Holmes Beach Lifeguard Stand

This is Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island here in Florida. Something about coming to the beach helps ease the other things that are less pleasant. I guess that's perspective, and every now and then I like coming here to get a little of that. Perfect way to begin the weekend dontcha think?

This is Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island here in Florida. Something about coming to the beach helps ease the other things that are less pleasant. I guess that’s perspective, and every now and then I like coming here to get a little of that. Perfect way to begin the weekend dontcha think?

Click on photo to enlarge

Steps and Skateboard

I stepped out for a little street photography today. I’m an introvert so I find it hard. Nonetheless, its outside and I didn't have to wake up before dawn. Good fun.

I stepped out for a little street photography today. I’m an introvert so I find it hard. Nonetheless, its outside and I didn’t have to wake up before dawn. Good fun.

New Bridge Street Pier

After being closed for about six months for repairs, the Bridge Street pier in Bradenton Beach Florida was recently reopened. And so I turned up before dawn to check it out as any other time this would be full of fishermen and activity, not that that’s bad, but this time I just wanted a shot of the pier by itself.  Every now and then I show up here and always go home satisfied having found something new and interesting. In this case it was the pier itself.

After being closed for about six months for repairs, the Bridge Street pier in Bradenton Beach Florida was recently reopened. And so I turned up before dawn to check it out as any other time this would be full of fishermen and activity, not that that’s bad, but this time I just wanted a shot of the pier by itself. Every now and then I show up here and always go home satisfied having found something new and interesting. In this case it was the pier itself.

Click on photo to enlarge.

Kite Ballet

This is a snapshot of a kite ballet. Yes, you read that right. I never knew of such a thing either. A dozen kites, flying in unison, creating choreographed formations across the sky, synchronized to music. That is a kite ballet. And if you think that sounds crazy, you should see it in action. The skill level of the kite flyers is nothing short of amazing.  Hand eye coordination is redefined to new levels; the people flying these are like puppet masters. Puppets, dancing across the sky to music; is that over the top or what?

This is a snapshot of a kite ballet. Yes, you read that right. I never knew of such a thing either. A dozen kites, flying in unison, creating choreographed formations across the sky, synchronized to music. That is a kite ballet. And if you think that sounds crazy, you should see it in action. The skill level of the kite flyers is nothing short of amazing. Hand eye coordination is redefined to new levels; the people flying these are like puppet masters. Puppets, dancing across the sky to music; is that over the top or what?

Click on photo to enlarge

Emerson Point Quickie

Whenever I need a quick sunset but don’t have the time to drive to the beach or someplace for the “perfect shot”, I head down the street to Emerson Point for a little quickie.  It’s a little peninsula that points west into the Gulf of Mexico and no matter how many times I go there, it never disappoints, it’s my secret sunset “go to”. Only it’s kind of an open secret, I almost always run into another photographer and half a dozen others who just come to watch the spectacle.

Whenever I need a quick sunset but don’t have the time to drive to the beach or someplace for the “perfect shot”, I head down the street to Emerson Point for a little quickie. It’s a little peninsula that points west into the Gulf of Mexico and no matter how many times I go there, it never disappoints, it’s my secret sunset “go to”. Only it’s kind of an open secret, I almost always run into another photographer and half a dozen others who just come to watch the spectacle.

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Bridges of Manatee County

We have a lot of bridges here in Manatee County; here are two I cross over often.  These are drawbridges, manned around the clock for sailboats and the local commercial fishing boats. I took this as the sun was about to rise and managed to capture a quiet moment before the morning rush hour when each bridge full of cars going to a fro.

We have a lot of bridges here in Manatee County; here are two I cross over often. These are drawbridges, manned around the clock for sailboats and the local commercial fishing boats. I took this as the sun was about to rise and managed to capture a quiet moment before the morning rush hour when each bridge full of cars going to a fro.

Click on photo to enlarge

Dakin Dairy

I spent the afternoon at a Dakin dairy, which is a sustainable farm in Manatee County. Next to the dairy they have some farm animals as well as a few calves.  This is Luck, she was curious about what I was doing so I managed to hold her attention for a few seconds. Spending the afternoon on a farm with all manner of animals was refreshing food for the soul. I have to get out of the city a little more often.

I spent the afternoon at Dakin dairy, which is a sustainable farm in Manatee County. Next to the dairy they have some farm animals as well as a few calves. This is Luck, she was curious about what I was doing so I managed to hold her attention for a few seconds. Spending the afternoon on a farm with all manner of animals was refreshing food for the soul. I have to get out of the city a little more often.

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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.

Click on photo to enlarge

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.

Click on photo to enlarge