South Beach, Sable Island
I have written about my trip to Sable Island previously in Here & There Magazine, where I provided an overall review of my visit with specific details about the island. Rather than rewriting about my experience which can be found here, I want to focus on South Beach—the side of the island where I captured the image available in my shop.
For those unfamiliar, Sable Island is a small, remote island about 100 km off the coast of Nova Scotia. It’s so small that it barely shows up on a general map of the area—you have to zoom in to spot the narrow strip of land, which stretches 40 km in length and only 2 km in width. As you may have guessed, the island’s length runs from north to south, and it’s the South side that really captured my attention possibly due to the low tide on the south revealing stunning sand formations. Along with its light colour and endless space, it reminded me of a salty landscape, not like the Dead Sea but something unique to the island.
Arriving at Sable Island, view from helicopter
We spent most of our time hiking, barely covering a quarter of the island. Though small, there’s so much to see, including the famous wild horses that call Sable Island home.
One of my favourite photos from this visit is of a few members of our group walking toward the water. It feels like a still shot from a movie—the environment adds a distinctly cinematic vibe. The wind was constant, and although the sun was strong, it wasn’t too hot considering it was mid-September. Being surrounded by the vast ocean certainly helped with that. Every so often, a seal (or a group of them) would pop up from the water to check us out—probably amused by us watching them through our large camera lenses and binoculars. It must have been a comical sight! In the distance, you’d occasionally spot a wild horse. As tempting as it was to approach them, there’s a firm rule to keep your distance—they are wild, and they need to stay that way for their survival.
Walking to the water, South Beach, Sable Island
Aside from the facts of the space, I want to get more into the feeling of being there. Standing on the beach, imagine endless open space in front of you and further down, huge crashing waves spraying mist on anyone in close proximity. The freshest air you can imagine mixed with salt and sunshine and behind you, the rustle of the tall grass swaying about. The ocean air brings a chill to it and there are no tall buildings, no traffic, nothing to draw focus away from the natural elements, and nothing to add heat or exhaust into the air. Just the crisp air, sea mist and sunshine beating down on you, but in the best way possible. This is Sable Island.
If you want to see more images of Sable Island, I highly recommend reading my feature in Here & There Magazine. And check out Kattuk Expeditions if you are interested in visiting!
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