“The weathered stones speak of antiquity – they are symbols of time. Among them I feel primal – like a speck of organic matter, a mere tuft of seaweed swayed and stirred by the motion of the waves, or a drop of salt water that evaporates, condenses and showers back into the deeps in a ceaseless cycle. I smell the briny ferment and feel renewed – and as old as the rocks.” ~ Alexandra de Steiguer, Small Island, Big Picture
For the past couple of years, I’ve found that I’m often drawn to photograph rock and stone – whether in my town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, or Newfoundland, or more recently, on Star Island, an island built of rock.
One of the most pleasurable experiences I had on Star Island was doing Patricia Turner’s “visual listening” exercise, while sitting on the rocks, sharing space with the gulls, and inhaling the sounds and smells of the ocean.
The image below was my “icon of experience” on Star Island – the one photograph that most exemplified the trip. When I returned home, I did some visual journalling with it.
Icon of Experience
The rocks provide the foundation, the base for people, buildings, vegetation, and wildlife on this island in the Atlantic Ocean. Although they are shaped by the wind and sea, they are strong enough to withstand the constant forces. All rock breaks down eventually – to smaller pebbles and then finally sand. The pebble in this image represents each one of us; a tiny part, yet nurtured and protected by the thin cracks in the larger rock.
While writing this, I remembered a book I bought while on a photography workshop in New Mexico many years ago. It’s called “Stone and Silence,” by Linde Waidhofer. Her images of the Navajo sandstone landscape are vibrant with energy and colour.
Here’s what she has to say about silence.
“The silence of the high desert is a choice that becomes a habit, a habit that demands practice, a skill we learn from the land. We begin to hear this silence when our voices drop to respectful whispers. We begin to understand this silence when we start to hear all the other whispers this landscape contains. This silence contains everything that’s left when words fail … and fall away.” ~ Linde Waidhofer
Rocks are silent but speak volumes.
Rocks hold memories of long ago times.
They are useful, as currency, to mark places, to create tools, pathways, and buildings.
They are grounding.
Rocks are symbols of patience and strength.
They are calming.
They are silent.
Rock and stone offer an endless source of abstract photographic possibilities.
Do you have a subject you come back to over and over again?
More on Stone Symbolism and the Ancient Wisdom of Stones.
25 Most Surprising Rock Formations from Around the World
The Wisdom of Rocks from The Book of Life
Clouds……especially when the clouds are backlighted by the sun, they draw me and speak to me of Eternity and Father God. Clouds are no respecter of place, showing their magnificence and essence no matter where I roam.
Thank you for your thought-provoking post on stones. It quickened my spirit.
Blessings,
Sylvia
Thank you, Sylvia. Clouds …. I do love those too.
Wonderful! I love rocks too – they’re mostly sandstone here, and they have some fabulous erosion effects. I photograph them all the time and love the patterns and designs I see in them. I don’t know if everyone feels this way though – I’ve never sold a single print of rocks….but all the same, I’ll go on photographing them. 🙂
It seems this summer I have had an obsession with bees! There seems to be so many more of them this year, which warms my heart. I totally understand your rock fixation. I guess that’s why I am attracted to remote, rocky places in Ireland and Scotland. Many think them cold and hard but sitting on them in the sun they radiate the warmth and seem almost alive to me.
Such beautiful images of rocks. I especially love that second one. To me, rocks always look as if they’re alive and breathing, especially where the cracks are.
A subject that I seem to come back to again and again is water. I like its suppleness and ever-changing moods and reflections.
I’m intrigued by rocks too, but I’m always looking for mushrooms. Those little delicate things can certainly teach us a lesson on perseverance as they push their way through the hard surface of the earth! I’m enjoying your thoughts and images from your recent trip.
The Gulf Islands nearby Vancouver,BC are islands of rocks. I just came back from one of them -Mayne Island. I love sand, stones, & rocks – indeed the whole family. Some take dogs for a walk. I take my pet rock. I know that when I am gone my rock will mourn for me. Michelangelo struggled with the gods in the marble. I see eternity in the stone – the head stones of the graveyards. The non-speaking god speaks so loud & so clear. Thank you Kim for your blog. I enjoy reading them.
Heng.
When I’m in the desert southwest I find myself drawn to rocks as well. But in general I’m really drawn to anything decaying…paint peeling…wabi-sabi! Beautiful captures…and I love “rocks are silent but speak volumes.” So very true! Thank you!
Wonderfully abstract yet recognizable for their strength, variety and texture. I like the metaphor you discovered in your Icon of Experience from Star Island.
For me, I would say glass and other reflective surfaces are my obsession.