Vancouver Energy

By the time I came to this bridge I'd already been out for several hours and I was a little hungry. That was soon forgot when I saw activity on this bridge and ended up staying here for another hour or so. Cambie Bridge, especially at night, is a fun place for capturing the energy of Vancouver. Energy I needed as I skipped supper and fed my appetite for images. Okay, that was lame, and lord knows I could skip a meal or two.

By the time I came to this bridge I’d already been out for several hours and I was a little hungry. That was soon forgot when I saw activity on this bridge and ended up staying here for another hour or so. Cambie Bridge, especially at night, is a fun place for capturing the energy of Vancouver. Energy I needed as I skipped supper and fed my appetite for images. Okay, that was lame, and lord knows I could skip a meal or two.

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Neal Preserve

I left home this evening knowing I wanted to take pictures but with no clear destination in mind. I was headed to the beach to capture a sunset when I noticed this preserve. Two days ago Neal Preserve in Bradenton Florida opened to the public after about a year of construction. I've been anticipating this for ages and this evening I lucked out. I'm not sure construction adequately describes the work that goes into the creation of a preserve, it's part ecology, part terraforming and a good dose of trail construction. Many of the pathways are elevated above the mangroves, and the scrub is perfect for nesting and burrowing. Just after sundown I saw owls and raccoons coming out for their nocturnal routines. In any case, I took more photos which I'll post in the coming weeks. I'm so happy and excited that I've found a new place to take photos of nature near my home.

I left home this evening knowing I wanted to take pictures but with no clear destination in mind. I was headed to the beach to capture a sunset when I noticed this preserve. Two days ago Neal Preserve in Bradenton Florida opened to the public after about a year of construction. I’ve been anticipating this for ages and this evening I lucked out. I’m not sure construction adequately describes the work that goes into the creation of a preserve, it’s part ecology, part terraforming and a good dose of trail construction. Many of the pathways are elevated above the mangroves, and the scrub is perfect for nesting and burrowing. Just after sundown I saw owls and raccoons coming out for their nocturnal routines. In any case, I took a more photos which I’ll post in the coming weeks. I’m so happy and excited that I’ve found a new place to take photos of nature near my home.

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Soaking Up Rays

For me Friday usually brings with it a feeling of relief, like wow, I made it through another one. Maybe it's time to kick back on a bench and soak up some rays. Actually this lady was checking e-mail on a phone, but never-mind that, she got most of it right. Of course I was standing right behind her clicking away, but never-mind that also. Let's all just take a minute and turn down the e-mail dinger on our smartphones and go to that quite place if just for a few minutes. Who am I kidding, I wouldn't last 10 minutes. But hey, it's Friday and I'm feeling better already. Happy Friday everyone.

For me Friday usually brings with it a feeling of relief, like wow, I made it through another one. Maybe it’s time to kick back on a bench and soak up some rays. Actually this lady was checking e-mail on a phone, but never-mind that, she got most of it right. Of course I was standing right behind her clicking away, but never-mind that also. Let’s all just take a minute and turn down the e-mail dinger on our smartphones and go to that quite place if just for a few minutes. Who am I kidding, I wouldn’t last 10 minutes. But hey, it’s Friday and I’m feeling better already. Happy Friday everyone.

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Denman Dusk

This is view above Denman street in Vancouver a few weeks ago. If you're not familiar Denman is one of those uber cool streets packed full of restaurants, cafe's and shops. If you like Sushi restaurants you'll love it here as it seems there's one on every corner. I like this area just to walk around and soak up west coast vibes or grab a coffee at Starbucks and people watch. There are a lot of cool streets in Vancouver but this is probably my favorite. On a side note, this is the last picture I took with my Nikon before it broke. As I write this it's still in the shop on parts hold. No big deal, I used that partly as a reason to get a lighter Sony. I was planning on it eventually but the long wait at the Nikon shop accelerated my decision. So far I'm extremely happy with the new Sony.

This is view above Denman street in Vancouver a few weeks ago. If you’re not familiar Denman is one of those uber cool streets packed full of restaurants, cafe’s and shops. If you like Sushi restaurants you’ll love it here as it seems there’s one on every corner. I like this area just to walk around and soak up west coast vibes or grab a coffee at Starbucks and people watch. There are a lot of cool streets in Vancouver but this is probably my favorite.

On a side note, this is the last picture I took with my Nikon before it broke. As I write this it’s still in the shop on parts hold. No big deal, I used that partly as a reason to get a lighter Sony. I was planning on it eventually but the long wait at the Nikon shop accelerated my decision. So far I’m extremely happy with the new Sony.

