14. Trigg-o-nometry

Sunday, 21st December, 2014

Hillarys, Perth, WA

# Note to self - check hat for spiders.

This morning Ken had a whooper nesting in his hat, which would not have been half bad if his hat was outside.

Looking for the eponymous red dot, it was then that I learnt that this only appears when aggravated. And so it was with a lengthy bit of twig that I apprehensively cajoled the beast out of its new lair and promptly heard it fall several feet on to the ground into a pile of dry leaves.

In the excitement of all these mysterious events I seem to keep forgetting my camera but then I remember Sontag (#13).

13. Trigg-o-nometry

Saturday, 20th December, 2014

Hillarys, Perth, WA

It's great being on holiday. That is when I do manage to switch off from making pictures or analysing every moment because it might be a future project or relate to an ongoing project. I love it, it keeps my mind focused and allows me to question everything but photography is the kind of vocation that you take anywhere and everywhere, even on vacation, especially on vacation. Although not so much in the snapshot sense, not anymore anyway, or maybe a little bit.

Sontag helped me realise that one.

A way of certifying experience, taking photographs is also a way of refusing it - by limiting experience to a search for the photogenic, by converting experience into an image, a souvenir. Travel becomes a strategy for accumulating photographs...Most tourists feel compelled to put the camera between themselves and whatever is remarkable that they encounter. Unsure of other responses, they take a picture.

                                                        - Susan Sontag, On Photography (1977)

Anyway, yesterday we visited AQWA. It's an aquarium here in WA.

I could stare at fish for hours, especially in a big tank, with big fish. And when it's exotic, it's even more interesting. Amazing.

With Sontag bubbling away in the back of my mind I did think it was all a bit weird and, like photography, a bit voyeuristic. Maybe not voyeuristic because I'm not sure what the fish and turtle see in returning our gaze.

I imagined a mall, like the one we visited a few days before. Quite a boring experience if I'm honest but watching people can be interesting too, especially the exotic which as de Botton posits is anything away from the norm.

Well in this imaginary mall there was a watery tunnel and in this world the fish have the power, a bit like Planet of the Apes but fishy, and the inhabitants swim around in a circular fashion gawping at the exotic.

"Look mum, there's an Englishman."

"Ohhh, there's a Christian"

"Look...an African"

12. Trigg-o-nometry

Thursday, 18th December, 2014

Hillarys, Perth, WA 

Well I haven't turned into Spider-Man...yet

A few days ago I saw a spider that had been run over, just by the garage door. 

It was BIG..(ish)

I touched it and to my horror I got spiked. As mild panic began to build I realised one of its spiky bits had become lodged in my finger, a spider splinter.

When I figured the toxins were not going to paralyse me in the few seconds that had passed, I did what all blokes do and just ignored it.

Although after an hour or so I did tell Caroline, just in case I went a bit weird. Her mum heard and went straight for the antiseptic, as (nearly) all mums do.

Good old mums.

11. Trigg-o-nometry

Wednesday, 17th December, 2014

Hillarys, Perth, WA

Surfing.......sometimes it's quite depressing, frustrating and just ahhhhhh!

After a few days in the sea I'm finally, sort of, comfortable with the fact that there are sharks about. 

It's the surfers that are the problem or rather my own surfing. The trouble with paddling out to a point is that the take off zone is limited, the waves are few and the crowds, especially in a city break during the summer/Christmas holidays are quite big. Not to mention that everyone seems to rip, even the mini-groms. 

As with every break there is a pecking order and Trigg is no different. There seems to be a core of more mature surfers that hold the top table. Everyone else takes the crumbs that are left. Amongst these mere mortals I sit, respectful of the order whilst longing to get up there and catch a few backhand peelers.

If I was of a more forceful nature I would sit up there and wait my turn. I could even sit inside and pick off a few smaller ones. It's only been head high or so but it's a quick take off which is fast, and at times hollow. The wave sections too which is where everyone else sits, peppered along the reef in ever shallower sections that for the most part close out. Or that's what I seem to catch.

Confidence is key. My confidence is weakened by crowds anyhow. I hate hassling for waves. It doesn't help when you nearly spear one of those sitting at the top table. In times it would have been, "Off with his head..." but hey ho. We all fall off, especially when trying to surf to new wave. 

I know what I need to do. Get on it early and by early I mean up at 4, cycle down and paddle out before every other gets out there. I'm down there at 6 anyway but this is Australia, so it's super crowded early doors. The only trouble with super early is the threat of them damn sharks.

10. Trigg-o-nometry

Tuesday, 9th December, 2014

Hillarys, Perth, WA

So I started reading "The Cloud of Unknowing" but from the start I have a predicament, not really believing in God undermines a fundamental element of the book.

The book claims to be "a rainmaker for anyone whose soul has ever felt as dry as a bone".

Essentially, the book seems to be about contemplative prayer, whether you need to believe, I'm not sure.

The first part, the "cloud of unknowing" relates to spiritual exercises.

The second part, the "cloud of forgetting", to prayer without ceasing.

