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Little Skimmer Boys

I took this a week or two back at Bean Point which is at the very tip of Anna Maria Island. It's a remote spot that feels about as tropical as you can get in the lower forty-eight. When I head out here I never know how the light will look so there's a lot of luck involved. When I was about five minutes from here I saw a big funnel cloud in the overhead cloud layer and when I finally got here a crowd was watching the last remnants of the waterspout. These boys refused to call it a day with their skimboards, waterspout or not, they were squeezing every last moment out of the end of this most awesome day.

I took this a week or two back at Bean Point which is at the very tip of Anna Maria Island. It’s a remote spot that feels about as tropical as you can get in the lower forty-eight. When I head out here I never know how the light will look so there’s a lot of luck involved. When I was about five minutes from here I saw a big funnel cloud in the overhead cloud layer and when I finally got here a crowd was watching the last remnants of the waterspout. These boys refused to call it a day with their skimboards, waterspout or not, they were squeezing every last moment out of the end of this most awesome day.

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Morning at the Jetty

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.

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.

Click on image to obtain a print

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Pond at Sunset

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.

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.

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Neal Preserve Pond

Neal Preserve is one of my favorite destinations inside Bradenton. As preserves go it's fairly small but still has surprises each time I go. Theres a big lookout where you can look over the preserve in one direction and the inter-coastal waterway in the other. I prefer coming here after the rains to view the ponds.
Neal Preserve is one of my favorite destinations inside Bradenton. As preserves go it’s fairly small but still has surprises each time I go. Theres a big lookout where you can look over the preserve in one direction and the inter-coastal waterway in the other. I prefer coming here after the rains to view the ponds.

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Riverwalk at Dusk

I took this Saturday evening at the Riverwalk in Bradenton Florida. I love coming here this time of day, everything seems so mellow. This composition was the very first picture I took earlier this year after I purchased my Sony camera. I figured now that I've learned how to use it better I'd try again. It's not uncommon to see a manatee or dolphin swimming by. Mostly people just come here to fish or stretch their legs with a little walk. Happy Wednesday everyone.

I took this Saturday evening at the Riverwalk in Bradenton Florida. I love coming here this time of day, everything seems so mellow. This composition was the very first picture I took earlier this year after I purchased my Sony camera. I figured now that I’ve learned how to use it better I’d try again. It’s not uncommon to see a manatee or dolphin swimming by. Mostly people just come here to fish or stretch their legs with a little walk. Happy Wednesday everyone.

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Siesta Key Lifeguard Stand

When I showed up at Siesta Key beach is was the end of the day and so the lifeguards had already left. However a lot of people were still there, most waiting for the sun to finally set, a common ritual here in Florida. Reminds me of watching the credits roll, you stay to the very end, but I digress. So I walked around snapping shots that I thought were interesting until the very end. About half of the folks got up to leave yet I was surprised by how many people were staying on the beach even in the dark. In fact I saw people coming to the beach to setup their chars in the dark. I suppose that when the weather is warm, you may as well stay for the second show. ;-)

When I showed up at Siesta Key beach it was the end of the day and so the lifeguards had already left. However a lot of people were still there, most waiting for the sun to finally set, a common ritual here in Florida. Reminds me of watching the credits roll, you stay to the very end, but I digress. So I walked around snapping shots that I thought were interesting until the very end. About half of the folks got up to leave yet I was surprised by how many people were staying on the beach even in the dark. In fact I saw people coming to the beach to setup their chars in the dark. I suppose that when the weather is warm, you may as well stay for the second show. 😉

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Over the Bridge

I took this one afternoon with the sun beating down. Would you riding a bike when it's 95 degrees outside? Summer is nearly over but in Florida we have another six to eight weeks left. The tropical storms start brewing about now and you never know what to expect. Our weathermen and women become a little animated this time of year, and no wonder, this is what they live for, unstable air masses. So rest of us worry a little less knowing someone else is on the ball with the

I took this one afternoon with the sun beating down. Would you riding a bike when it’s 95 degrees outside? Summer is nearly over but in Florida we have another six to eight weeks left. The tropical storms start brewing about now and you never know what to expect. Our weathermen and women become a little animated this time of year, and no wonder, this is what they live for, unstable air masses. So rest of us worry a little less knowing someone else is on the ball with the “Kilstron 9” weather radar. This is also the time of year I start paying attention to the NOAA’s National Hurricane Center, me and about ten million others.

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Saturday

I'm writing this on a Saturday, but I'm not here rather I'm at my desk typing this, which I took last Sunday. Confusion aside, I'm putting this photo up because, well, it makes me want to be sitting there relaxing. Maybe I'll stop writing about it and go practice what I preach. Happy weekend y'all.

I’m writing this on a Saturday, but I’m not here rather I’m at my desk typing this, which I took last Sunday. Confusion aside, I’m putting this photo up because, well, it makes me want to be sitting there relaxing. Maybe I’ll stop writing about it and go practice what I preach. Happy weekend y’all.

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Landing

Caught one morning on Anna Maria Island. At the crack of dawn Pelicans are busy. The wake up call from the sun sets these fellas about their business, as though they have important jobs to get to, ...like sitting on a pole. I'm not great at patiently sitting in one spot, but that's what you need to do to catch stuff, ...fish, photos, ...etc. For this I stayed only about three minutes in one spot and noticed his intent, or got lucky. The perfect perch for a Pelican to sit and observe the world while waiting for the next meal to swim by, or photographer, whichever comes first.

Caught one morning on Anna Maria Island. At the crack of dawn Pelicans are busy. The wake up call from the sun sets these fellas about their business, as though they have important jobs to get to, …like sitting on a pole. I’m not great at patiently sitting in one spot, but that’s what you need to do to catch stuff, …fish, photos, …etc. For this I stayed only about three minutes in one spot and noticed his intent, or got lucky. The perfect perch for a Pelican to sit and observe the world while waiting for the next meal to swim by, or photographer, whichever comes first.

Click on photo to obtain print.

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Morning Glow on the Spanish Moss

Before I moved here I had never seen Spanish Moss. There's something about it, it lends a willowy texture to everything, almost ethereal. Every few years a good storm or hurricane blows it all down but within a few months it returns. ...Now I'm worried, I've been reduced to writing about moss. This might be a good time to click on another picture lest you fall asleep reading this. But, if you're really interested I could drone on about how fast the moss grows. Right after the next commercial break.

Before I moved here I had never seen Spanish Moss. There’s something about it, it lends a willowy texture to everything, almost ethereal. Every few years a good storm or hurricane blows it all down but within a few months it returns. …Now I’m worried, I’ve been reduced to writing about moss. This might be a good time to click on another picture lest you fall asleep reading this. But, if you’re really interested I could drone on about how fast the moss grows. Right after the next commercial break.

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