Rye Preserve

One thing we seem to have a lot of in Florida is nature preserves. I heard of a guy who is on a mission to visit every Starbucks in the US, ...there must be thousands, and that's just in one city. My mission is to visit every preserve in my county. I know it's a lofty goal, but you gotta aim high. So today I visited Rye Preserve and shot this near the canoe launch. There was a sign just before this saying that the dam (a couple hundred yards upstream) occasionally discharges large amounts of water and if you hear the siren then

One thing we seem to have a lot of in Florida is nature preserves. I heard of a guy who is on a mission to visit every Starbucks in the US, …there must be thousands, and that’s just in one city. My mission is to visit every preserve in my county. I know it’s a lofty goal, but you gotta aim high. So today I visited Rye Preserve and shot this near the canoe launch. There was a sign just before this saying that the dam (a couple hundred yards upstream) occasionally discharges large amounts of water and if you hear the siren then “prepare accordingly”. …Hmmmm. My wife said she didn’t have a good feeling. With afternoon thunderstorms this time of year the lake upstream can easily get too full. Hmmmm. But, …no sirens, no worries. Later this evening I was watching the local news and, apparently (get this), there are emergency repairs underway on the dam right now, because, …it could give way. I’m switching to Starbucks.

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Terra Ceia Bay

This little pier is at Emerson Point and looks out upon Terra Ceia Bay. I spend a lot of time here, mostly because I like taking pictures. Being a state park in an urban area there are posted hours, basically just before sunrise to just after sunset. Seems reasonable. However, I have a tendency to lose track of time and last week I found myself near this spot about thirty minutes after sunset. I headed back to my car and there waiting for me was the ranger. He saw my camera and tripod, I think he was being polite because he didn't say a word. He followed me for a bit as I drove out, but I had to drive slow because all the little critters were coming on to the road. I then realized that the posted hours as as much about the safety of the critters as anything else.

This little pier is at Emerson Point and looks out upon Terra Ceia Bay. I spend a lot of time here, mostly because I like taking pictures. Being a state park in an urban area there are posted hours, basically just before sunrise to just after sunset. Seems reasonable. However, I have a tendency to lose track of time and last week I found myself near this spot about thirty minutes after sunset. I headed back to my car and there waiting for me was the ranger. He saw my camera and tripod, I think he was being polite because he didn’t say a word. He followed me for a bit as I drove out, but I had to drive slow because all the little critters were coming on to the road. I then realized that the posted hours as as much about the safety of the critters as anything else.

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Sentinel

This is one of the locations we did a hot stop with the chopper. Basically the pilot keeps the engine running, you jump out, compose, shoot, compose, shoot, jump back into the chopper. We were looking for a water shot and there was one near here but with fishermen so we decided against disturbing the peace and landing in this field about a mile away. I immediately gravitated towards this lone tree which seemed to be the sentinel between the regions of the valley. I think to an observer it would have been quite the sight; landing, jumping out, running, shooting and taking off. Yeah, just another day at the office.

This is one of the locations we did a hot stop with the chopper. Basically the pilot keeps the engine running, you jump out, compose, shoot, compose, shoot, jump back into the chopper. We were looking for a water shot and there was one near here but with fishermen so we decided against disturbing the peace and landing in this field about a mile away. I immediately gravitated towards this lone tree which seemed to be the sentinel between the regions of the valley. I think to an observer it would have been quite the sight; landing, jumping out, running, shooting and taking off. Yeah, just another day at the office.

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Back to the Boat

This gentleman had a bag of groceries and was heading back to his boat for the evening. I think when you anchor offshore you have no dock fees, no rent, only groceries and living expense. Sounds like a simple life. I'd probably go crazy without modern conveniences, but I'd still try it for a week or two. I'd get through a few more books and have more time to think about what's important to me. Even if I can't be isolated on a boat, I should probably do that anyway.

This gentleman had a bag of groceries and was heading back to his boat for the evening. I think when you anchor offshore you have no dock fees, no rent, only groceries and living expense. Sounds like a simple life. I’d probably go crazy without modern conveniences, but I’d still try it for a week or two. I’d get through a few more books and have more time to think about what’s important to me. Even if I can’t be isolated on a boat, I should probably do that anyway.

