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Mount Creighton

This is the top of Mount Creighton in New Zealand’s southern alps. I used a wide-angle lens, which has the side effect of making the slopes seem less steep. In fact the slopes are more severe and once out of the helicopter, I was careful to watch my step. It is a long way down and I had the feeling it would be a very fast one-way trip. That’s Lake Wakatipu off on the right and Queenstown, our final destination would be left of that. This is one of the last stops as we flew from one mountain to the next checking out the amazing landscape of New Zealand.

This is the top of Mount Creighton in New Zealand’s southern alps. I used a wide-angle lens, which has the side effect of making the slopes seem less steep. In fact the slopes are more severe and once out of the helicopter, I was careful to watch my step. It is a long way down and I had the feeling it would be a very fast one-way trip. That’s Lake Wakatipu off on the right and Queenstown, our final destination would be left of that. This is one of the last stops as we flew from one mountain to the next checking out the amazing landscape of New Zealand.

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Autumn by the River

As I drove away from Asheville I couldn't help but explore this river at the bottom of a gorge surrounded by the fall colors. The water was clean and apparently full of fish on account of the fishermen wading in fly-casting. I wanted to stay here all day but on account of an eleven-hour drive ahead of me I dragged myself from here and back into the car, content with the thought that I just witnessed a little bit of heaven, otherwise known as North Carolina.

As I drove away from Asheville I couldn’t help but explore this river at the bottom of a gorge surrounded by the fall colors. The water was clean and apparently full of fish on account of the fishermen wading in fly-casting. I wanted to stay here all day but on account of an eleven-hour drive ahead of me I dragged myself from here and back into the car, content with the thought that I just witnessed a little bit of heaven, otherwise known as North Carolina.

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Sunrise Over Bradenton

This morning I was in the process of traversing the county from the western edge along the beach to the eastern edge deep in the heart of farm country. As I left the beach I approached this bridge and decided to pull over, glad I did. This is the bridge that connects Anna Maria Island to Bradenton.

This morning I was in the process of traversing the county from the western edge along the beach to the eastern edge deep in the heart of farm country. As I left the beach I approached this bridge and decided to pull over, glad I did. This is the bridge that connects Anna Maria Island to Bradenton.

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The Sun Sets Over the Biltmore Estate

I took this last November at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. The biggest impression I had was of the size of the place, thousands and thousands of acres of lush rolling hills, vineyards and horse pastures for as far as you can see. I think I'll come back here this year and spend a little more time. Or better yet, how about I come back in a different life and live the life of an aristocrat. That probably won't happen. However, after seeing this place I'd settle for the life of a stable boy, just being here is it’s own reward.

I took this last November at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. The biggest impression I had was of the size of the place, thousands and thousands of acres of lush rolling hills, vineyards and horse pastures for as far as you can see. I think I’ll come back here this year and spend a little more time. Or better yet, how about I come back in a different life and live the life of an aristocrat. That probably won’t happen. However, after seeing this place I’d settle for the life of a stable boy, just being here is it’s own reward.

Click on photo to enlarge

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Windy Day

This was taken about a week ago in Tampa Bay near the Sunshine Skyway bridge when we had quite a lot of wind.

This was taken about a week ago in Tampa Bay near the Sunshine Skyway bridge when we had quite a lot of wind.

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Sedona Scrub

When I was in Sedona I was a little out of my element. I live by the beach and in central Florida there’s nothing taller than a palm tree. Sedona has crazy big red rock mountains, trees, scrub, …and no palm trees. No matter which way you look the red rock provides an impressive backdrop. This was taken on a short trail up Bell Rock, which is a big rock just off the highway. Just before dusk these mountains glow deep red, kind of how I imagine Mars. In any case, I was so impressed with the change of landscape that I had to take a picture of this Sedona scrub.

When I was in Sedona I was a little out of my element. I live by the beach and in central Florida there’s nothing taller than a palm tree. Sedona has crazy big red rock mountains, trees, scrub, …and no palm trees. No matter which way you look the red rock provides an impressive backdrop. This was taken on a short trail up Bell Rock, which is a big rock just off the highway. Just before dusk these mountains glow deep red, kind of how I imagine Mars. In any case, I was so impressed with the change of landscape that I had to take a picture of this Sedona scrub.

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Bubbles on the Beach

Couple of weekends ago I was at the beach and this lady was creating huge bubbles with soap, string and the ocean breeze. She was like the pied piper with all the kids chasing and popping the bubbles as they floated over their heads. Does that sound like fun or what?

Couple of weekends ago I was at the beach and this lady was creating huge bubbles with soap, string and the ocean breeze. She was like the pied piper with all the kids chasing and popping the bubbles as they floated over their heads. Does that sound like fun or what?

Click on photo to enlarge

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Vancouver Taxi Stand

If you live in Vancouver or you’ve ever visited you know this taxi stand, it’s in front of Canada Place and you can pretty much always get a cab from here. It’s at a confluence of the subway, ferry and cruise ships. But once in a while when things are slow they end up waiting here for the next fare and if you look you’ll notice them all reading or surfing on their phones. That’s not so unusual, we all do that, fill up our spare moments with info from our cell phones. In fact, they’re not really cell phones anymore are they, more like digital appendages?

If you live in Vancouver or you’ve ever visited you know this taxi stand, it’s in front of Canada Place and you can pretty much always get a cab from here. It’s at a confluence of the subway, ferry and cruise ships. But once in a while when things are slow they end up waiting here for the next fare and if you look you’ll notice them all reading or surfing on their phones. That’s not so unusual, we all do that, fill up our spare moments with info from our cell phones. In fact, they’re not really cell phones anymore are they, more like digital appendages don’t you think?

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Cactus Shadow

Found at a rest stop between Sedona and Phoenix a few weeks ago. In Florida it's palm trees, but in Arizona it's all about the cactus. Every kind of cactus, big small, in between, which is my subtle way of avoiding names and types of which I plead ignorance.

Found at a rest stop between Sedona and Phoenix a few weeks ago. In Florida it’s palm trees, but in Arizona it’s all about the cactus. Every kind of cactus, big small, in between, which is my subtle way of avoiding names and types of which I plead ignorance.

Click on photo to enlarge

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Partial Eclipse

Last October we had a partial solar eclipse just before sunset. I showed up at Coquina Beach here in the town of Bradenton Beach and just happened to capture a formation of birds as they flew between the sun and ocean. Sunset is when the sea birds are heading to wherever they go to bed down so it’s not that unusual. In any case the sun was so bright that I doubt most people even noticed the eclipse, but with the high shutter speed I used the outline of the moon is more visible than you would see with your naked eye, not that I recommend that. I hope can catch another one, if and when it occurs again, though not likely for a very long time.

Last October we had a partial solar eclipse just before sunset. I showed up at Coquina Beach here in the town of Bradenton Beach and just happened to capture a formation of birds as they flew between the sun and ocean. Sunset is when the sea birds are heading to wherever they go to bed down so it’s not that unusual. In any case the sun was so bright that I doubt most people even noticed the eclipse, but with the high shutter speed I used the outline of the moon is more visible than you would see with your naked eye, not that I recommend that. I hope can catch another one, if and when it occurs again, though not likely for a very long time.

Click on photo to enlarge