I was wandering aimlessly the day I took this picture, slowly following my nose around the beaches, taking a break from the city. I ended up at Hug Point, following the rocks around to the waterfall in the cove often hidden by high tides.

With my tripod up and my camera ready to go, I made the acquaintance of a very friendly and quiet gentleman who told me he and his wife were married in this spot (“right here!” he said, walking over to a place in the sand to show me), and how much he loved it. He told me they used to eat picnics here before they were married — many years of beautiful afternoons and sandy macaroni salad (hard to avoid in the wind). Now he goes there with her, or with his kids, or by himself.

This is one of many reasons I love photography — it can build these marvelous little connections with the world, and very, very special people. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to go back to this spot without thinking of the sandy macaroni salad, and how real romance is about the small things.