Pelican and Boy

Every year in Cortez we have a fish festival and so we went to get some fresh fish and hear good music. Cortez is one of the last remaining fishing villages in on the east coast.  It's full of character and, um, pelicans. Pelicans hang around for the scraps left by the hauls as they come in. This one is so used to people that he wouldn't move even when this boy sat down next to him. I think since the boy didn't offer him scraps he was just doing his best to ignore him.

Every year in Cortez we have a fish festival and so we went to get some fresh fish and hear good music. Cortez is one of the last remaining fishing villages in on the east coast. It’s full of character and, um, pelicans. Pelicans hang around for the scraps left by the hauls as they come in. This one is so used to people that he wouldn’t move even when this boy sat down next to him. I think since the boy didn’t offer him scraps he was just doing his best to ignore him.

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Sunrise Above Queenstown

One of the last mornings in New Zealand we drove up into the hills above Queenstown to watch the sunrise and then went for a walk down Skippers Canyon. We sat on the side of this mountain taking pictures and waited for the sun to rise  which takes a little longer due to the surrounding mountains.

One of the last mornings in New Zealand we drove up into the hills above Queenstown to watch the sunrise and then went for a walk down Skippers Canyon. We sat on the side of this mountain taking pictures and waited for the sun to rise which takes a little longer due to the surrounding mountains.

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Robinson Preserve Walkway

This iconic setting is at Robinson Preserve in Bradenton Florida. It's by far my favorite preserve near home and I come here as often as I can. Pelicans, Eagles and everything in between thrive here and you'll see them just about every time you come. Once in a while I'll rent a kayak and paddle through the miles of mangroves, inlets and saltwater marshes that create a natural habitat. This spot is a favorite as you can walk across and observe the mangroves, sea life and all manner of wildlife from just a few feet away.

This iconic setting is at Robinson Preserve in Bradenton Florida. It’s by far my favorite preserve near home and I come here as often as I can. Pelicans, Eagles and everything in between thrive here and you’ll see them just about every time you come. Once in a while I’ll rent a kayak and paddle through the miles of mangroves, inlets and saltwater marshes that create a natural habitat. This spot is a favorite as you can walk across and observe the mangroves, sea life and all manner of wildlife from just a few feet away.

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Hartford at Night

This is from a series of night photos I shot hand held in downtown Hartford CT. The camera I used is the Sony A7s, which I believe has the highest ISO rating in the world. Basically that means that it's extremely sensitive so that it can see things in the dark. Certainly I could have taken these with another camera, but I would have needed to use a tripod. That's not such a bad thing, but I love the idea of walking around with just a camera at night and doing street photography. I guess you could say it opens up a whole new world in terms of shooting scenes at night. In any case, I'm going to a lot more of this in the months to come.

This is from a series of night photos I shot hand held in downtown Hartford CT. The camera I used is the Sony A7s, which I believe has the highest ISO rating in the world. Basically that means that it's extremely sensitive so that it can see things in the dark. Certainly I could have taken these with another camera, but I would have needed to use a tripod. That's not such a bad thing, but I love the idea of walking around with just a camera at night and doing street photography. I guess you could say it opens up a whole new world in terms of shooting scenes at night. In any case, I'm going to a lot more of this in the months to come.

This is from a series of night photos I shot hand held in downtown Hartford CT. The camera I used is the Sony A7s, which I believe has the highest ISO rating in the world. Basically that means that it's extremely sensitive so that it can see things in the dark. Certainly I could have taken these with another camera, but I would have needed to use a tripod. That's not such a bad thing, but I love the idea of walking around with just a camera at night and doing street photography. I guess you could say it opens up a whole new world in terms of shooting scenes at night. In any case, I'm going to a lot more of this in the months to come.

This is from a series of night photos I shot hand held in downtown Hartford CT. The camera I used is the Sony A7s, which I believe has the highest ISO rating in the world. Basically that means that it’s extremely sensitive so that it can see things in the dark. Certainly I could have taken these with another camera, but I would have needed to use a tripod. That’s not such a bad thing, but I love the idea of walking around with just a camera at night and doing street photography. I guess you could say it opens up a whole new world in terms of shooting scenes at night. In any case, I’m going to a lot more of this in the months to come.

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Crowley Boardwalk

This is part of a half-mile long boardwalk through the mangroves of central Florida at the Crowley Natural and Cultural History Preserve. I don't know how they passed through mangroves on foot back in the day, but without this boardwalk it seems to be impassable.  The walk is pleasant and shaded with few distractions and at the end a wooden tower overlooking a river and floodplain.  Along the way you see native plants, animals and birds and get a small glimpse of what the land was like in years past, back when they had no boardwalk.

This is part of a half-mile long boardwalk through the mangroves of central Florida at the Crowley Natural and Cultural History Preserve. I don’t know how they passed through mangroves on foot back in the day, but without this boardwalk it seems to be impassable. The walk is pleasant and shaded with few distractions and at the end a wooden tower overlooking a river and floodplain. Along the way you see native plants, animals and birds and get a small glimpse of what the land was like in years past, back when they had no boardwalk.

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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?

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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.

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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?

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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.

Click on photo to enlarge or obtain print