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Shimmering Water

This is the Marina in the small town of Palmetto Florida where I live. The marina is along the Manatee River which as you can see is quite calm around dusk and dawn. Because the river opens into the Gulf of Mexico is common to see dolphins and manatee swimming by. If I didn’t know better I’d say this is a nice place to live. But I know better, it’s a great place to live. Not to say we don’t have the usual problems like everywhere else, but you have to take the good with the bad. In fact, I prefer to pay attention to the beauty around me. That way it seems stronger than the bad stuff. Just my way of looking at things.

This is the Marina in the small town of Palmetto Florida where I live. The marina is along the Manatee River which as you can see is quite calm around dusk and dawn. Because the river opens into the Gulf of Mexico is common to see dolphins and manatee swimming by. If I didn't know better I'd say this is a nice place to live. But I know better, it's a great place to live. Not to say we don't have the usual problems like everywhere else, but you have to take the good with the bad. In fact, I prefer to pay attention to the beauty around me. That way it seems stronger than the bad stuff. Just my way of looking at things.

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Morton Arboretum

Not too long ago I was in the Chicago area and just before heading to the airport I took a walk through the snowy Morton Arboretum. The roads and paths were all frozen over and it took a bit of concentration to walk. As it was a Saturday morning, runners also showed up and to my amazement managed not to slip as they passed by. Eventually I noticed that many were wearing a type of running cleat attached to their shoes. On the other hand these geese had only webbed feet and feathers to get them going. I thought a couple might be frozen in the ice but they seemed to know what they were doing and moved around a bit. I think the only one that didn’t know what he was doing was the photographer from Florida.

Not too long ago I was in the Chicago area and just before heading to the airport I took a walk through the snowy Morton Arboretum. The roads and paths were all frozen over and it took a bit of concentration to walk. As it was a Saturday morning, runners also showed up and to my amazement managed not to slip as they passed by. Eventually I noticed that many were wearing a type of running cleat attached to their shoes. On the other hand these geese had only webbed feet and feathers to get them going. I thought a couple might be frozen in the ice but they seemed to know what they were doing and moved around a bit. I think the only one that didn't know what he was doing was the photographer from Florida.

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Morning Fog

This is the draw bridge to Longboat Key on a foggy morning in Manatee County Florida. As I understand it, we get fog when the air temperature rises or falls relative to the water. So it seems we get that in Florida a few times in winter. I look forward to it not only for photography, but because I get to wear warm clothes. During these time I think visitors look at me kind of funny, bundled up in a jacket when it’s only fifty or sixty degrees. But I digress.

This is the draw bridge to Longboat Key on a foggy morning in Manatee County Florida. As I understand it, we get fog when the air temperature rises or falls relative to the water. So it seems we get that in Florida a few times in winter. I look forward to it not only for photography, but because I get to wear warm clothes. During these time I think visitors look at me kind of funny, bundled up in a jacket when it's only fifty or sixty degrees. But I digress.

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Fort De Soto Sand

This beach is at the end of Fort DeSoto State Park in St. Petersburg Florida. This area is a particular favorite as it seems remote, yet accessible with a short drive. With any luck I’m coming up here in a week or so to see what I can see. Seems every time I come up I discover something new, some forgotten beach, old pier or trail. And as you can see the sand here is indeed white. In fact the beaches in region of Florida have powdery white sand which is soft and inviting. However unless you brush it off it makes a mess of the car floor mats, a small price to pay. Floor mats aside, is it any wonder the population of Florida doubles this time of year?

This beach is at the end of Fort DeSoto State Park in St. Petersburg Florida. This area is a particular favorite as it seems remote, yet accessible with a short drive. With any luck I'm coming up here in a week or so to see what I can see. Seems every time I come up I discover something new, some forgotten beach, old pier or trail. And as you can see the sand here is indeed white. In fact the beaches in region of Florida have powdery white sand which is soft and inviting. However unless you brush it off it makes a mess of the car floor mats, a small price to pay. Floor mats aside, is it any wonder the population of Florida doubles this time of year?

