Across the river from Palmetto where I live is the town of Bradenton Florida. A little while back the city decided to improve this walkway along the Manatee River. It now hosts food festivals, jazz concerts and a skateboard park. On this day I arrived around sunset to capture the modern, yet relaxed feeling of the place where families love to stroll and I’ll go to walk my dogs or just enjoy the eclectic atmosphere.
Switching Yard
This is a rail yard in Vancouver that’s adjacent to a busy commercial port. I happened to be walking over a bridge and thought it interesting, however when I looked at the surrounding buildings I could almost imagine I’d been transported back in time to another era. When I was young we had tracks in our back yard. For a while after moving away I had a hard time falling sleep because there was no sound, it was too quiet. I wonder if the folks living in these buildings go to sleep with the rumbling of the trains. In an odd way, it’s quite soothing.
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Uncomfortably Long Exposure
This particular shot was taken at night, and as normally the case with these I press the button and the camera starts about its work which can take a minute or two. I’ll usually just daydream or look the other way and wait for the clicking to stop. Right after I pressed the button on this I heard a woman yell and I immediately thought I was doing something wrong, perhaps taking pictures of someone’s private Cherry Blossoms? I had no idea. It turns out there was a man walking a dog and the dog was, well, answering the call of nature on this grass in front of the lady’s house and she was yelling at the man. The dog was oblivious, the man was embarrassed, and the lady continued to yell. So while all this was going on I was stuck there waiting for my camera to finish this HDR exposure. Let’s just say it was a long sixty seconds after which I quickly picked up my camera and tripod and headed off. (Note to self: always carry poop bags when walking my own dogs).
Spring in the City
Winter can last so long that some of us need visual cues that it’s coming to an end. Such was the case when I walked by these plants in the city park. Until this point, it never even dawned on me there would be an end to winter. Irrational yes, but very good news nonetheless.
Regrowth
This little fella decided to move in, but you can see he has a lot of catching up to do. In 2006, Vancouver experienced a devastating windstorm the effects of which can still be seen. With change comes renewal and this little cedar is evidence of that never ending cycle. From the looks of it, he has a lot of sturdy neighbors to keep him company through the many years as he grows to eventually tower through the canopy and see the sunrise on one side and the sunset across the Pacific Ocean on the other.
Joey Bentall One
Something about a cafe on a busy street. I like sitting by a window and watching the world go by. But just as often, when I’m walking by, I like to look in. You can pick up on the character of a place, the type of patrons, the conversations, or perhaps people just, well, watching. Don’t ask me where I’m going with all this, probably nowhere. In any case, this upscale cafe is Joey Bentall One on Burrard in downtown Vancouver. This particular morning they hadn’t yet opened, it was early. But in a few hours, it would be, and so would the street outside.
Through the Looking Glass
A reflection is removed, not the real thing, it somehow affords us perspective. Kind of a luxury when you consider the demands of everyday. None of this was on my mind when I took this photo, but upon reflection, maybe it makes sense.
Night Light
Architecture in a city can be pretty dynamic. It gets to the point you walk right by something that could be remarkable without really noticing. Such is the case with this building. As I walk by this most days, it appears typical glass and concrete, I couldn’t even recall where it is, nondescript. One night however I walked by and thought, where did this come from? A few blue lights and it’s a different building, who’da thunk? Seems the more I stop to notice, the more I, well…, notice. Funny how that works. Makes for a more interesting day, or night, as the case may be.
Twenty Dollar Cocktail
As I wandered through this lobby I stood around looking at the menu, all the while eyeing the bar and wondering if it was worthy of plunking my tripod down. I couldn’t help notice the exotic menu and the prices which were, uh…, a little higher than O’Malleys down the street. Nonetheless, I snapped the picture and made a mental note to come back right after I win the lottery.
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.