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Quick Trip to Italy

I managed to get to Italy on the weekend, ...and Morocco and France and Japan. Okay, so I live in Florida and I went to Epcot center. In the evening we watched the fireworks show from the far end of Epcot, and when everyone left we took our sweet time to walk out and capture shots of a few pavilions without the normal crowds. This is one of the Italian pavilion. I didn't have a tripod so I had to hold the camera steady against a post for quite a few seconds in order to complete the long exposure. Makes me want to visit the real thing soon, ...with a tripod.

I managed to get to Italy on the weekend, …and Morocco and France and Japan. Okay, so I went to Epcot center which is a couple of hours from home. In the evening we watched the fireworks show from the far end of Epcot and when everyone left we took our sweet time to walk out and capture shots of a few pavilions without the normal crowds. This is one of the Italian pavilion. I didn’t have a tripod so I had to hold the camera steady against a post for quite a few seconds in order to complete the long exposure. Makes me want to visit the real thing soon, …with a tripod.

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Quiet Morning

This is another one of my favorite little spots at Emerson Point. Actually there are quite a few of these walkways through the mangroves and each one is my favorite. Sometimes I'll be here on a quiet afternoon where the only sound is the splashing fish jumping for food in the otherwise undisturbed waters. On this morning it was pretty quite as well, kind of a nice way to start the day. Now that I look at this I realize I'm overdue for another walk through the trails. Maybe tomorrow. Have a great day everyone.

This is another one of my favorite little spots at Emerson Point. Actually there are quite a few of these walkways through the mangroves and each one is my favorite. Sometimes I’ll be here on a quiet afternoon where the only sound is the splashing fish jumping for food in the otherwise undisturbed waters. On this morning it was pretty quite as well, kind of a nice way to start the day. Now that I look at this I realize I’m overdue for another walk through the trails. Maybe tomorrow. Have a great day everyone.

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Sony in the Park

This is lazy afternoon in Sarasota Florida. I'm getting the hang of my Sony camera, it's a big switch from the Nikon. There are things I like about the Nikon including the lenses, but Sony seems to be writing a new page in the book of camera evolution. The biggest difference is the size, it's so much smaller than a comparable Nikon or Canon. Which brings be to today's photo. I shot this while walking my two dogs at Island Park and it was pretty easy. I've tried this with the bigger Nikon and it wasn't so easy. With a small camera you seem to have more options and flexibility and, just kind of blend into the background. And that, might just lead to more opportunities to capture life and beauty all around. In my opinion, Sony has done with the camera what they did with the Walkman so many years ago. Thank you Sony.

So I’m getting the hang of my Sony camera, it’s a big switch from the Nikon. There are things I like about the Nikon including the lenses, but Sony seems to be writing a new page in the book of camera evolution. The biggest difference is the size, it’s so much smaller than a comparable Nikon or Canon. Which brings be to today’s photo. I shot this while walking my two dogs at Island Park and it was pretty easy. I’ve tried this with the bigger Nikon and it wasn’t so easy. With a small camera you seem to have more options and flexibility and, just kind of blend into the background. And that, might just lead to more opportunities to capture life and beauty all around. In my opinion, Sony has done with the camera what they did with the Walkman so many years ago. Thank you Sony.

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Terra Ceia Bay Fishing

If you want to get a few birds in your shot go find some fishermen. Actually, I'm not sure if he birds where here because of the fishermen or the other way around. In any case, the waters were full of fish and this seemed to be the place to be, bird or human. This is just by the bridge in Terra Ceia Florida.

If you want to get a few birds in your shot go find some fishermen. Actually, I’m not sure if he birds where here because of the fishermen or the other way around. In any case, the waters were full of fish and this seemed to be the place to be, bird or human. This is just by the bridge in Terra Ceia Florida.

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Sitting on the Dock of the Bay….

If the title of this post reminds you of that great Otis Redding song you might be, ...um, experienced. Okay, I was trying not to say old. I'm experienced, enough said. When I saw this guy paying his guitar at the end of the dock that song started playing in my head. In any case, I took this last week with my Sony camera. I normally shoot with a Nikon but it's being repaired so I picked up a Sony and went to the river to practice. As that song continued to play in my head I started to get the hang of it and got a few I liked, this being the first. Tip of the day: Whether you're old or young, go listen to a little Otis Redding, you'll be glad you did.

If the title of this post reminds you of that great Otis Redding song you might be, …um, experienced. Okay, I was trying not to say old. I’m experienced, enough said. When I saw this guy paying his guitar at the end of the dock that song started playing in my head. In any case, I took this last week with my Sony camera. I normally shoot with a Nikon but it’s being repaired so I picked up a Sony and went to the river to practice. As that song continued to play in my head I started to get the hang of it and got a few I liked, this being the first.

Tip of the day: Whether you’re old or young, go listen to a little Otis Redding, you’ll be glad you did.

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