautiful and unique. 🙂 If only I could do this in my own novel…;)
These are amazing pictures and the prose is also stunning. You amaze me with how you are able to keep up such frequent, creative genius in your art and writing!!
What a gorgeous comment, I just write what pours out of my head, and I just photograph what nature throws before me. My goal is to be connected to my creative self, and so your comment warms my heart 🙂
You have captured the sea’s moods perfectly. A stunning collection.
Thanks Colline, I always love to hear from you 🙂
Beautiful photographs and words. All true. x
Isn’t she beautiful the emotional sea 🙂
Seonaid, how do I hit like multiple times? Breathtaking! Enjoy your adventure.
I will do my very best 🙂
Hopefully I’ll return with some great images….
Another beautiful post 😀
I’m a little distracted as we are about to leave on our ocean adventure, so I’m glad the post came together 🙂
Simply stunning!
Thank you gorgeous 🙂