Jim Babbage

I am a Rock And a Rock Feels No Pain

I don’t know how these rocks got placed on the edge of the Bellmere Winds beach on the north shore of Rice Lake. Glacial retreat? Backhoe? Divine whimsy?

Intentional or not, they are an integral part of my “zen experience” at the cottage, symbolizing what Bellmere and being at the cottage means to me.

You’d think symbolism for the resort might have more to do with golf, as Bellmere has a pretty impressive 18-hole golf course as its other prime feature. But not for me.

Sunset on the Bellmere Winds Golf Course

I don’t golf. I consider this a public service to actual golfers.

I find this short chain of boulders therapeutic, stabilizing, calming. Maybe it's the fact that despite the weather and season, these rocks remain relatively unchanged - and definitely unmoved - by their environment. If I practiced yoga or meditation, I could see these rocks being a focal point of my concentration.

As it stands, photography is my meditation. Does that mean if I'm focused on photographing these rocks, I'm double-meditating?

Thanks to Michael Clawson for capturing this photo.

Hmmmm...

One thing I know; I'm always finding different ways to capture these weathered stones (much like the way I'm trying to find other ways to say "rocks"). They don't bore me, visually, regardless of how many times I see them or photograph them. I treat them as a friendly challenge to my visual acumen. How do I portray them differently, this time?

And while the rocks are that visual anchor, the overall environment plays a huge roll in the images I capture, and my mindset while photographing. The sounds of birds, frogs, water lapping against the rocks and the beach, the wind in the trees, even the distant mooing of cows from a nearby farm, all have an impact.

This grouping of boulders is a visual and psychological anchor.

It's Only Rock and Roll, but I Like it

Every year since we bought the cottage, I've made photographs of these rocks from different viewpoints, lighting conditions, at varying times of day and year. Sometimes they are the main subject, sometimes they are part of the environment - a smaller part of a larger scene - but, regardless, they are always there. It's amazing to me the impact of something as simple as the quality of light can have, affecting the composition and mood of the same subject. I've gathered together some of my favourite images of these rocks from the past few years. I hope you enjoy them.

These stones don't roll, but neither do they gather any moss.

Thanks for taking this trip with me. If you like what you see, be sure to drop by my Behance page for even more.

Created By

Jim Babbage

Appreciate

Credits:

All photography - with the exception of the portrait - is the work of Jim Babbage. Portrait of Jim courtesy of Michael Clawson