Community
David Chatfield has photographed far away countries and communities to capture their essence. Now, the Brisbane local, writes of his experience closer to Holm in Rainbow Bay.
RAINBOW BAY
David Chatfield has photographed far away countries and communities to capture their essence. Now, the Brisbane local, writes of his experience closer to Holm in Rainbow Bay.
“This is truly a place that straddles time and worlds. A microcosm of modern Australia where diversity, luxuries and indulgences of a globally connected life exist harmoniously alongside the casual worry-free lifestyle that has defined this unique island for so long.
The tanned and still-wet-from-the-beach characters we know from the iconic photographs of Rennie Ellis and Max Dupain live today, in their perpetual holiday, on the balcony of the Rainbow Bay surf club.
The acoustics are unique here too. When the trade wind blows gently from the north in summer the cadence is one of slow relaxation, the crescendo as subtle as overheard palm shaded dinners.
However on days when the Pacific comes alive, pushing lines of corduroy striped swell around the headlands and down the points, this desert island tranquillity is replaced with a palpable, almost visceral excitement as voices in all accents chat a chorus of anticipation and excitement all of which is underscored by the crashing of the waves.
It is on these days in particular, when the multifaceted community that is modern day Rainbow Bay commune directly with the wild natural beauty of the region that it is easy once again to think of it as a small eden like island carved out of many worlds, many years ago for those lucky few fortunate enough to one day find.”