
I actually forget the Chinese name of the beach where I took this photo–it translated to something like “blowing sand beach”–but I do remember the whirlwind of grit that assaulted my eyes as I approached. Not only could I not see a thing, but I was riding a scooter on a cliffside road, descending at a steep incline with a passenger on my back. Luckily, I didn’t die in the process and was able to enjoy the beauty of the beach below. What I hope this photo captures is the sense of freedom and vibrancy that I felt there that day. The warmth of the sun was offset by cooling bursts of sea-spray, the vivid colors of the ocean and sky contrasted with the black of the coral , the wind whistled its melody high above the crashing bass of the waves. In short, it was a sensory feast. I haven’t felt so alive and free since.