Enduring

“Beauty that pleases the eye is a frail, fleeting illusion. But that beauty capable of pleasing the heart can endure endlessly.” ~ Richelle E. Goodrich

I found myself down at an often visited location last Saturday, a place by the sea, just 20 minutes from my house. To say the weather was changeable would be an understatement, with a heavy storm front and squally showers interspersed with bright sunshine. I guess as a walker or swimmer it was not the best of conditions as the place was almost empty, but as a photographer it was magical. Even though I was running for cover as often as composing an image I loved watching the changing light play across the sea.

There are a number of these handrails around the pathway leading from Martello Tower to Dún Laoghaire and I noticed they all had a fresh lick of paint. The intensity of the Blue and White of the paintwork captured my attention, a counterpoint to the much subtler hues provided by nature in the background. I was struck by the thought, as I began to compose an image that even those these handrails are very old, covered in rust and been painted countless times, they still endure, they still serve a purpose to allow swimmers and walkers safely negotiate the elements presented by both the sea and weather. Maybe it is my age effecting me but I found comfort in that thought. How about you?