Cursed and hated.

These days are not very easy days.

It is the third period of the retreat at El Triple, Baja California, Mexico, fully concentrated and totally devoted to creating new conceptual photography.

It started on August 12, 2007 and until now almost 60 days have been spent in solitude in the Fuso Szulc at this location, with two interruptions to get supplies.
60 days of developing ideas, photographing on the beach, living healthy, finding balance and harmony.

This process, so well known from earlier retreats at El Triple, is going very well.
There are incredible results that are very exciting.
And the life style continues to be highly appreciated and enjoyed
The peace at El Triple, the simplicity of life, the ascetic circumstances, the absence of alcohol, tension and nervousness.

However, since one week the deeply feared strong and cold northwestern wind has started to blow.
And without mercy.
This is an annual phenomenon and well known from past retreats at El Triple.
One year this wind comes early in autumn, the other year it might come later.
But it is here now and it will stay until after Spring 2008.
To become stronger and stronger and cooler and cooler every day.

This ferocious wind makes working hardly possible.
The violent wind carries sand particles and salt and ruins the photographic equipment.
Besides, being on the beach with this wind is not exactly a pleasure.
It doesn’t make the artist feel comfortable to perform his best creativity.

All other activities become rather unpleasant as well because of the forceful winds.
These days the wind speed is about 30 km per hour (19 mph) and the daily post-siesta walk on the beach is one way fighting the wind and returning being forcefully pushed.
The same for the daily running: pushed by the wind to effortlessly arrive at the point of return, but going back is a struggle and fight against the wind.

Most dramatically are the bathing sessions in the Pacific Ocean.
The water temperature is still comfortable but to get in and out of the water is a torturing activity.
Dangerous also to catch a cold, the flue or even pneumonia.
After the running, hot and sweaty, the brave athlete dives into the Ocean and after a short while comes out to wash the hair and the body with soap.
This standing wet and naked in the cool and aggressive wind on the wide and open beach.
Next, a second dive in the Ocean follows and at least 15 minutes is spend swimming in the water and diving into the agitated waves.
Usually the current carries the swimmer far away from where is the towel and leaving eventually the water a long run needs to be made to be able to reach the towel and dry the body.
Those are moments of physical hardship and what makes this man do it daily is the feeling it gives afterwards.
The experience lifts up the spirit and the mood and nothing is better than to sit shortly after the cold treat with warm clothes on in the safety of the Fuso Szulc.

But being in the wind the whole day has also a strong psychological influence.
In the Los Angeles area are the famous Santa Anna Winds and in the 1930’s Raymond Chandler wrote in his novel “Red Wind” about them:

“Those hot dry winds that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen.”

When living in the village of Cadaques in Spain the phenomenon of the Tramontana Winds was experienced.
A violent and strong wind coming from the Pyrenees Mountains and it made the people in the village crazy.
They would get drunk, aggressive and in a bad mood for sure.

The same is happening at El Triple.
The level of happiness drops and the level of irritation mounts.
This wind is cursed and hated.

Isn’t the solution easy to see, many fervent and loyal blog readers will ask?
Just pack your bags and get out.

Exactly.
This idea comes to mind every hour of the day.
When levels of irritation and physical discomfort get high, of course thoughts come to mind to break up camp and return to the town of La Paz.
And there are more reasons to do this.
Because of travels to China and India next month, certain steps need to be taken only possible in La Paz.
Only a fool would stay at El Triple.

It is without shame that it is admitted that life is now like the fool on the hill.
As The Beatles were singing:

"But the fool on the hill,
Sees the sun going down.
And the eyes in his head,
See the world spinning around."

There are absolute convincing reasons to stop being at El Triple.
But the truth is, departure now is impossible.
It is because of the fascination of being here: to see the sun go down and the world spin around.
It is because of this strong urge to want to perform the several ideas for new pictures still waiting.
It is impossible to leave El Triple.
The state of being is as being in a trance.
Hypnotized and immobilized by the situation.

The only way to leave at short notice is when somebody would come to gently show the way out.
Or until the wind blows sense in the foolish mind.









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