Israel, nr Masada, St George's Monastery: Treking in Israel for an out-of-the-way location is hard, hot, thirsty work. And the creators of this monastery certainly followed the rules for seclusion and silence. Once the directions for the location had been found a hefty walk down this Gorge finally rewards with this vista. Getting access to the monastery is another story altogether, as is it's own private access, which I decided to leave to another time - settling for the atmosphere, location and view instead.
Portugal, Sintra: Just an ordinary space for passers-by to sit and rest, or contemplate. A circlular wall, a bench, a few trees, light and shade. Beautiful simplicity. I stayed for a while to think about Sintra - which had achieved a UNESCO World Heritage Site award some years previously and well deserved it is too. This town is a truly magnificent example of the creation of outstanding architecture, combined with a deep respect for nature and man.
Portugal, Castelo da Vide: Here it is - a place of peace dedicated to Christ and nature. This spot is just outside the town and I loved it from the very first sight - requiring almost no manoeuvering to get the perspective I always try and obtain. The eye just goes there. The creators of this space had a terrific sense of aesthetics and drama, to say nothing of the vision to imagine how it would be in years to come.
England, North Somerset, Weston-Super-Mare: On impulse, returning from Bristol Airport I headed for Weston. It was a dull day, but I only realised how dull once I had arrived at the beachfront. 'This could be an exposure problem,' I said to myself zipping up my coat. But out of adversity opportunities rise and I soon found myself captured by the mono landscape, the minimal content, yet the grand scale of composition.
England, Somerset, The Steart Peninsula: This whole coast is brimming with wonderful sights, smells and sounds. Even the mud here is fascinating. It is also quite flat and the Severn (Bridgwater Bay) can be seen at three points of the compass around this slender finger of land. And although this image gives little inclination of the sky and the horizon - it is massive. Birdlife abounds here.
England, Wiltshire, The Deverills: Perhaps unique in the whole of Britain this wide landscape has probably been denuded of its original forestry due to intensive agriculture - which I don't condone. On the other side of the coin, what remains is a vista that is so big it cannot fail to impress. I often drive here just to relax, to see the changing weather patterns and shapes thrown on the ground.
England, Cornwall, Praa Sands: The wind was blowing a gale and the rain pelted, not down, but horizontally. Walking along this beach, with the storm at my back I dreaded the return journey. As quickly as it came the midnight black skies lifted and a weak, English sun made a welcome appearance. This was timed with my arrival at the far end of the sand and the surprising and joyful exclamation of boulders.
England, Somerset, Horsington: Having spent the best part of 15 years looking for scenes like this, in many parts of the world, I was amazed to find it on my doorstep. It is often said that to know a place you must walk around it - in this instance I cycled around it. Midwinter often gives me the best results with the light being cold, crisp and clear. Shooting this image of symetry gave me great pleasure.
Spain, Andalusia, Cordoba: Here we are again -this time in the wonderfully sculptured avenue of Churchyard Cyprus' in the Jardin Botánico. Surreality springs to mind, as does that wonderful film Last Year At Marienbad. For a moment the eye and the mind is taken away from the flaura paradise, where colours run riot. Here it is the imagination that follows the theme.
Spain, Andalusia, Cordoba: At the Jardin Botánico there is an explosion of colour, of plants and flowers I had never seen before. Here adjacent to the pools which fed fountains and streams, Koi Carp lazily swam, eating the algae and cleansing the water as they went along. And immediately alongside the River Guadalqivir provided its own natural reserve of birdlife, reeds and aromas.
Spain, Andalusia, Cordoba: Here in the Orange Garden within the walls of the Mezquita I found cool and calm. Beyond the air temperature was 48 degrees, yet here the sheer quantity of orange trees and the shade the cast, together with streams and pools, gave a different climate altogether. To say nothing of the delicious fragrance. Beyond, inside the mezquita the sound of devotional hymns beckoned further salvation from this climatic anomoly.
Kenya, Lamu: This old Portuguese fort sat outside my bedroom window. Beneath, young boys sold hands and it seemed treeloads of bananas. In the alleyway in front, school children repeated verses in unison, from the Qoran. And above, varieties of birds flew in and out of the mulit-level, birdsnest appartments in the palm trees. Here was my scenery for two weeks as I explored this Muslim island, where cars were banned and donkeys gained respect as transportation.
