inspired photography with just enough perspective
I woke up early to capture this while the water was still calm and the fog was deciding how long it might linger. Ever notice how when you first wake up it feels a little like this? In art, photographs or whatever we try to take meaning and sometimes look for metaphors. I think I do that. Reflections, mist, space, calm. I wish I could take this feeling with me during the day. Maybe I can, just a little bit.
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While here I visited the lighthouse several times looking for different angles and light, but my most memorable time was the first day. The locals call the month after July “Fogust” and for good reason. It could be clear and within thirty minutes everything is blanketed and then maybe an hour later it goes away, thus the lighthouse. So there I was climbing on the rocks just past the “do not climb on rocks” sign and the fog started to roll in. I’m fifty meters in front of the lighthouse contemplating the beautiful mist when out of nowhere the automated fog horn sounds. Those horns can be heard for miles, and possibly a few of the swear words I uttered in response as I grabbed on to a rock to keep from falling over. Yup, that’s me, stoo-pid tourist.
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Here is another picture of Anna Maria Island as taken from a jetty near the public pier. As all the locals know there are two piers, the Rod and Reel pier and the public pier. In my opinion we have a shortage of piers in our area. Piers are magnets for people because we like to get right out into the water without having to work to hard or take a boat. As well the fishing is usually much better from a pier. But then if we don’t build them to last they erode over time and are costly to maintain. All of this is way more than you wanted to know or care about, so let’s just change the subject and enjoy the view. Who knows, you might just see a Manatee swim by.
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This is Black Rock Hotel in the town of Ucluelet where I recently stayed. It’s on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia. The shoreline couldn’t be more different than that of Florida, yet the contrast was something I very much appreciated. The coast is rugged, yet punctuated with long beaches frequented by surfers, and while the waves aren’t huge, they’re respectable even on calm days. I loved walking along trails here and exploring tide pools and just listening to the sound of the ocean on the rocks. Food for the soul indeed.
If you ever make it to Vancouver Island In British Columbia, be sure to visit Butchard Gardens. I was unprepared and very pleasantly surprised when I finally made it after being told the same by others. The gardens here are as exquisite. Unlike my wife I’m no gardener, and quite frankly the thought of spending a day in a garden, while relaxing, is not at the top of my list. Butchard Gardens changed that and after about eight hours of walking the grounds, I wished I had more time. Anyway, I was just sitting by a walkway taking a break when I snapped this.
A couple of weeks ago I was in Victoria which is the capital of British Columbia. Pretty much every night shot you see of Victoria features this parliament building. On this weekend they had a jazz festival, or maybe a boat show, or may both, I wasn’t sure. But walking around the harbour there was live music coming from different directions and lots of folks out and a-boot (that’s Canadian for about). I was standing here composing this and some people saw me with the tripod and said, “hey man, are you shooting the show or just random?”. I thought about it for a few seconds and figured “random” was the right answer. So, in case you’re wondering, this is a random shot of Victoria at night.
This was taken from Bendemeer which is a residential area just outside of Queenstown, New Zealand. I’ve posted several pictures from here, I was with a group that had a couple of hours to walk around before sundown. New Zealand has no snakes or predators to speak of so for all intents and purposes you could just lay down here in this grass and take a nap. That’s such a cool idea, one I’d not try here in Florida unless I was on the beach. But then, that’s just part of the magic of this land across the sea.
I took this not long ago at the World Trade Center in what is called ground zero. A lot has happened in the last thirteen years and now the Freedom Tower is in the final stages of completion. The sight of this building leaves a feeling that cannot be conveyed, but you soon realize its more than just a building, it’s a symbol of revitalization on many levels. Eventually the people working here will go about their business day in and day out, a return to some semblance of normal. But to anyone coming here, residents, workers and visitors such as myself, it is undeniably an emotionally charged setting.
Last week I was on a whale watching boat in the Broken Islands just off the coast of Ucluelet in British Columbia. The captain warned us we might not see whales as they hadn’t been spotted in a few days. With so much scenery I was fine with that, it would be an enjoyable cruise nonetheless. As fate would have it we did in fact come upon a family of Orcas. But none of us, including the captain, were prepared for what we were about to witness. As it turns out an unlucky sea lion was there also shadowing a small powerboat and the whales knew. The sea lion would not leave the side of the boat until it eventually sped away leaving him exposed and effectively ending his life. Over the next thirty minutes we watched as the whales surrounded, attacked, toyed, and eventually put an end to the sea lion. It all took place within a radius of twenty-five to one hundred meters from our boat. I’ll never forget the sound and feeling of the powerful waves and splashes as the whales pursued their prey. Our captain, Brian Congdon of Subtitle Adventures, said that in thirty-five years of whale tours he’s never seen this. It’s a well known fact that Killer Whales eat sea lions, but it is rare indeed to witness this act in nature. I for one was deeply impressed by this raw display of nature up close and unscripted.
This is a shot I took last December at Robinson Preserve. I just arrived from the rainy pacific northwest where it was sunny all day to the sunshine state where we have clouds and rain, go figure. This time of year in Florida has a lot of clouds which of course I love but the photo reminded me that we get occasional clouds in winter as well. Sound mixed up? It is. My weather bearings we’re messed up for years when I first moved here, basicly winter is like summer and with all the tropical storms summer is like winter. Had enough? Okay, this concludes today’s message from the Department of Confusion.