Those who have followed my writing for a few years will find several recurring themes. My worries about climate change and the loss of nature may be the first ones that come to mind, and my love for nature in all its beauty and diversity is another prominent theme. These dunes are always beautiful, and the changes in the season, the time of day, and the weather create an ever-changing palette of colors that never ceases to amaze me. For many, this landscape is a far cry from the green of springtime with its blossoming flowers and thus less attractive now, but I love this different world of a frozen brownish and grey landscape during a winter heatwave.
Daily I'm looking forward to your writings. My eMail box is pretty bleak without a worldly story or photo from you to enjoy, and learn from. Or an article to pass on to a friend.
Thank you, Alexander, I sincerely appreciate your efforts ! Goed zo!
Taken on a walk through almost palpable moments. A perfect wandering between the dualities of the now and the next. Pleasures, reasons and concerns are in layers within words. A shared world from the photographer, the writer and the participant. We, the avid and faithful readers, once again, waiting for the next trails.
Hello Alexander. I certainly enjoy reading your writings and seeing the amazing pictures. To me, this one is a perfect example of what brings joy.
From reading about your interest in Vincent Van Gogh to the perils of koala bears to the multitude of subjects that are of interest. And then to present such calming, beautiful scenery with your descriptions. This all resonates with me and brings a nice perspective to life on this planet.
How very interesting are your photos, walks, commentary on our fragile planet π. I identify with your varied interests for perhaps an unusual reason. I became disabled in 2016, mobility impaired and so discovered the internet late in life.
Always a person to jump up and move, I can no longer do that. Worse yet, fell on 01/14/2022 a βday of infamyβ for myself, fractured my femur badly thus aggravating my pre-existing problems; I am not a βvictimβ at all! I now have the opportunity to research anything at all, an idea, place, word, person pops into my head and off I go on a βknowledge quest.β Any time of the day or night, my devices are available. I have learned more since 2016 than I ever did before &
appreciate the entire planet π more than ever. I can share on various platforms although still a novice since arriving so late to the concept! I can go along on your lovely active walks and appreciate what you see through your photos. It is a joy and I thank you for the opportunity to visit places unknown to me and ideas π‘ new and refreshing! Being homebound in βmy spaceβ has been a blessing not foreseen. π€
What a wonderful piece of writing. I really enjoyed that. I love your dune pictures and those reflections were well worth bending your knees for. Thank you for sharing.
I believe it happens when youβre appreciative of life in general and have multiple interests. It would be great to see a list of books that you enjoy reading on the various subjects that you write about. I know that you like photography and posted about the Yousuf Karsh on Twitter...
Hello Alexander and thank you for your nice and heartfelt newsletter. I like your sincere lines and your frankness resonates like your beautiful fotos through which I almost can feel the wintery vivid January air of your home region.
Added to the variety of your interests and joy I sense some sorrow mainly for the damage humans are causing and continue to do to the natural surroundings and planet. And there I read your constant preoccupation for the preservation of nature and livelihood. Thank you very much for persevering.
Hey, Alex! Like Lizzie Pi, I, too, particularly loved this piece, and I gotta say, I would love to read some of those βhardly known histories.β Yet again, I was totally drawn into the extraordinary world of your island. Each journey I make there, on the backs of your words and images, is as new for me as it is for you! Someday I will go there.
My friend Sierra goes to the same stretch of beach every morning at dawn and she comes back with amazing photographs. I start my day by looking at this one quarter mile of Los Angeles coast and itβs as if itβs a different place each time. I think Iβve shared some of these photographs with you. Over the years, Iβve watched migrations of birds and dolphins, seen hundreds of βnewβ beaches carved οΏΌοΏΌout by the sea, and marveled at clouds so pink they look like theyβre on loan from some FX team working on the latest big budget fantasy film. Sometimes the sea is almost like glass. Other times, as it has been recently, the waves are wild and dark, shooting sprays of white mist off the foam of their curls. And I have an album with at least a 100 photos of cloud reflections in the canal just behind the beach. Iβm pretty sure Iβve posted some of them on Twitter and you may have seen them. I donβt think Iβve ever seen anything quite like them. οΏΌI wish there was a way to post photos here in the comments. οΏΌ
But the most comforting thing about this piece was your description of the way your brain works. I identified completely. Mine, too, οΏΌis insatiable for knowledge in dozens of fields. Sometimes I think I mightβve been an architect or an anthropologist, a journalist or a coder. Like nature herself, her multitudes of flora and fauna and intricate patterns and purposes, my brain has so many interests, has wandered down so many different paths. I have often seen it as a curse, but also an asset. Itβs always comforting to know there are others of my kind. Thx for that.
I havenβt been a regular on twitter these days, either, but when Iβm there, I miss seeing you as regularly in my feed as I used to.
Even though I know your work as that of a climate expert, diplomat, and social scientist, I'm now viewing your work as that of an eco-journalist too!
A theme that has emerged is "walking." It facilitates myriad goals, such as being 'on the ground' to cover a situation, for up-close study and documentation and reporting, in addition to being fabulously healthy. Bravo!
