Clearwater Beach

Florida has more than it’s share of pirates, they’re everywhere. I took this last weekend at Clearwater Beach where it appears the pirates where just off shore. We also have a lot of bikers in Florida. More often than not they’re just fun loving retired dudes with big beards and bigger paunches, like my neighbor a few doors down. My theory is that the pirates of old reincarnated as bikers in Florida, and when they’re not riding their bikes they’re pretending to be pirates. That’s my theory and I’m sticking to it.

Florida has more than it's share of pirates, they're everywhere. I took this last weekend at Clearwater Beach where it appears the pirates where just off shore. We also have a lot of bikers in Florida. More often than not they're just fun loving retired dudes with big beards and bigger paunches, like my neighbor a few doors down. My theory is that the pirates of old reincarnated as bikers in Florida, and when they're not riding their bikes they're pretending to be pirates. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it.

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Fog

The last few days here in central Florida have been foggy which means the light is soft, something I love. Everything is mysterious and the mood is completely transformed. This was taken at St Petes Beach which is just south of Clearwater. Earlier, at around 6:30 in the morning I was in another location near my home taking photos of a pier. As I walked back to my car a very well dress couple approached me, apparently they had a ministry and were out spreading the word. I politely smiled and suggested I didn’t need the pamphlet but thanked them anyway. They continued on in the early morning light and I glanced back as they disappeared into the fog. I was dumbstruck by this powerful metaphor of searching for lost souls in the fog, it played on my mind for a while after. Why where they there so early on such foggy morning? That, at least to me, was a bit of a mystery, and as ephemeral as the fog.

The last few days here in central Florida have been foggy which means the light is soft, something I love. Everything is mysterious and the mood is completely transformed. This was taken at St Petes beach which is just south of Clearwater. Earlier, at around 6:30 in the morning, I was in another location near my home taking photos of a pier. As I walked back to my car a very well dress couple approached me, apparently they had a ministry and were out spreading the word. I politely smiled and suggested I didn't need the pamphlet but thanked them anyway. They continued on in the early morning light and I glanced back as they disappeared into the fog. I was dumbstruck by this powerful metaphor of searching for lost souls in the fog, it played on my mind for a while after. Why where they there so early on such foggy morning? That, at least to me, was a bit of a mystery, and as ephemeral as the fog.

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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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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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Gulf of Mexico

So this might not look familiar but it’s under the Sunshine Skyway bridge between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Sometimes I find myself in the craziest places in search of a shot, especially when not traveling. When I do travel I cross this bridge in a car on my way to the airport at a pretty good rate of speed. The bridge is so level and smooth I forget I’m traveling over a vast body of water with dolphins, sharks and swift currents below. Before this was built the old one collapsed and a bus and cars just drove right off the bridge into the water. Yeah I know, scary. But today I doubt anything like that will happen again, this bridge is constantly under maintenance, no chances are being taken. And thanks to all that maintenance its a very smooth ride and I forget I’m driving over the Gulf of Mexico. Thankfully though, the state of Florida does not.

So this might not look familiar but it's under the Sunshine Skyway bridge between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Sometimes I find myself in the craziest places in search of a shot, especially when not traveling. When I do travel I cross this bridge in a car on my way to the airport at a pretty good rate of speed. The bridge is so level and smooth I forget I'm traveling over a vast body of water with dolphins, sharks and swift currents below. Before this was built the old one collapsed and a bus and cars just drove right off the bridge into the water. Yeah I know, scary. But today I doubt anything like that will happen again, this bridge is constantly under maintenance, no chances are being taken. And thanks to all that maintenance its a very smooth ride and I forget I'm driving over the Gulf of Mexico. Thankfully though, the state of Florida does not.

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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.

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.

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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Fort De Soto Lookout

This is a lookout used by spotters for the mortar battery used during the Spanish American War. Now I think the only thing you might look out for is a passing cruise ship or the sunset. Fort De Soto Park has camping, trails, kayaking, bike paths, and wind sailing to name just a few. However, the four legged members of our family like the dog park and beach where they can frolic in the waves on a hot day.
This is a lookout used by spotters for the mortar battery used during the Spanish American War. Now I think the only thing you might look out for is a passing cruise ship or the sunset. Fort De Soto Park has camping, trails, kayaking, bike paths, and wind sailing to name just a few. However, the four legged members of our family like the dog park and beach where they can frolic in the waves on a hot day.
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Holding Pattern

A holding pattern is exactly what Flight 500 was in when I took this. It was getting close to sunset and being stuck in a window seat I figured I’d make the best of it by pulling out my camera. I think the guy sitting next to me was a little amused, nonetheless each time my side faced west I had this view of the sun setting over the Gulf of Mexico. Of course once we landed there was no sun to see, just typical afternoon thunder showers in Tampa, Florida.
Holding Pattern
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Sunshine Skyway Bridge

I saw a picture by a local photographer of this bridge. Living in the county on the other side I racked my brain trying to figure out where it was taken. After a little checking I figured I had the spot so I headed out early one morning, Dunkin Donuts coffee in hand. Being my first photo trip I was a little apprehensive but nonetheless picked my way through the predawn to find the spot. I set up my tripod and waited in silence on the isolated shoreline off an isolated road. Just then lights and the sound of tires approached and I had no idea what to expect. Wouldn’t you know it, another photographer showed up, followed by two more after him. That’s when I realized this must be a popular spot and I was the new one to the party.