Portugal, Cascais, Boca da Inferno: Not named Inferno's Mouth for nothing, this ruptured cave inside the cliff face receives the unabated fury of the waves that role, or thunder in directly from the Atlantic Ocean. Whatever the weather, tide, current or wave condition the spectacle never fails to impress. Each wave smashes onto the rocks with a different formation, mesmerising in the same way as a roaring fire in a hearth.
Spain, Siera Nevada, Pico Valeta: I was touring around this region of Spain, perhaps my favourite country in Europe, when I arrived at the snow - covered peaks of Siera Nevada, a mere 3398 metres altitude at this particular location. And so I decided to climb to the top via tracks, not seeing any other means, which I eventually managed to do, only to discover that just a few metres below, on the other side was a chairlift. Breathing in I appreciated the scenery and the spectacular, distant views.
Israel, Sa'ar Falls, nr Lebanese border: The stream that feeds the falls - bubbling and rushing over the rocky bed, deep in the surrounding, dense forest. An air of expectation awaits. Shadows quiver. You are not alone. A sense of little people staring from behind tree trunks, or rocks, as though they are observing friend, or foe. Perhaps why the Greeks felt this area to be the homeplace of gods.
Morocco, Atlas Mountains, nr Tizi n'Tichka: Biblical is how I would best refer to this outstanding corner of the Atlas Mountains. Not that the rest of the range is any the lesser, but sometimes the combination of scenery and light come together at exactly the right moment in exactly the right combination. I still rate this scene as one of the most breathtaking that I have ever seen.
Morocco, Marrakesh, Jardin Ménara: Along the Ave de la Menara you will find this large, black pool - seemingly still and calm. The pavillion on the other side peacefully draws your eyes and the crowds of Marrakshis will be there to escape the heat and city busstle. But beware, lurking just below the surface are the local equivalent of 'Jaws' - hundreds of enormous Koi Carp that mouth agape, leap and fight for any crumb that may be thrown, making the water boil and bubble.
Israel, Jerusalem, Mount of Olives: Surounded by memorials and their tell-tale pebble reminders of visitations I ponder the presence of Christ and his disciples on these slopes. As I meditate I ask if Christ is still here. I receive an answer 'Yes'. I open my eyes and scour the surounds and closing my eyes again state 'But I can't see you.' To which I receive another answer 'Because you don't know where to look.' I was shaken for days after this spiritual experience.
Israel, Jerusalem, Garden of Gethsemane: Legend has it that these olive trees (or their relatives) have stood here since the time of Christ. Their gnarled and tortuous trunks certainly gave weight to that idea. Of course I was going to explore as many biblical sights as I could and I couldn't resist this location. Olive trees always hold a fascination for me as a source of beauty, shade, food, and oil for culinary and lighting purposes.
Israel, Banias: The name of this spring is a corruption of the Greek Panaeas=Pan, the Greek god of the forest. Further along a beautiful waterfall cascades onto a pool fit for a god to bathe in. This area, to me was perhaps the most traditionally beautiful I had encountered in my entire discovery of Israel - probably not well discovered by many tourists due to its proximity to the Golan Heights.
Israel, The Dead Sea: Yes the tide goes out a long way here. Who knows how long this boat had been waiting for the fishermen to return. But work seemed to be going on with it's reconstruction in hopes of, who knows, the next Great Flood. I doubted whether I would ever see such a surreal sight, or whether the Dead Sea would ever rise to its previous level.
Israel, Negev Dessert: I wandered through this desolate, planetary-impact, scorched landscape armed only with camera and film. Not expecting to find tempreatures of 45 degrees I had neglected to take a water flask. After several hours of dusty adventuring I realised I was far from the car and dehydrated. Buzzards circled lazilly above, expecting me to be their next meal. But my eye was caught by this rugged scene of natural wonder too good to be distracted by any other life threatening obstacles.
Wales, Barmouth: With the Barmouth Bridge stretching gracefully across the Mawddach - winding itself sinuously through low-tide sand banks. This scene at sundown captivated me as I drove past quickly one evening, having just missed the light. And so I spent the next three evenings correcting that error, ending with the image you see here. The mixture of light, artistic proportions, scenery and tranquility will always stay with me.
Spain, Ronda:This busy town is home to the Museum of Bullfighting, mostly filled with beautiful Toreador costumes and historic posters (not dead bulls - thankfully). If you like a great Tapas, the tavernas here will suit you. On the quest for great scenery a winding, steep path leads you down to the mirador, which lays out wheatlands below and this unique clifftop view of part of the town above.
