From the Field · Photo Essay
Driftwood Beach
Driftwood Beach · Jekyll Island, Georgia
A first encounter with a forest shaped by the Atlantic—and a reminder to make memories while there is time.
Natural beauty, forged by nature
I was new to coastal Georgia and exploring the island area for the first time when locals told me I should see Driftwood Beach. A quick search described a forest taken by the ocean. I arrived curious; I left feeling that I had witnessed natural beauty forged by nature itself.
The scale of the place made me feel small on life’s timeline. Human life is brief beside the age of the planet and the slow work of wind, salt, sand, and tide. The trees made that passage of time visible.
I remember the warmth of the sand, the cool breeze, the smell of the Atlantic, and the sheer size of the environment. Jekyll does not seem to ebb and flow with urgency. It feels steady, calm, and peaceful.
Why I make photographs
Most of my photographs begin with wonder or another human emotion, followed by the desire to document it and share it. I hope these images let each person feel something of their own—hopefully something positive—and perhaps inspire someone to step outside and experience the world around them.
Now that I am retired, I want to travel and explore as much of this country as I can. There is so much here to witness. Photography gives me a way to bring those moments home without pretending they can be held forever.
A place we return to
Jekyll Island has become a place we visit often. We keep a yearly pass; it is close to the RV park, Becca loves the beach, and the island makes room for radio, beach time, local food, nature watching, people watching, and the simple pleasure of seeing where a path might lead.
The driftwood may outlast us. That is precisely why the memory matters.
Arrival
Path to Driftwood Beach
The beach remains unseen for a few more steps, letting anticipation become part of the place.
First encounter
Driftwood Roots
What the tide reveals can be as striking as what it takes away. Exposed roots turn the history of a tree into sculpture.
Time made visible
Standing Trees, Long Shadows
The forest remains, even as the shoreline moves around it.
The wide view
Tide-Forged Forest
Warm sand, cool breeze, open sky, and the Atlantic just beyond.
“Make memories while you have time. The driftwood will remain; you will not.”
Life 2.0 · Keep exploring
A photograph can hold a moment. The journey asks us to keep moving.
Photography gives me a way to bring these moments home and share them. I hope this collection leaves you with an emotion of your own—and a reason to go make a memory while you have the time.