Morning Glow on the Spanish Moss

Before I moved here I had never seen Spanish Moss. There's something about it, it lends a willowy texture to everything, almost ethereal. Every few years a good storm or hurricane blows it all down but within a few months it returns. ...Now I'm worried, I've been reduced to writing about moss. This might be a good time to click on another picture lest you fall asleep reading this. But, if you're really interested I could drone on about how fast the moss grows.  Right after the next  commercial break.

Before I moved here I had never seen Spanish Moss. There’s something about it, it lends a willowy texture to everything, almost ethereal. Every few years a good storm or hurricane blows it all down but within a few months it returns. …Now I’m worried, I’ve been reduced to writing about moss. This might be a good time to click on another picture lest you fall asleep reading this. But, if you’re really interested I could drone on about how fast the moss grows. Right after the next commercial break.

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Sunday at the Beach

I working on my beach shots, so unfortunately that means I have to spend time at the beach. I know, why me, ...somebody's gotta do it.  In typical fashion the beach was busy today, but not busy busy. School is starting back up and the majority of tourists have returned home so most of the folks here today are locals and the crowds weren't that bad. Heck, I even found a parking spot in the shade, and that NEVER happens. As I walked down the beach the umbrellas thinned out and here and there were couples enjoying the peaceful harmony of waves, sun and an ocean breeze before another busy week. After all, we locals gotta work too. ;-)  Happy Monday everyone.

I working on my beach shots, so unfortunately that means I have to spend time at the beach. I know, why me, …somebody’s gotta do it. In typical fashion the beach was busy today, but not busy busy. School is starting back up and the majority of tourists have returned home so most of the folks here today are locals and the crowds weren’t that bad. Heck, I even found a parking spot in the shade, and that NEVER happens. As I walked down the beach the umbrellas thinned out and here and there were couples enjoying the peaceful harmony of waves, sun and an ocean breeze before another busy week. After all, we locals gotta work too. 😉 Happy monday everyone.

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After the Storm

All day it rained with thunder and lightning, but around dusk the storm lost it's vigor and I was able to get out for a walk with the dogs. With two leashes and only an iPhone at hand I captured this down by the marina.  Figured I'd share it with you and wish you a great weekend.

All day it rained with thunder and lightning, but around dusk the storm lost its vigor and I was able to get out for a walk with the dogs. With two leashes and only an iPhone at hand I captured this down by the marina. Figured I’d share it with you and wish you a great weekend.

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Monring Clouds

This is sunrise on a thundercloud near my home one morning. I know I talk about the clouds probably way too much, but I'm not sure I'll ever fully get used to them.   If you can stand the summer heat here in Florida and get out now and again you'll be rewarded with dramatic scenes in the sky like this. To me these are independence day clouds, as in the movie of the same name. If I were an alien I could park a huge ship in one of these, load up on all kinds of energy from the lightning and then be on my way to the next planet on the map. But I'm not an alien, a little odd maybe, but not an alien.

This is sunrise on a thundercloud near my home one morning. I know I talk about the clouds probably way too much, but I’m not sure I’ll ever fully get used to them. If you can stand the summer heat here in Florida and get out now and again you’ll be rewarded with dramatic scenes in the sky like this. To me these are independence day clouds, as in the movie of the same name. If I were an alien I could park a huge ship in one of these, load up on all kinds of energy from the lightning and then be on my way to the next planet on the map. But I’m not an alien, a little odd maybe, but not an alien.

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Beer Can Island

Why on God's green Earth they call this Beer Can Island I'll never know. It's not even an island, just the northern tip of Longboat Key. Nonetheless here I am  sneaking a break in my day to capture a few shots of the beach at midday.  I'm more of a sunset guy but I thought I'd expand my horizons a little and see what I could do during the day. Easier said than done, you need a polarizer,  exposure compensation and blah-de-blah-blah-blah. I was just happy to get out of the office for a few minutes over lunch.