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Jensen Beach Pier

This is the fishing pier the other night at Jensen Beach Florida. I like piers because they take me out of my element and over another, confined yet free at the same time. A little dichotomy for you to ponder before the weekend. Anyway, I thought it was a little funny that the town was named Jensen Beach since most of it is inland. Nonetheless it does have a very nice beach across the bridge. But for me on a nice warm evening this was the place to be.

This is the fishing pier the other night at Jensen Beach Florida. I like piers because they take me out of my element and over another, confined yet free at the same time. A little dichotomy for you to ponder before the weekend. Anyway, I thought it was a little funny that the town was named Jensen Beach since most of it is inland. Nonetheless it does have a very nice beach across the bridge. But for me on a nice warm evening this was the place to be.

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Banff Walking Bridge

Last summer I went to Banff in Alberta and captured this walking bridge over the Bow River. Recently I got back from New Zealand. Now I'm conflicted as to which one I liked best. That's impossible to answer so let's just fuhgeddaboudit. But if there was another place on earth as beautiful and either of those I'm not sure what I'd do. That's the problem with being a photographer. Good problem to have I suppose. And I have a sneaking suspicion there could be other surprises in store, ...like maybe Iceland? One day. Nothing wrong with dreaming.

Last summer I went to Banff in Alberta and captured this walking bridge over the Bow River. Recently I got back from New Zealand. Now I’m conflicted as to which one I liked best. That’s impossible to answer so let’s just fuhgeddaboudit. But if there was another place on earth as beautiful and either of those I’m not sure what I’d do. That’s the problem with being a photographer. Good problem to have I suppose. And I have a sneaking suspicion there could be other surprises in store, …like maybe Iceland? One day. Nothing wrong with dreaming.

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Lake Placid, Florida

eekend we took a drive to the east coast of Florida to see what we could see. A little more than halfway we stopped at Lake Placid for lunch. Picked up lunch at a friendly little diner and then found the public boat dock for a picnic by the water. Later I learned that Lake Placid has a clown college, ...okay? So if you're afraid of clowns you might steer clear, ...I'm just sayin. Other than that this sleepy town seems like a nice enough spot and a good place to put your feet in the water to cool off from the Florida midday heat. And besides, the only clowns I saw were these waterfowl playing in and amongst the reeds.

On the weekend we took a drive to the east coast of Florida to see what we could see. A little more than halfway we stopped at Lake Placid for lunch. Picked up lunch at a friendly little diner and then found the public boat dock for a picnic by the water. Later I learned that Lake Placid has a clown college, …okay? So if you’re afraid of clowns you might steer clear, …I’m just sayin. Other than that this sleepy town seems like a nice enough spot and a good place to put your feet in the water to cool off from the Florida midday heat. And besides, the only clowns I saw were these waterfowl playing in and amongst the reeds.

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Shannon Falls

Couple of weeks ago I drove up to Shannnon Falls from Vancouver. At over a thousand feet the falls are too big to capture from the ground, at least for me. Just a short walk off the road you can stand within a few feet of this massive spectacle. And this is only the third largest fall in the province. On this afternoon I walked along the trails under the thick canopy of evergreens with the cool mist wafting from the falls. Something about this is rejuvenating because I left with more energy than I came with despite having traveled from Florida earlier in the day.

Couple of weeks ago I drove up to Shannnon Falls from Vancouver. At over a thousand feet the falls are too big to capture from the ground, at least for me. Just a short walk off the road you can stand within a few feet of this massive spectacle. And this is only the third largest fall in the province. On this afternoon I walked along the trails under the thick canopy of evergreens with the cool mist wafting from the falls. Something about this is rejuvenating because I left with more energy than I came with despite having traveled from Florida earlier in the day.

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Half Moon Bay

A couple of weeks ago we stopped in Half Moon Bay and walked the beach at sunset. The beaches, waves and landscape of the Pacific are so much more dramatic than the west coast of Florida where I live. Even though I grew up in California, now when I return it all seems so new and interesting. Perhaps the same is true the other way around, each is unique. In any case, in the states we have a long weekend ahead so maybe I'll head to the beach again, there's always something fun there. Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

A couple of weeks ago we stopped in Half Moon Bay and walked the beach at sunset. The beaches, waves and landscape of the Pacific are so much more dramatic than the west coast of Florida where I live. Even though I grew up in California, now when I return it all seems so new and interesting. Perhaps the same is true the other way around, each is unique. In any case, in the states we have a long weekend ahead so maybe I’ll head to the beach again, there’s always something fun there. Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

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