Sunset on the Beach

Fort DeSoto Park is in St. Petersburg Florida and has this beach on it’s northern most tip. Now that the holiday season is coming to an end, the last migration of snowbirds are arriving by car, train, plane and motor home. This is when Florida is in full swing, the restaurants are full and it seems everyone is busy. However, if you know where to go you can still enjoy a sunset with tranquillity and peace. And after the mad rush of the holiday season that’s just what I plan to do. A little food for the soul.

Fort DeSoto Park is in St. Petersburg Florida and has this beach on it's northern most tip. Now that the holiday season is coming to an end, the last migration of snowbirds are arriving by car, train, plane and motor home. This is when Florida is in full swing, the restaurants are full and it seems everyone is busy. However, if you know where to go you can still enjoy a sunset with tranquillity and peace. And after the mad rush of the holiday season that's just what I plan to do. A little food for the soul.

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Dusk Under the Ringling

I have a disproportionate number of photos of the Ringling Bridge in Sarasota Florida, after all it’s an area icon and I just can’t resist. This was the last shot one evening a few weeks back. On this evening I was in “the zone” and just did’t want to stop and had to mentally slap myself to break the spell. Nothing wrong with enjoying photography, it’s just that I was on the hook to bring home take out. Nonetheless, on any given evening this pier is filled with local fishermen, tourist out for an evening stroll and sometimes the occasional photographer fighting against the clock.

I have a disproportionate number of photos of the Ringling Bridge in Sarasota Florida, after all it's an area icon and I just can't resist. This was the last shot one evening a few weeks back. On this evening I was in

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Terra Ceia

This bridge is in Terra Ceia Florida just a few minutes from my home in Palmetto. This is another one of those bridges I cross constantly without much notice and wanted to go back and take a closer look. Fishermen are always throwing nets from the bridge as it crosses a channel the fish use to come and go with the tides. I’m not sure why but I seem to enjoy the perspective under a bridge, it’s a perspective that most of us never get. I also like looking at the structure of the bridge, gives me a little more appreciation for what went into making it. I guess I’m just a bridge guy.

<This bridge is in Terra Ceia Florida just a few minutes from my home in Palmetto. This is another one of those bridges I cross constantly without much notice and wanted to go back and take a closer look. Fishermen are always throwing nets from the bridge as it crosses a channel the fish use to come and go with the tides. I'm not sure why but I seem to enjoy the perspective under a bridge, it's a perspective that most of us never get. I also like looking at the structure of the bridge, gives me a little more appreciation for what went into making it. I guess I'm just a bridge guy.

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Rod and Reel Sunrise

I took this shot at sunrise quite a few months ago not knowing that shortly after there would be a fire here. This is the Rod and Reel which is at the end of it’s own pier on Anna Maria Island in Florida. There is no question they have the best Grouper sandwiches around, not to mention the best scenery. It’s currently being rebuilt and I think they’re getting close to re-opening. I for one have been in Rod and Reel withdrawals and can’t wait to get back here for an afternoon of just kicking back to the best Florida has to offer.

I took this shot at sunrise quite a few months ago not knowing that shortly after there would be a fire here. This is the Rod and Reel which is at the end of it's own pier on Anna Maria Island in Florida. There is no question they have the best Grouper sandwiches around, not to mention the best scenery. It's currently being rebuilt and I think they're getting close to re-opening. I for one have been in Rod and Reel withdrawals and can't wait to get back here for an afternoon of just kicking back to the best Florida has to offer.

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No Christmas Trees

Florida has a lot of things and Christmas tress aren’t one of them. If you need a Christmas tree it’ll be imported or plastic. On the other hand, we have plenty of Christmas Palms. Everyone down here is frond of decorating the palms with lights, it’s quite the sight. In fact, this evening we’ll probably do our annual drive down Longboat Key to see all the decorated palms. It seems to me that Santa might get a little warm in that big red coat down here, but then he flies at altitude and with the wind chill and all, … I’ll bet Florida is a nice stop for him, long enough to warm up, throw back a couple of Mohitoes and then off to colder climes. Merry Christmas to All.

Florida has a lot of things and Christmas tress aren't one of them. If you need a Christmas tree it'll be imported or plastic. On the other hand, we have plenty of Christmas Palms. Everyone down here is frond of decorating the palms with lights, it's quite the sight. In fact, this evening we'll probably do our annual drive down Longboat Key to see all the decorated palms. It seems to me that Santa might get a little warm in that big red coat down here, but then he flies at altitude and with the wind chill and all, ... I'll bet Florida is a nice stop for him, long enough to warm up, throw back a couple of Mohitoes and then off to colder climes. Merry Christmas to All.