Spain, Siera Navada, Picos de Veleta: This scene is just off the mountain range. Discover this zone and stop off for a picnic lunch - you won't disturb the locals, unless a herd of goats comes by. A pair of buzzards glide overhead calling to each other in the search for an easy snack. A thin scrim of clouds warn that a cold front and snow may be on the way. So tranquility rules the day as the sun beats down.
Spain, Almeria: Viva Espana. I love that country and can imagine returning there time after time. This Mexican 'Pueblo' is there - just outside Almeria you'll find a desert in which nestles the village of 'Mini Hollywood' created by that legendary creator of the 'Spaghetti Western' Sergio Leoni. Head for the bar and you'll find real cowboys. Take a walk to the corall and you might find camels whose grandparents participated in the filming of Mad Max. Go ahead fantasize - I did.
England, Shaftesbury: This small, picturesque town draws tourists from far and wide like a massive magnet. But visit there on a day, such as this - with fresh snow on the ground and a dusting of that miracle of frozen rain on the horizon and waiting for the sightseers to pass, will provide a pristine view from this Saxon hill fort site. I am fortunate to only live a short drive from here and look forward to this picture postcard perfection on a regular basis.
England, Lake District, Ambleside: I was trekking here when my companion came close and quitley phispered an understated 'Paradise', pointing down the path. As I have always wanted to visit any place with such a label I keenly followed the directions to come upon this scene of halcyon simplicity. Sit an artist down with a pencil and pad and they will design, compose and create perspectives that couldn't be more perfect than this.
England, Somerset, Stourhead: This is one of thos locations that is possible to visit time after time, without ever being tired of the scenery that has been so carefully and lovingly constructed. Even to the point of being surprised time after time - for the seasons change and so do the flaura - displaying their breathtakingly, hypnotic variations in abundance. Scenes like these water lillies bring to mind the creations of Claude Monet
England, London: Fans of Dan Brown's 'Da Vinci Code' will be aware of the scenes inside The Temple - a site of religious observance and with connections to Freemasons and the British Royal Family. Inside the atmosphere is redolent with history; of Crusaders and powerful secrets. The external courtyard is just as moody with a statue devoted to 'The Poor Knights' and this overkill of pillars and conspiratorial deep shadows.
England, Cornwall: As you head towards Praa Sands along the footpath from Prusia Cove you might come across this sight of grass and if it happens to be raining (Cornish Sunshine) you'll catch a rainbow. While I was there it rained every day and I caught eight rainbows. So plenty of gold down there. But Cornwall has a magic of its own - no matter where you are there can be beauty and tranquility tossed in with crazy weather.
Portugal, Comporta: Head south of Lisbon for an hour, cross the Sado River onto the isthmus called the Peninsula de Troia and you will come to Comporta, where the Sado Reserve attracts local and migrating birds and when the tide is low leaves a fascinating mudbank mozaic. Get there early enough and you could be treated to the sound of flights of Storks meeting before they go downriver for breakfast. This is a place that leaves you breathless.
Portugal, Praia da Ursa: (Bear's beach - so named because a huge finger of rock marks the spot and looks from certain angles like a bear) is difficult to access - a twenty minute climb down a boulder-strewn path can find you without a beach at all. It all depends on the time of year, tides and currents. And because of this access and uncertainty many can't be bothered to make the trip. It is a secret location heavily guarded by the few that do make the effort. Mostly the only sound you will hear is the crashing of waves, punctuated by the occasional seagul - and that brings a tranquility all of it's own.
Portugal. A wide bay with its own dunes. When the wind blows (and it can really blow here - straight off the Atlantic) the seas are whipped into angry waves, much loved by windsurfers and kite fliers. The sands can drift right accross the road and is very abrasive. Here in the lea of the bushes there is often calm. On a windless day the view can take your breath away.
This is the blogsite for Peace In The Spirit Of Place. Devoted exclusively to my images (whether photographic, drawn, or painted) of places that hold a special, peaceful place in my heart. Sometimes that place could have an aesthetic appeal, othertimes I may feel a strong emotional attachement, or it may be because of events or people that I associate with the place and again it may be beyond explanation. I hope you will join me and similarly feel that these places are special. There will be an upcoming website and also limited edition, boxed prints, a book or exhibitions to follow. I will keep you posted here.
Love and peace
Mel Sewell
P.S: Don't forget to click on the image if you would like to see it enlarged.