I am, by all accounts about to have a dialogue with Mystery.

For contemplation I am in need of only one thing, a naked intent.

What Anonymous does say about God I quite like; "He can be loved, but not thought".

I do wonder why He has to be a He though. If He cannot be thought then He could just as easily by a She or neither.

If neither then the Tao suits.

For contemplative prayer I am in need of one thing, a kind of spiritual amnesia.

For this I must forget about everything created. Hide everything in existence under the cloud of forgetting.

The first piece of practical advice is to "focus our scattered minds on one small word and try to hold onto it". This word is of one syllable. Fix it to your heart. Fasten it in your mind.

I have fixed my word for a day or so now and I have to say its surprising.

For Anonymous contemplation on one word reconnects us to God.

I use the term God in the loosest sense, as far away from Christianity or any other organised religious doctrination as possible.The Tao would probably define it better.

For me, the term God is loaded with connotations that have a direct correlation to the Christian fait h and I cannot believe in it. People have justified to much in the name of God. I have an open mind but the associations between God and religion are too strong. From this sense I should replace the word God with something else and I was going to use the term Tao but the book is a Christian text and not an Eastern philosophy so I use the term God with caution but also with respect to Anonymous.

The Tao signifies the way, it is everything and nothing which is why it seems to have a direct relationship with the term God.

In relation to my original point it seems Anonymous is wary of my sincerity too, and rightly so, for they ask no-one to read, quote or copy any of the text without a sincere intention to follow Christ.

I am sincere but whether that sincerity will lead to Christ I am unsure.

To contextualise, this book was believed to have been written in the last half of the fourteenth century. The secularisation of Western society, I feel, adds weight to my continued reading of this book. Who knows where it will lead.

In reading the first chapter I wonder whether it is possible to remove or replace the religious rhetoric with a more secular vision?

To be spiritual do we really need to be Christian, and if yes, does that mean those who follow other religious faiths are less spiritual?

I'm not sure I even know what it means to be spiritual.

On this journey I can relate to the first stages of Anonymous' four stages of maturity.

First is Ordinary

Many live the ordinary life out in the world and it could be said we often get lost. to Christians this is the path of Adam, the bite of the apple, sin. To most it's simple fun but fun can lead you down a path which is not conducive to proper behaviour.

The second is Special

Special is almost like recognising the first level and growing to a more reflective life.

9. Trigg-o-nometry

Tuesday, 9th December, 2014

Hillarys, Perth, WA

Clean, waist to shoulder high waves this morning. It was a roll of the dice.

Came home, quick munch, coffee and the wind's come up.

This is such an expanse of coastline and it is so susceptible to the wind especially with The Doctor.

8. Trigg-o-nometry

Tuesday, 9th, December, 2014

Hillarys, Perth, WA

Woke up this morning at five to no wind. Torn between taking my board or my camera, I gambled and cycled out with my camera.

7. Trigg-o-nometry

Monday, 8th December, 2014

Hillarys, Perth, WA

The surf's picked up, as has the on-shore winds.

6. Trigg-o-nometry

Sunday, 7th December, 2014

Hillarys, Perth, WA

The dawn chorus is a true symphony of exotic noise. Cut through by the throaty meat of a bike or the rumble of a ut's V8.

The beaches are very clean, or seem to be. The lifestyle is very clean, or seems to be. Australia is very clean, or seems to be.

Money exudes itself throughout the West Coast Highway.

5. Trigg-o-nometry

Saturday, 6th December, 2014

Hillarys, Perth, WA

Woke up to a bright Azure blue sky.

The feel of heat.

Bliss

It's not all sweets and sugar though. There is the traffic. It's not necessarily close but it is there. Lying in bed it cuts through the silence.

4. Trigg-o-nometry

Saturday 6th, December

Hillarys, Perth, WA

Well after 30 hours of no sleep I thought brilliant, bed at 9 pm, sleep through. Tomorrow will be another day.

I didn't count on Eli. He slept for a few hours on the plane and then went down at 5 pm. It's now 1 am and he's wide awake! Caroline has gone back to bed and I'm flowing on sleep deprivation. I've had 4 hours sleep and I'm done for.

I was looking forward to searching out a second hand board tomorrow, or rather later today. Now I just want sleep...

3. Trigg-o-nometry

Friday 5th, December

Hillarys, Perth, WA

...I think Epicurus may have had a point...

2. Trigg-o-nometry

Wednesday 3rd, December, 2014

Somewhere heading to London

Well that was a stress and we're only in the car...

1. Trigg-o-nometry

Tuesday 2nd, December, 2014

Croyde, N Devon

Mild excitement is building, finally...

Tomorrow we are off on our first major family trip. For Caroline, it's a family holiday, both for us and to meet with distant relatives; Caroline's mum, her sister and their family, namely Eli's as yet unknown cousins. We're off to Perth, Australia...

For me, it is a family holiday but more to the point, it's a surf trip. The only longitudal mountain to climb is the flight. Nineteen hours on a plane with our eighteen month old son on our laps. Joy!

