can’t take my eyes off you

 

And so it is
Just like you said it would be
Life goes easy on me
Most of the time
And so it is
The shorter story
No love, no glory
No hero in her sky

I can’t take my eyes off of you
I can’t take my eyes off you…..

And so it is
Just like you said it should be
We’ll both forget the breeze
Most of the time
And so it is
The colder water
The blower’s daughter
The pupil in denial

I can’t take my eyes off of you
I can’t take my eyes off you…….

Did I say that I loathe you?
Did I say that I want to
Leave it all behind?

I can’t take my mind off of you
I can’t take my mind off you…..
My mind…my mind…
‘Til I find somebody new

~Damien Rice

 
I was in the middle of a family shoot when I first noticed them. They reminded me of puppies in that they were the epitome of playfulness. Frolicking on the beach, they chased each other, did handstands, jumped in the surf and then would periodically collapse on the sand into one another’s arms. I found them utterly beautiful in their youthful exuberance and obvious infatuation with each other. To say I was distracted from my task at hand was an understatement. I had a hard time keeping my eyes off of them. Their interaction so lyrical and pure, my desire to photograph them nearly overtook my good sense to keep my focus where it needed to be.

After the shoot was finished I was packing my vehicle when it crossed my mind to return to the beach in hopes they were still there. I was hot, hungry, and completely worn out, and yet I turned around and walked the half mile or so down the beach where I happily discovered them once again. By this time the sun was directly overhead and the clouds present not cooperating in the least by placing themselves in front of the intense light source. The couple were so lost in each other that they paid me no attention, and yet I still felt hesitant in pointing my camera in their direction. But I was so mesmerized by them that I finally took a shot, moved a bit and took another, my heart just racing all the while. I contemplated asking their permission to photograph them in order to do so more freely, but decided the day belonged to them alone and they didn‘t need my intrusion.

I was looking over the images from my beach shoot when I got to ones of this couple. The song above, “The Blower’s Daughter” serendipitously began to play at the same time. I’ve been kind of obsessed over this song on Damien Rice’s CD for some time. Like this couple, it is hauntingly beautiful, sensual, and overflowing with longing.

I look at the images of these strangers I’ll never know, and can’t help but wonder how their story will play out.

~Cynthia

PS Haven’t heard the song?