I love this! Of all your writings, I love this best.
The descriptions and images are ethereal. You transport your reader to follow in your footsteps and feel the same experience along with you.
Your island is incredible no matter the season, weather, time of day or the light. You always find the perfect spots.
After so much worrying news now, this was a breath of delight, a feeling of endurance and hope.
Thank you!
βπ»
Daily I'm looking forward to your writings. My eMail box is pretty bleak without a worldly story or photo from you to enjoy, and learn from. Or an article to pass on to a friend.
Thank you, Alexander, I sincerely appreciate your efforts ! Goed zo!
Taken on a walk through almost palpable moments. A perfect wandering between the dualities of the now and the next. Pleasures, reasons and concerns are in layers within words. A shared world from the photographer, the writer and the participant. We, the avid and faithful readers, once again, waiting for the next trails.
"Readers would know what to expect when they see my name."
My expectations are to "discover something wonderful," and I'm never disappointed. I'm sure many others feel the same way. π
Hello Alexander. I certainly enjoy reading your writings and seeing the amazing pictures. To me, this one is a perfect example of what brings joy.
From reading about your interest in Vincent Van Gogh to the perils of koala bears to the multitude of subjects that are of interest. And then to present such calming, beautiful scenery with your descriptions. This all resonates with me and brings a nice perspective to life on this planet.
Thank you
How very interesting are your photos, walks, commentary on our fragile planet π. I identify with your varied interests for perhaps an unusual reason. I became disabled in 2016, mobility impaired and so discovered the internet late in life.
Always a person to jump up and move, I can no longer do that. Worse yet, fell on 01/14/2022 a βday of infamyβ for myself, fractured my femur badly thus aggravating my pre-existing problems; I am not a βvictimβ at all! I now have the opportunity to research anything at all, an idea, place, word, person pops into my head and off I go on a βknowledge quest.β Any time of the day or night, my devices are available. I have learned more since 2016 than I ever did before &
appreciate the entire planet π more than ever. I can share on various platforms although still a novice since arriving so late to the concept! I can go along on your lovely active walks and appreciate what you see through your photos. It is a joy and I thank you for the opportunity to visit places unknown to me and ideas π‘ new and refreshing! Being homebound in βmy spaceβ has been a blessing not foreseen. π€
What a wonderful piece of writing. I really enjoyed that. I love your dune pictures and those reflections were well worth bending your knees for. Thank you for sharing.
I believe it happens when youβre appreciative of life in general and have multiple interests. It would be great to see a list of books that you enjoy reading on the various subjects that you write about. I know that you like photography and posted about the Yousuf Karsh on Twitter...
Hello Alexander and thank you for your nice and heartfelt newsletter. I like your sincere lines and your frankness resonates like your beautiful fotos through which I almost can feel the wintery vivid January air of your home region.
Added to the variety of your interests and joy I sense some sorrow mainly for the damage humans are causing and continue to do to the natural surroundings and planet. And there I read your constant preoccupation for the preservation of nature and livelihood. Thank you very much for persevering.
Hey, Alex! Like Lizzie Pi, I, too, particularly loved this piece, and I gotta say, I would love to read some of those βhardly known histories.β Yet again, I was totally drawn into the extraordinary world of your island. Each journey I make there, on the backs of your words and images, is as new for me as it is for you! Someday I will go there.
My friend Sierra goes to the same stretch of beach every morning at dawn and she comes back with amazing photographs. I start my day by looking at this one quarter mile of Los Angeles coast and itβs as if itβs a different place each time. I think Iβve shared some of these photographs with you. Over the years, Iβve watched migrations of birds and dolphins, seen hundreds of βnewβ beaches carved οΏΌοΏΌout by the sea, and marveled at clouds so pink they look like theyβre on loan from some FX team working on the latest big budget fantasy film. Sometimes the sea is almost like glass. Other times, as it has been recently, the waves are wild and dark, shooting sprays of white mist off the foam of their curls. And I have an album with at least a 100 photos of cloud reflections in the canal just behind the beach. Iβm pretty sure Iβve posted some of them on Twitter and you may have seen them. I donβt think Iβve ever seen anything quite like them. οΏΌI wish there was a way to post photos here in the comments. οΏΌ
But the most comforting thing about this piece was your description of the way your brain works. I identified completely. Mine, too, οΏΌis insatiable for knowledge in dozens of fields. Sometimes I think I mightβve been an architect or an anthropologist, a journalist or a coder. Like nature herself, her multitudes of flora and fauna and intricate patterns and purposes, my brain has so many interests, has wandered down so many different paths. I have often seen it as a curse, but also an asset. Itβs always comforting to know there are others of my kind. Thx for that.
I havenβt been a regular on twitter these days, either, but when Iβm there, I miss seeing you as regularly in my feed as I used to.
Even though I know your work as that of a climate expert, diplomat, and social scientist, I'm now viewing your work as that of an eco-journalist too!
A theme that has emerged is "walking." It facilitates myriad goals, such as being 'on the ground' to cover a situation, for up-close study and documentation and reporting, in addition to being fabulously healthy. Bravo!