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Little Skimmer Boys

I took this a week or two back at Bean Point which is at the very tip of Anna Maria Island. It's a remote spot that feels about as tropical as you can get in the lower forty-eight. When I head out here I never know how the light will look so there's a lot of luck involved. When I was about five minutes from here I saw a big funnel cloud in the overhead cloud layer and when I finally got here a crowd was watching the last remnants of the waterspout. These boys refused to call it a day with their skimboards, waterspout or not, they were squeezing every last moment out of the end of this most awesome day.

I took this a week or two back at Bean Point which is at the very tip of Anna Maria Island. It’s a remote spot that feels about as tropical as you can get in the lower forty-eight. When I head out here I never know how the light will look so there’s a lot of luck involved. When I was about five minutes from here I saw a big funnel cloud in the overhead cloud layer and when I finally got here a crowd was watching the last remnants of the waterspout. These boys refused to call it a day with their skimboards, waterspout or not, they were squeezing every last moment out of the end of this most awesome day.

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Tofino Ice House

Tofino is cool little town on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Surrounded by beautiful landscapes, it's a haven for artists, surfers and people like me just getting away from it all. Some of the residents are commercial fishermen and I imagine that not too long ago packed the fish in ice from this ice house. Now its a local eating establishment and a cool place to watch the boats and seaplanes as they travel in and out of the small harbour.

Tofino is cool little town on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Surrounded by beautiful landscapes, it’s a haven for artists, surfers and people like me just getting away from it all. Some of the residents are commercial fishermen and I imagine that not too long ago packed the fish in ice from this ice house. Now its a local eating establishment and a cool place to watch the boats and seaplanes as they travel in and out of the small harbour.

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Emerson Canopy

From a little park known as Emerson Point which has trails through the canopy of trees draped with Spanish Moss. About 10 minutes later the sun would set and the canopy became much darker. I usually linger to watch the sunset on the water over to the left and then walk back through these trees to my car. During the day and weekends there are a lot of visitors, but I typically come here at dusk and have the whole place to myself. If I ever get lost in the canopy on my way out, you'll know where to find me.

From a little park known as Emerson Point which has trails through the canopy of trees draped with Spanish Moss. About 10 minutes later the sun would set and the canopy became much darker. I usually linger to watch the sunset on the water over to the left and then walk back through these trees to my car. During the day and weekends there are a lot of visitors, but I typically come here at dusk and have the whole place to myself. If I ever get lost in the canopy on my way out, you’ll know where to find me.

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Still Water

I woke up early to capture this while the water was still calm and the fog was deciding how long it might linger. Ever notice how when you first wake up it feels a little like this? In art, photographs or whatever we try to take meaning and sometimes look for metaphors. I think I do that. Reflections, mist, space, calm. I wish I could take this feeling with me during the day. Maybe I can, just a little bit.

I woke up early to capture this while the water was still calm and the fog was deciding how long it might linger. Ever notice how when you first wake up it feels a little like this? In art, photographs or whatever we try to take meaning and sometimes look for metaphors. I think I do that. Reflections, mist, space, calm. I wish I could take this feeling with me during the day. Maybe I can, just a little bit.

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Ucluelet Lighthouse

While here I visited the lighthouse several times looking for different angles and light, but my most memorable time was the first day. The locals call the month after July

While here I visited the lighthouse several times looking for different angles and light, but my most memorable time was the first day. The locals call the month after July “Fogust” and for good reason. It could be clear and within thirty minutes everything is blanketed and then maybe an hour later it goes away, thus the lighthouse. So there I was climbing on the rocks just past the “do not climb on rocks” sign and the fog started to roll in. I’m fifty meters in front of the lighthouse contemplating the beautiful mist when out of nowhere the automated fog horn sounds. Those horns can be heard for miles, and possibly a few of the swear words I uttered in response as I grabbed on to a rock to keep from falling over. Yup, that’s me, stoo-pid tourist.

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Morning at the Jetty

Here is another picture of Anna Maria Island as taken from a jetty near the public pier. As all the locals know there are two piers, the Rod and Reel pier and the public pier. In my opinion we have a shortage of piers in our area. Piers are magnets for people because we like to get right out into the water without having to work to hard or take a boat. As well the fishing is usually much better from a pier. But then if we don't build them to last they erode over time and are costly to maintain. All of this is way more than you wanted to know or care about, so let's just change the subject and enjoy the view. Who knows, you might just see a Manatee swim by.

