It comes from nowhere

but is everywhere.

It seeps and creeps in silence with stillness,

and flows and whirls with resonance and force.

Its’ invisible presence is felt on sand and skin.

When I am engulfed in it

I feel empty -

yet full;

I feel isolated –

yet connected.

Its’ lips touch my neck and it whispers in my ears

in a language which cannot transcribed or written using characters or symbols,

but I hear it and I understand.

In the desert darkness its’ breath gently closes my eyelids

and comforts me to sleep

and continues to waft and blow through my dreams.

Julie Stephenson

Water

dances

under and over

stones

weaving

patterns

playing with freedom.

Julie stephenson

on hardened layered blocks of rocks -

in the limelight.

At first glance

alone and in solitude with roots reaching and swaying

yet when a pause is taken to see more closely

a companion -

strong

uplifting,

yet insignificant

value overlooked

misjudged

often ignored-

sitting patiently alongside.

Julie Stephenson

I am practicing witnessing my thoughts pass through my mind, and then consciously draw my attention to my breathing (puffing ), and to awareness of my body and surroundings – where I need to place my feet. I am actually becoming more adept and being able to know where to place my foot without even looking at the ground. I seem to be developing a sense and awareness of where the rocks are – even when I am not consciously looking at the dirt road.

I witness my thoughts as they come into my mind. “Lift your spine out of your hips”…”strong spine”…..” focus on your breathing”……. “should I turn around now, or otherwise Max may have to come and find me “…. “what will I have for brekky?”. Thoughts pass through my mind all the time, and the key for me it to just be aware of them – witness them – take notice and act on the ones which support my self-awareness; and do not continue the conversation in my mind with others.

How amazing that a simple thing like running can teach me so much! Perhaps there is an activity that you may find you enjoy which brings you to a place of connection, silence and self-awareness.

I set myself an intention at Karijini workshop with Christian Fletcher, Peter Eastway and Tiny Hewitt to try new approaches and new ways of photographing.

I tried for the first time to take a portrait of a tree. And those who know me well know that I don’t usually “DO” trees. Here are my first 2 attempts.

During the workshop my computer had a hissy fit – and all of the images I am posting here from my trip over the past few weeks are processed only in ACR (Adobe Camera Raw) at the minimum default size, and then resized to 800 pixels wide and then saved. I am unable to work using any layers…because the “insufficient RAM ” message pops up to remind me of the limitations of my current computer.

At least I can open some files and share them with everyone along our journey, and I am excited about playing with some of the images when I return to my studio.

So all my photographs from our trip are all my very simple edited offerings..which in themselves have an authenticity and rawness which I still find quite beautiful….. and show my exploration of trying new things.

Water

holds and carries the life from above

in its reflection

and slides through chasms which it creates

and flows and moulds and sculpts the stone

with fragile softness

and yet a force which goes unnoticed

until well after its caress passes.

Julie Stephenson

In gritty times

when perspective is uncertain

and answers which touch fingertips are rough and hard,

sometimes the widest path

requires courage and faith

into the mysterious chasm of the unknown.

Julie Stephenson

This place is very beautiful and has an extremely powerful and sacred feel.

When the scars run so deep

and loss cannot be repaired;

when courage alone

cannot heal

and embrace the dark cracks

which empty life;

it is time to allow new life to grow

alongside that which is damaged

even amongst the rocky uncertainty of the unknown.

Julie Stephenson