MEDIUM: Photography
DESCRIPTION:
This photo showcases a golden sunset on the shores of Marco Island, Florida. The shoreline is small compared to the vast gulf ahead and the life that lies under the waves. Not only is the beauty of the sunset taken in, but life is contemplated as the beachgoers are showered in sunlight.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT:
My family’s tradition of visiting Sanibel Island started in my mother’s childhood and carried through to mine. Sanibel is my home away from home and holds a sacred space in my heart. The nature, wildlife, and sunsets are unmatched, as Sanibel emulates peace and beauty. It was nearly destroyed after Hurricane Ian in 2022; people lost their homes and livelihoods, and many animals perished in the disaster. I was able to return to the area last summer with my family; Sanibel was still recovering, so we stayed on Marco Island, but we visited Sanibel for a day. To return and see many parts still destroyed was shocking. Thinking of the families and wildlife still suffering weighed incredibly heavily on my heart. This photo was taken on Marco Island just after my visit to Sanibel. I was strolling on the beach with my camera, contemplating the situation, and I decided to capture the sun setting in that moment. In a place where darkness still lurked, there was beauty to be found, and I wanted to remember it forever. This photo was my favorite from the series, as it focuses not on the beach, but on the waves crashing against it, highlighted by the beautiful golden light of the sun. The emotions I felt in this moment are captured in the way the light radiates off of the gulf, mesmerizing beachgoers and myself alike and serving as a reminder that even in darkness, there is still light to be found.