Why on God’s green Earth they call this Beer Can Island I’ll never know. It’s not even an island, just the northern tip of Longboat Key. Nonetheless here I am sneaking a break in my day to capture a few shots of the beach. I’m more of a sunset guy but I thought I’d expand my horizons a little and see what I could do during the day. Easier said than done, you need a polarizer, exposure compensation and blah-de-blah-blah-blah. I was just happy to get out of the office for a few minutes over lunch.

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Five Trees

This is another shot from Bendemeer which is between Queenstown and Arrowtown in New Zealand. I only had a couple of hours here but the landscape was such that there were compositions at every turn, I'm still finding shots that I took on this day. Lord knows I must've taken hundreds in that short time. It felt like an Easter Egg hunt, running from place to place trying to capture as many prizes as possible. Is it any wonder there are so many artists (photographic or otherwise) from New Zealand? You can't help but be inspired by the natural beauty all around.

This is another shot from Bendemeer which is between Queenstown and Arrowtown in New Zealand. I only had a couple of hours here but the landscape was such that there were compositions at every turn, I’m still finding shots that I took on this day. Lord knows I must’ve taken hundreds in that short time. It felt like an Easter Egg hunt, running from place to place trying to capture as many prizes as possible. Is it any wonder there are so many artists (photographic or otherwise) from New Zealand? You can’t help but be inspired by the natural beauty all around.

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Peaceful Afternoon

This is a few feet from the kayak launch in a wildlife area known as Robinson Preserve. I'm enamored with the place, I love the open expanse right in the middle of a city where the waters are calm, the wildlife takes refuge, and the stillness is enough to restore sanity. It's been a few weeks so I'm overdue for a trip back, maybe even with a kayak. Things are crazy all over and it's easy to lose track of what's important(I'm the poster child for that). But if I come to places like this, I have a better chance of finding peace than just about any other way.

This is a few feet from the kayak launch in a wildlife area known as Robinson Preserve. I’m enamored with the place, I love the open expanse right in the middle of a city where the waters are calm, the wildlife takes refuge and the stillness is enough to restore sanity. It’s been a few weeks so I’m overdue for a trip back, maybe even with a kayak. Things are crazy all over and it’s easy to lose track of what’s important (I’m the poster child for that). But if I come to places like this I have a better chance than just about any other way of finding that place of peace.

Click on photo to obtain a print.

Bridge to Somewhere

I captured this at dusk near the Skyway bridge to St. Petersburg the other day. There's a little highway rest stop and as I pulled up a couple of truckers were sitting in their cabs just watching this scene unfold in front of them. As rest stops go this is fairly scenic and each time I come here get inspired in some new way. If this seems to you like a relaxing scene you'd be right. Which is why I need to file this away before I start my week, otherwise I might not get anything done.

I captured this at dusk near the Skyway bridge to St. Petersburg the other day. There’s a little highway rest stop and as I pulled up a couple of truckers were sitting in their cabs just watching this scene unfold in front of them. As rest stops go this is fairly scenic and each time I come here get inspired in some new way. If this seems to you like a relaxing scene you’d be right. Which is why I need to file this away before I start my week, otherwise I might not get anything done.

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After the Golden Hour

This is the Fiorelli Winery just after dusk. I came here to capture a few shots for a brochure but the landscape photographer in me wouldn't let me leave without something a little more, well, ..landscape-y. It seems I'm always looking for something epic like the grand canyon even when I'm stuck in the middle of Florida. I suppose that's good and bad, but enough about me. It's been a long day and as soon as I type this I'm going to pass out on my keyboard. But before I do, I wish you all have a wonderful weekend.

This is the Fiorelli Winery just after dusk. I came here to capture a few shots for a brochure but the landscape photographer in me wouldn’t let me leave without something a little more, well, ..landscape-y. It seems I’m always looking for something epic like the grand canyon even when I’m stuck in the middle of Florida. I suppose that’s good and bad, but enough about me. It’s been a long day and as soon as I type this I’m going to pass out on my keyboard. But before I do, I wish you all have a wonderful weekend.

Click on photo to obtain print.