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Empty Pier

This fishing pier is along the Riverwalk in Bradenton Florida. I liked how the thick fog diffused the morning sun. As a photographer I’m attuned to variations in light all around me. It’s interesting because the more I mentioned it, more people around me notice it as well. My wife is now pointing out potential sunsets hours before they happen and even my trainer mentioned the light as it cast a glow into the gym the other morning. I think that’s cool, and of course, a very simple pleasure indeed.

his fishing pier is along the Riverwalk in Bradenton Florida. I liked how the thick fog diffused the morning sun. As a photographer I'm attuned to variations in light all around me. It's interesting because the more I mentioned it, more people around me notice it as well. My wife is now pointing out potential sunsets hours before they happen and even my trainer mentioned the light as it cast a glow into the gym the other morning. I think that's cool, and of course, a very simple pleasure indeed.

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Shaded Path

This is a shaded path through Leffis Key on Anna Maria Island in Florida. For all intents and purposes its hidden as I’ve driven by it for years and never noticed. So it was a pleasant surprise when I happened upon it early one morning. The entrance is small and easy to miss and the first thing you do is walk through this shaded path. When you reach the other side you are in a quite world surrounded by the mangroves and wildlife. The bulk of it extends out away from the highway into the inter-coastal waterway. This pathway reminded me of a passage to a secret garden. In a way I suppose it is.

This is a shaded path through Leffis Key on Anna Maria Island in Florida. For all intents and purposes its hidden as I've driven by it for years and never noticed. So it was a pleasant surprise when I happened upon it early one morning. The entrance is small and easy to miss and the first thing you do is walk through this shaded path. When you reach the other side you are in a quite world surrounded by the mangroves and wildlife. The bulk of it extends out away from the highway into the inter-coastal waterway. This pathway reminded me of a passage to a secret garden. In a way I suppose it is.

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Harvest Moon Glow

I took this last autumn when I was in Vancouver walking back to the hotel. One of these days I’ll learn how to get a good moon picture. I have a feeling it has to do with really good timing and expensive lenses which effectively narrows the odds you’ll see an awesome moon from me anytime soon. That being said, there’s always cool reflections or glow during a full moon, and that, is a little more down my alley.

I took this last autumn when I was in Vancouver walking back to the hotel. One of these days I'll learn how to get a good moon picture. I have a feeling it has to do with really good timing and expensive lenses which effectively narrows the odds you'll see an awesome moon from me anytime soon. That being said, there's always cool reflections or glow during a full moon, and that, is a little more down my alley.

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Perico Bay

To get this shot I had to ride my mountain bike to the end of a Robinson Preserve trail, take a few shots and quickly depart before the park closed just a few minutes later. This trail is about a mile of mangroves, roots and dense growth so I was a little winded as I jumped of my bike to capture the sinking sun on the horizon. I snapped away, maybe twenty shots as I only had about sixty seconds of sun left. When I got back home and looked at the shots it was a little amusing because the frames were going up and down due to my heavy breathing. So I settled on this one, perhaps in mid-breath. In any case, Perico Bay is a little bay that feeds into the Gulf of Mexico and is a favorite of kayakers and anglers, and sometimes winded photographers.

To get this shot I had to ride my mountain bike to the end of a Robinson Preserve trail, take a few shots and quickly depart before the park closed just a few minutes later. This trail is about a mile of mangroves, roots and dense growth so I was a little winded as I jumped of my bike to capture the sinking sun on the horizon. I snapped away, maybe twenty shots as I only had about sixty seconds of sun left. When I got back home and looked at the shots it was a little amusing because the frames were going up and down due to my heavy breathing. So I settled on this one, perhaps in mid-breath. In any case, Perico Bay is a little bay that feeds into the Gulf of Mexico and is a favorite of kayakers and anglers, and sometimes winded photographers.

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Vermillion Lake

Vermillion Lake is just outside Banff in Alberta Canada, part of Banff National Park. It’s impossible to drive anywhere and not be impressed by the scenery and grandeur at every turn. I was here last summer and headed out to capture this around dusk on the last day. The summer days were much longer so this was probably around eight or nine at night. I remember being swarmed by mosquitoes as I setup for this frame and then made a dash back for the car. Now looking back and remembering this, I just want to go back. Perhaps I will this summer.

Vermillion Lake is just outside Banff in Alberta Canada, part of Banff National Park. It's impossible to drive anywhere and not be impressed by the scenery and grandeur at every turn. I was here last summer and headed out to capture this around dusk on the last day. The summer days were much longer so this was probably around eight or nine at night. I remember being swarmed by mosquitoes as I setup for this frame and then made a dash back for the car. Now looking back and remembering this, I just want to go back. Perhaps I will this summer.

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