This evening I headed up to Emerson Point to catch the colors and watch the sun go down. It was a little breezy and this kite surfer was having fun. It seems that a lot of people are out having fun here in Florida. I guess you can count me in on that since I tried Paddleboarding on Saturday. Kind of like paddling a canoe, only you’re standing up. Takes a little getting used but the worst that can happen is you fall into the warm water. Its the middle of summer and it’s hard to take things too seriously, just relax and go with the flow. Hope you all had a good weekend.
Simple Pond
I took this from a kayak launch at a nearby park. There’s nothing spectacular about this shot but I think I like the understated nature of it. Just nature, simplicity, lot’s of space. Room to stretch my mind and let the complications of the day dissolve. I think that’s why I like coming to this spot. In any case, the week is almost over and it’s been a busy one for me, so I made a promise to myself to get out somewhere like this where I can let the frenetic pace of the week recede into memory, and hopefully take a few pictures while I’m at it. Have a great weekend everyone.
Sunset Beach
This is a view of Bradenton Beach from Sunset Park before they restored it. As you can see here the water is about twenty or thirty feet from where I’m standing. A massive project to redeposit sand from a couple hundred yards offshore just finished and now the beach extends another fifty feet into the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a huge nuisance when they have all that heavy equipment on the beach, kind of like when they repair major roads. But once it’s done things are so pretty you soon forget the stress of construction. Anyway, I think I’ll head down here in the next week to get an “after” shot of the result. I know, any excuse to go to the beach.
Robinson at Sundown
The other day I walked through Robinson Park just after a rain shower and just before sunset. I think because of the rain the park was deserted which lent a quiet solitude to the place. This was the last shot I took before turning back towards my car. As I walked back I noticed things I didn’t see the other way. And of course with the orange-pinkish clouds I just took my time and enjoyed the moment. Just then a cyclist rode by and when he saw me with my camera, commented “just another day in paradise”. Indeed it is sir, indeed it is.
Casting at Dawn
Wherever you go in Florida you’ll find people throwing nets. It may look easy but it takes some practice. My neighbor purchased one and so we stood on his lawn trying to learn the technique which I can only describe as a combination of lassoing and shot put. And since I’ve done neither the result were a little amusing. A couple years ago I watched a guy throw a net into a local lake and pull out several redfish, he had a cooler full of them which he sold to local restaurants. Anyway, I took this picture a couple weeks ago and this is just one of dozens of casts this fellow made. It looked like hard work with all the gathering and throwing, and if he wasn’t quick to pick up the fish the birds were happy to oblige. Quite the commotion indeed.
Jensen Beach Bridge
Sunday Morning at the Pier
This is the public pier at Anna Maria Island a couple of Sundays ago. I got here before sunrise yet there were people milling about, getting fishing poles ready or just watching the sunrise. And then just after sunrise a couple of dudes started swimming in the water which was warm and inviting. Then, if all that wasn’t enough, a photography club showed up to take pictures of the pier. So just after sunrise on a Sunday when everyone should have been sleeping in, this place was buzzing. Of course I was there also so I’m not even sure what my point is. Nevermind.
Through the Tall Grass
This is another shot from Emerson Point near my home through the grasses which grow all over. Now that it’s summer we get thunderstorms most afternoons and combined with the heat everything grows like wild. The bermuda grass around my house grows at least six inches in a week. Little frogs, lizards and snakes like to hide under the grass since to them it’s a place of refuge from the heat of the day. But anyway, this isn’t bermuda grass and I’m not very good at writing about grass, I just like the way it looks, especially when there is a sunset beyond.
Family at the Beach
This is another shot from Naples beach last week. There were so many children playing in the warm shallow waters it was really fun to watch. I think these moments are very subtle and stay with us our entire lives. I have some memories like this somewhere back, at least this pail helped me remember building a sandcastle. Such are the days when I had no concerns in the world and my life was carefree. Now, maybe a little of that from time to time might do me some good.
Anna Maria Saturday Morning
This morning I showed up for sunrise. At the same time I was standing here a Manatee swam past. Just another day on the island. Have a wonderful Sunday friends.