Water Music
Words and IMages by Debi A. Martin Smith
Perhaps only here in Aroostook County does one so
acutely appreciate the simple joys of life. I love the water.
Lakes, rivers or ponds, I love the water. The feeling of the
coolness, the darkness of our waters in The County, the ease
of movement, unrestricted..I love the water.
I am
a kayaker. This brings me as close to the water as one can
get without falling in. I kayak to catch a sunrise or to watch
a magnificent summer sunset. I kayak to become one, in
part, with the water and the brilliant blue sky. One with the
nature that surrounds me. I also kayak to put my mind
at ease and soothe my soul….all to the water music. This
is my own personal sanctuary. This time alone, with the
music, is all mine.
Gliding silently through the shimmering water, my
kayak becomes a natural extension of me--my body--my
movements. With each dip of the paddle, the music rises
off the water and the morning birds are the accompaniment
to my rhythmic motions. The water music, I wait all winter
to hear this sound. This music of which I become one with
each stroke of my hands.
On this particular late summer morning, I have
the lake to myself. That is, I am the only human being
on the lake. There is a stiff breeze blowing across the lake,
and I silently curse its determination. Determination to
make my paddle a little more difficult this morning. That
is alright, I paddle..slowly but steadily. I create new water
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SUMMER 2012
music as I go across the lake and the water laps up against
my boat. Then I see them, a cow moose and her
young calf. butterscotch in color, the baby stands close to
its mother. Luck is blowing my way after all. I am upwind
and the kayak, as I stop paddling, slowly drifts toward to
shore. This same breeze I silently cursed earlier has come to
be my friend as I sidle up along some bushes very near to
the spot the two stand. Unaware of my arrival, the mother
and baby communicate in their own language. Soft grunts
keep the baby close and becomes part of my water music.
I never get into the kayak without my trusty camera and
now I am going to get some great shots. I capture their
exchanges with the camera, that over the years has become
part of me. After 35 years of professionally shooting
weddings, senior settings and commercial work, I now
shoot for just me. Strictly for pleasure with no pressures or
worries of deadlines, and I have been blessed with a knack
for photographing animals with no trickery or props. They
know they are safe from this paddler and her kayak. After
what seemed an hour, the cow and calf finally see me. With
my surprised arrival, they communicate softly to each other
and stand just a li