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Real White Sand

I shot this just two nights ago near the appropriately named Sunset Park along Bradenton Beach in Florida. Unlike the white sand blowing in snow squalls up north, this is the real stuff. I love taking pictures of sunset at Bradenton Beach, each time I go there I seem to find a new section that I’ve never noticed before. And of course no two sunsets are the same. Head down here around sunset on any given day and folks have their lawn chairs out waiting, as if for the final act. I’m always busy taking pictures, one of these days I’ll try putting down the camera and just watching it myself. Or not.

I shot this just two nights ago near the appropriately named Sunset Park along Bradenton Beach in Florida. Unlike the white sand blowing in snow squalls up north, this is the real stuff. I love taking pictures of sunset at Bradenton Beach, each time I go there I seem to find a new section that I've never noticed before. And of course no two sunsets are the same. Head down here around sunset on any given day and folks have their lawn chairs out waiting, as if for the final act. I'm always busy taking pictures, one of these days I'll try putting down the camera and just watching it myself. Or not.

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Sailboat Sunrise

A couple friends of mine packed up their belongings, bought a sailboat and moved to Tahiti. That sounds lovely doesn’t it? These boats however are closer to my home in Florida, this is Sarasota at sunrise. As I took this I wondered what it would be like to wake up to the rocking of the boat. Not something I know from experience, but my guess is I’d probably sleep in a little longer as I was rocked by the gentle motion of the waves. I would imagine that’s just what the inhabitants of these boats where doing as this land lubber sat onshore with a camera wondering what it would be like.

A couple friends of mine packed up their belongings, bought a sailboat and moved to Tahiti. That sounds lovely doesn't it? These boats however are closer to my home in Florida, this is Sarasota at sunrise. As I took this I wondered what it would be like to wake up to the rocking of the boat. Not something I know from experience, but my guess is I'd probably sleep in a little longer as I was rocked by the gentle motion of the waves. I would imagine that's just what the inhabitants of these boats where doing as this land lubber sat onshore with a camera wondering what it would be like.

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Sunset in Paradise

The story behind this shot is a little creepy so don’t read this if you hate bugs. Ok, here goes. I came here to the fishing pier at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge near my home in Florida to get a photo of the sunset. To get to this spot I had to walk on a concrete seawall by climbing over a fence and then over a bunch of big concrete boulders. Once on the seawall I started walking with my equipment to this spot and noticed something was not quite right. As I looked down, hundreds, if not thousands of bugs, not unlike cockroaches, were scampering out of the way. I was having my own little Indiana Jones moment, less the snakes (as far as I know). My guess is they feed upon the dead fish and bait from local fishermen, but whatever the case, there is a thriving population. I was committed to the shot so I steeled myself, marched on, setup, took about 20 frames, picked up my tripod and got the *%^#* outta there. During that episode I heard some noise in the water just a few feet away but was too pre-occupied with getting the job done that not until I got home did I notice that a dolphin and pelican passed by. I suspect they had a good laugh at the silly human freaking out in Paradise.

The story behind this shot is a little creepy so don't read this if you hate bugs. Ok, here goes. I came here to the fishing pier at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge near my home in Florida to get a photo of the sunset. To get to this spot I had to walk on a concrete seawall by climbing over a fence and then over a bunch of big concrete boulders. Once on the seawall I started walking with my equipment to this spot and noticed something was not quite right. As I looked down, hundreds, if not thousands of bugs, not unlike cockroaches, were scampering out of the way. I was having my own little Indiana Jones moment, less the snakes (as far as I know). My guess is they feed upon the dead fish and bait from local fishermen, but whatever the case, there is a thriving population. I was committed to the shot so I steeled myself, marched on, setup, took about 20 frames, picked up my tripod and got the *%^#* outta there. During that episode I heard some noise in the water just a few feet away but was too pre-occupied with getting the job done that not until I got home did I notice that a dolphin and pelican passed by. I suspect they had a good laugh at the silly human freaking out in Paradise.

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Night on the Water

I took one last photo as dusk gave way to night and I headed back to my car and then home. Before I left I noticed the faint light of a small fishing boat a mile or two offshore and tried to imagine the scene from out there. Perhaps the light of houses along the shore. In any case, late last night I was driving along this same road and saw a fisherman coming in from sea with his small boat. I don’t know why but that got me thinking there is no way I would be out in the Gulf of Mexico in such in a small boat at night, yet hundreds do it every evening. And so I silently acknowledged his courage and fortitude and thanked him for the fish tacos I just had for dinner.

I took one last photo as dusk gave way to night and I headed back to my car and then home. Before I left I noticed the faint light of a small fishing boat a mile or two offshore and tried to imagine the scene from out there. Perhaps the light of houses along the shore. In any case, late last night I was driving along this same road and saw a fisherman coming in from sea with his small boat. I don't know why but that got me thinking there is no way I would be out in the Gulf of Mexico in such in a small boat at night, yet hundreds do it every evening. And so I silently acknowledged his courage and fortitude and thanked him for the fish tacos I just had for dinner.

Follow link to obtain a print of this photo.