Perhaps because I live in Florida one of my main subjects are sunsets. Good sunsets can be a little elusive. Only about half of the time I go out do I even get one due to offshore cloud layers. And then much less than half of those are what I’d call “good ones”. Maybe it’s like fishing, you’ll usually get a nibble and occasionally get fish. But if you keep doing it you eventually get the “big one”. I hope the fisherman in this photo was as lucky as me.
Last Rays of the Sun
The last rays of the day before dusk at Fort DeSoto park in St Petersburg Florida. Everything was idyllic on this evening and I thought this is a moment I want to remember. Of course I was busy taking pictures, but I have this souvenir. For me, just being there to take the picture was enjoyment enough.
Fort DeSoto Lifeguard Stand
This is another shot from the northern tip of Fort DeSoto Park in St Petersburg Florida. For me sunset is the best time to be at the beach, yet usually there are only a few people left. That’s just fine because you feel you have the whole place to yourself. And then finally when all the colors fade, the last stragglers walk back to their cars and leave, knowing the best was saved for last.
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Man and Dog
I took this at a park named after Hernando De Soto. He was an explorer who passed through this way in the 1500s. I love coming to this park but it always makes me think about what it must have been like all those years ago. We have paths in the park and air conditioners in our cars, but back then it must have been difficult to walk through this vegetation in the oppressive heat of summer. I can wear shorts, sandals and a t-shirt, but what if I had to wear leather and wool and hack my way through the growth. Just kind of boggles the mind. I need a lemonade.
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Fort DeSoto Sunset
The northern beach of Fort DeSoto in St. Petersburg. The heron kept one eye on me while he fished for dinner, and I kept one eye on him as I lined up my shot. Maybe there’s a message in that or, not so much. Just a simple image of the beach to get us all in the mood for the weekend. Have a great one everybody.
Fort De Soto Sand
This beach is at the end of Fort DeSoto State Park in St. Petersburg Florida. This area is a particular favorite as it seems remote, yet accessible with a short drive. With any luck I’m coming up here in a week or so to see what I can see. Seems every time I come up I discover something new, some forgotten beach, old pier or trail. And as you can see the sand here is indeed white. In fact the beaches in region of Florida have powdery white sand which is soft and inviting. However unless you brush it off it makes a mess of the car floor mats, a small price to pay. Floor mats aside, is it any wonder the population of Florida doubles this time of year?
Fort Desoto North
This is a sunset I took one evening at the northern tip of Fort DeSoto park in St Petersburg, Florida. Typically this park has a lot of visitors, but if you drive to the end the crowds thin out and the scenery is quite pretty. There were other photographers here, each focusing on a different aspect of the scenery. For instance I was focused on the waves and sunset while others were focused on birds and wildlife. Is it just me or are there more photographers than ever before? I don’t really follow the trends but I’m noticing more and more photographers wherever I go. Maybe I’m just more sensitive to it, or maybe I just frequent popular spots for photography, but I have this sense that it seems to be growing. I think the cameras in cell phones and the great mobile software like Snapseed are inspiring more people to take up the pursuit. Whatever the case, it’s a good trend in my books.
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Fall Sunrise
I came here last winter to Fort DeSoto Park in St. Petersburg Florida take a similar picture, the only difference is that from this vantage the sun rose from the right side of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and in autumn it rises on the left. This is a favorite spot for local photographers and at least two others were here on the morning I took this. Fort DeSoto is on the Gulf of Mexico and is lined with beaches, bike paths, camping, fishing and pretty much every outdoor sport imaginable. In fact, the morning I took this there was a triathlon getting ready to start so I made sure I got out of the park before it started since the roads would be closed during the race. In any case, I’m sure I’ll be back before too long to hang out at the beach, ride a bike or just take photos as I did on this morning.
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