Here is another picture of Anna Maria Island as taken from a jetty near the public pier. As all the locals know there are two piers, the Rod and Reel pier and the public pier. In my opinion we have a shortage of piers in our area. Piers are magnets for people because we like to get right out into the water without having to work to hard or take a boat. As well the fishing is usually much better from a pier. But then if we don’t build them to last they erode over time and are costly to maintain. All of this is way more than you wanted to know or care about, so let’s just change the subject and enjoy the view. Who knows, you might just see a Manatee swim by.

Click on image to obtain a print

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Black Rock in Ucluelet

This is Black Rock Hotel in the town of Ucluelet where I recently stayed. It's on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia. The shoreline couldn't be more different than that of Florida, yet the contrast was something I very much appreciated. The coast is rugged, yet punctuated with long beaches frequented by surfers, and while the waves aren't huge, they're respectable even on calm days. I loved walking along trails here and exploring tide pools and just listening to the sound of the ocean on the rocks. Food for the soul indeed.

This is Black Rock Hotel in the town of Ucluelet where I recently stayed. It’s on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia. The shoreline couldn’t be more different than that of Florida, yet the contrast was something I very much appreciated. The coast is rugged, yet punctuated with long beaches frequented by surfers, and while the waves aren’t huge, they’re respectable even on calm days. I loved walking along trails here and exploring tide pools and just listening to the sound of the ocean on the rocks. Food for the soul indeed.

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Walk in the Garden

If you ever make it to Vancouver Island In British Columbia, be sure to visit Butchard Gardens. I was unprepared and very pleasantly surprised when I finally made it after being told the same by others. The gardens here are as exquisite. Unlike my wife I'm no gardener, and quite frankly the thought of spending a day in a garden, while relaxing, is not at the top of my list. Butchard Gardens changed that and after about eight hours of walking the grounds, I wished I had more time. Anyway, I was just sitting by a walkway taking a break when I snapped this.

Took this after a brief rain shower in Butchard Gardens, Victoria, British Columbia

If you ever make it to Vancouver Island In British Columbia, be sure to visit Butchard Gardens.  I was unprepared and very pleasantly surprised when I finally made it after being told the same by others. The gardens here are as exquisite. Unlike my wife I’m no gardener, and quite frankly the thought of spending a day in a garden, while relaxing, is not at the top of my list. Butchard Gardens changed that and after about eight hours of walking the grounds, I wished I had more time. Anyway, I was just sitting by a walkway taking a break when I snapped this.

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Victoria Harbour

A couple of weeks ago I was in Victoria which is the capital of British Columbia. Pretty much every night shot you see of Victoria features this parliament building. On this weekend they had a jazz festival, or maybe a boat show, or may both, I wasn't sure. But walking around the harbour there was live music coming from different directions and lots of folks out and a-boot (that's Canadian for about). I was standing here composing this and some people saw me with the tripod and said,

A couple of weeks ago I was in Victoria which is the capital of British Columbia. Pretty much every night shot you see of Victoria features this parliament building. On this weekend they had a jazz festival, or maybe a boat show, or may both, I wasn’t sure. But walking around the harbour there was live music coming from different directions and lots of folks out and a-boot (that’s Canadian for about). I was standing here composing this and some people saw me with the tripod and said, “hey man, are you shooting the show or just random?”. I thought about it for a few seconds and figured “random” was the right answer. So, in case you’re wondering, this is a random shot of Victoria at night.

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Sundown Across the Field

This was taken from Bendemeer which is a residential area just outside of Queenstown, New Zealand. I've posted several pictures from here, I was with a group that had a couple of hours to walk around before sundown. New Zealand has no snakes or predators to speak of so for all intents and purposes you could just lay down here in this grass and take a nap. That's such a cool idea, one I'd not try here in Florida unless I was on the beach. But then, that's just part of the magic of this land across the sea.

This was taken from Bendemeer which is a residential area just outside of Queenstown, New Zealand. I’ve posted several pictures from here, I was with a group that had a couple of hours to walk around before sundown. New Zealand has no snakes or predators to speak of so for all intents and purposes you could just lay down here in this grass and take a nap. That’s such a cool idea, one I’d not try here in Florida unless I was on the beach. But then, that’s just part of the magic of  this land across the sea.