I try to keep Epicurus in mind, "What is no trouble when it arrives, is an idle worry in anticipation", but it's no good, the reality keeps pushing forward. Nineteen hours. It's going to be emotional.

p.s darling, your spray tan looks lovely x

The North Devon Journal asked me about it and this is what I said...

I went to the beach today and I picked up a...

I think the main environmental threat to North Devon’s coast, and any coast really, is the amount of litter that is accumulating and it’s not just the coast, the oceans are filling up too. Marine litter is a threat that affects all living organisms from zooplankton, all the way up the food chain and it affects their habitats too. Environmentally, we are living in an Anthropocentric era, in that human interaction with the environment is considered to be at the root cause of problems.

The litter which lines our beaches and fills our seas is a threat that ultimately has the potential to come back to ourselves, as research into microplastics indicates. Plastic can be so small that even zooplankton can ingest it, which as well affecting the species directly, can multiply as it rises through the food chain and possibly end up on our dinner plates.

Anything man-made can end up as litter and it’s not just a coastal problem. The coast is just the visible sign, a liminal space that marks the edge of humanity. It’s where rubbish gets washed up and washed away again but it comes from a number of sources; through the sewage system, litter dropped on the beach, in the nations streets or from the mismanagement of bins and landfill sites. Whilst commercial and leisure fishing has a direct impact, material also gets lost at sea through shipping.

Probably the worst item of litter, the main threat is plastic. Plastic contains chemical additives that are ingested by marine life which can then enter the food chain. Contaminants also leak out and disperse into the water column and accumulate in sediment. Plastics also soak up other marine pollutants, acting like a sponge which again could enter the food chain.  

When it comes to change it feels like nothing is happening but individuals and organizations are fighting back. I feel we need to take personal responsibility, also law and industry needs to change, especially the plastics industry.

Globally we are failing and it’s sad. Take plastic alone, it doesn’t biodegrade, it just gets smaller, and smaller, and smaller. An item of plastic could take hundreds of years to disappear. It’s scary because almost every bit of plastic ever made has the potential to still exist today and the amount is growing. The smallest pieces of plastic visible, microplastics, microbeads or nurdles are defined as anything up to 5mm and  there is an unbelievable amount lining the beach at Croyde alone this winter but what about the bits we you cannot see, they are measured in microns. The plastic material found in zooplankton can be around 170 microns. I have recently been in a lab looking at plastic fibres from a North Devon beach which measure between 12 and 20 microns, to put this to scale 1,000 microns = 1mm.

 Is the problem getting worse? Yes, at least all the reports indicate this and the visual impact on our beaches is undeniable.

I started to make photographs of things I found on the beach about a decade ago. It was during a six month road trip with a friend travelling and surfing around France, Spain and Portugal. I wanted to approach the trip photographically with an open mind and out of this litter became prominent. Since then it’s a theme I’ve continued to explore through my degree studies in photography, on to today.

Most of the rubbish I pick up is just that, rubbish but there are occasions when time and tide have formed something unique, interesting and beautiful which I collect and put aside for future projects or even use as an ornament at home, much to my partner’s delight.

Some months ago I found a plastic toy, a yellow turtle, to make sand moulds, like a jelly mould. Days later I found a blue plastic duck and then a week or so later my partner found a green starfish and then I found a green plastic shell. All seemed brand new and may have come from a shipping container that was lost at sea some years before. It’s amazing.

It makes you wonder what we can do to help the marine environment because globally, the problem is so big it makes you want to give up, it cannot be beaten but I cannot turn my back on it. I find it sad and embarrassing that as humans we just don’t seem to care. There is so much wrong with the world and this issue may seem insignificant but it’s not, it’s important.

Photographically, I continue to try and raise awareness in a non-didactic manner, either through my magazine, The Point, or through the blog, mark-king.blogspot.co.uk and other social media networks. I was recently involved in an exhibition at the White Moose gallery in Barnstaple which reached a new audience but making pictures is not enough, an action has to happen and you are either active or inactive.

Culturally, I think we need to change, legislation needs to change, industry needs to change, and businesses need to change. The problem needs to be attacked from both ends. It’s not enough to keep cleaning up the beaches because it’s becoming ineffective. For me, any item of plastic that has a one-off, short term life span needs to be re-thought, from plastic drinks cups to supermarket packaging.

As individuals, we need to change too, doing simple things like checking our toothpaste or shower gel for microbeads can help. There is any number of organizations around the world and in the UK working to alleviate this problem; Surfers Against Sewage and the Marine Conservation Society are just two. There are community action groups and organised beach cleans but as an individual we can all pick up a piece of rubbish whether it’s after a surf, walking the dog, fishing or just enjoying the beach. To put it in context, trying to clear a beach of sand one or two grains at a time, alone, is impossible but collectively, it all adds up, as “I went to the beach today and picked up a…” shows.

Copyright Mark King 2014

Colours

                                                                              Copyright BBC News March 26th, 2014

Copyright Mark King 2014