Hey lovelies,

A new friend of mine, Roque, went on an adventure with me the other day. We both enjoy poetry, nature, and we also share a deep love of outdoor exploration. Roque decided he wanted to come check out Salt Spring so he hopped on the 9 a.m. ferry and headed over to the eclectic and stunningly beautiful island where I currently live. Roque got to my home just before my sister, Grace, arrived for our two-hour “work” day. We chatted for a bit, then, once my sister arrived, he went on a solo outing to see if he could find some cool things to photograph.

Roque is passionate about photography, as am I, so he brought a variety of vintage cameras, including some Polaroid cameras with him. It was a fascinating experience having him excitedly share his passion for film, cameras, and specifically vintage camera equipment. After discussing photography for a bit, we decided to drive around and find a place to shoot.

We ventured out to Burgoyne Bay. I had just completed a photo shoot with another photographer there a couple days earlier and realized that there were a few shots we forgot to do. In my mind, it seemed perfectly natural to drive out there with this newly discovered photographer and friend.

Even more than just being nude, I love being naked in nature. When I say “nude”, I mean wearing no clothing. When I say “naked”, there is a deeper meaning for me. Being naked is an emotional and spiritual experience for me, but somehow, when I stepped out into the same field I had been photographed naked in just a couple days earlier, I knew it was not the right day for me to have a photo shoot. As if Roque’s thoughts were in sync with mine, he climbed up the tree and began connecting with his surroundings.

What I witnessed was beautiful, but it is not my story to tell. When I asked Roque if he could write something about his experience for this blog, this is what he shared:

Getting naked with Joy or getting naked in nature feels like you are experiencing the breeze, trees, grass, and sky for the first time. Like My primordial being was home. This experience reminded me that I must be true to myself, accept myself, and love me.

I have been thinking a lot about Neruda poetry. So here is one really fitting

By Pablo Neruda:

“Naked you are simple as one of your hands;
Smooth, earthy, small, transparent, round.
You’ve moon-lines, apple pathways
Naked you are slender as a naked grain of wheat.

Naked you are blue as a night in Cuba;
You’ve vines and stars in your hair.
Naked you are spacious and yellow
As summer in a golden church.

Naked you are tiny as one of your nails;
Curved, subtle, rosy, till the day is born
And you withdraw to the underground world.

As if down a long tunnel of clothing and of chores;
Your clear light dims, gets dressed, drops its leaves,
And becomes a naked hand again.”

Thank you Roque for sharing this experience with me and granting me permission to share our collective experience in this post.

The featured image was taken by another photographer on Sunday.

I hope you are having a truly blissful day!

From my heart to yours,

Joy