Nomads: The Gathering of Fires
A three part photo series documenting life in a small commune off the south coast of Turkey.
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We were hitchhikers, hobos, and drifters searching for a sanctuary from a civilisation gone stale. We envisioned a beach where all we needed was food, water, and each other. We wanted nothing to feel everything.
A three part photo series documenting life in a small commune off the south coast of Turkey.
- - -
We were hitchhikers, hobos, and drifters searching for a sanctuary from a civilisation gone stale. We envisioned a beach where all we needed was food, water, and each other. We wanted nothing to feel everything.
Alfie Bruce
“At sunset we set off riding on this boat. We come around the headland into this beautiful bay with mountainous cliff faces on the shoreline. Entirely empty, no one there. We pull up and throw our bags on the beach. We were all sat looking at the water and as soon as the boat went, the waves started coming in and the sea started to light up. You could see bioluminescent plankton fluttering all the way along the crests of the waves.
We ripped all our clothes off, jumped in the sea, dancing in this bioluminescence. This crazy trail of stars behind us, looking up at the stars. That feeling inside the water… I don’t know, in those moments nature sends you into a psychedelic state.
After we came out of the water, the beach started showering us with gifts. We found a flat spot for camp, collected a few pieces of wood and the fire was going. I look in the hedge next to me and see a pile of pots of pans, soon after a huge grill. We had enough to cook for twenty, thirty people.
And after a few days on the beach, more and more people arrived.”
We ripped all our clothes off, jumped in the sea, dancing in this bioluminescence. This crazy trail of stars behind us, looking up at the stars. That feeling inside the water… I don’t know, in those moments nature sends you into a psychedelic state.
After we came out of the water, the beach started showering us with gifts. We found a flat spot for camp, collected a few pieces of wood and the fire was going. I look in the hedge next to me and see a pile of pots of pans, soon after a huge grill. We had enough to cook for twenty, thirty people.
And after a few days on the beach, more and more people arrived.”
Kristine Blumer
“I never imagined it could grow into such a crowded beach with so many people, fires, music, and so many things happening. It felt like a little paradise. You could drop into any fire and feel welcome. We were all contributing, making meals together and everyone bringing something for the collective good. We had our own little family.
At that time, it was important for me to connect with nature. Arriving on the beach, we had been in the city so long. It felt so good to be away from everything. It was a place of retreat. To connect with the sea, sleep every night in the sand, go in the forest, climb the rocks, drink the water from the source. It was the simple things that made it so beautiful. In these kinds of places, it makes you appreciate how little we need.”
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At that time, it was important for me to connect with nature. Arriving on the beach, we had been in the city so long. It felt so good to be away from everything. It was a place of retreat. To connect with the sea, sleep every night in the sand, go in the forest, climb the rocks, drink the water from the source. It was the simple things that made it so beautiful. In these kinds of places, it makes you appreciate how little we need.”
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And as the days passed and bellies started to rumble we hiked to the nearest village. Before we only ever saw our reflection in the spring from which we drank, now shop windows distorted our faces back at us. We busked for change, picked fruit, and dove into bins to bring back a collective feed. Soon we hurried back to the beach.
Roddy Sim
“The food mission had been delivered and every concern dropped from our sun kissed shoulders. Okay. Paradise. Go. Awake on beach. Sunrise. Swim. Fire. Coffee. Breakfast. Second swim. Laze. Chit chat. Play. Explore. Third swim. Sunset. Dinner. Fire. Music. Starlit bliss as the sea gently caresses my ears. Repeat.
The days melted away in the October Turkish sun as connections were made, relationships deepened, and paradise achieved. Love swelled in my chest as I looked around at my friends enjoying the same delights as me. My walls had crumbled, my mind was humbled, and I was truly at peace.
I think you can measure your level of happiness by the frequency of sunrises you watch, well on this particular beach; it was every day.
'Twas here that my own little tribe decided to make home. ”
The days melted away in the October Turkish sun as connections were made, relationships deepened, and paradise achieved. Love swelled in my chest as I looked around at my friends enjoying the same delights as me. My walls had crumbled, my mind was humbled, and I was truly at peace.
I think you can measure your level of happiness by the frequency of sunrises you watch, well on this particular beach; it was every day.
'Twas here that my own little tribe decided to make home. ”
A photo series by Solomon Olsen