Beauty in Dark Places

During Tofino’s extreme summer low tides, something extraordinary happens. Ocean caves that are usually hidden beneath the surface open up like secret galleries. Their walls are alive with colour brushed with minerals, algae, and sponges, and patterned with the quiet marks of creatures like scallops and limpets. These caves are not just geological formations; they are living canvases.  

I step into these fleeting windows of time when the tide retreats and photograph what’s been revealed. I don’t use a zoom. I get close. I want to see the raw detail: the swirl of iron-rich red, the chartreuse flash of algae, the dark impression where a mussel once clung. Up close, these colours and textures take on a new meaning. They become abstract compositions, accidental masterpieces made by the ocean and its creatures.

I call them Cave Paintings.

On first viewing most people think they're abstract paintings and are surprised when I tell them they weren’t painted by me. But were formed by slow drips of minerals, by grazing limpets chipping away at the rock, by seasonal moon cycles affecting the movement of tides. Intertidal life creates the art and I act as the curator finding the interesting compositions to frame up and capture.

The ocean cave walls record the passage of time in mineral layers and biological traces. Each detail visually expresses life in the intertidal zone. A world where lifeforms thrive despite needing to adapt to constant changing conditions. A metaphor for finding resilience in our own lives. The visual vibrancy is a reminder that beauty still grows in dark places.

Check out the ocean caves in Rosie Bay at the South end of Chesterman Beach. Aim for the lowest tides typically around −0.1 m to +0.1 m (approximately −0.3 ft to +0.3 ft) Time your visit within an hour before and after the low tide mark to ensure cave access and a safe return. See the Cave Paintings.