This was taken around rush hour on a Friday evening. Only I have no idea what the traffic was like because I was here. This was about the most stress free place I can think of. It’s a remote pier in a remote park that looks out on to the Gulf of Mexico. Even the seabirds were relaxed as they waited for morsels from the fishermen. This is one of those spots I like to come to from time to time because no matter what, I’m always going home more relaxed than I came.
Bowmans Beach
I found Bowman’s beach by accident and even though we were driving home we stopped and stayed for about an hour to relax along the shore. It was Sunday and no one was in a hurry to go anywhere. Our timing was good because about an hour after I took this thunderstorms moved in and everything turned dark and grey. That’s fairly typical and after about twenty minutes or so it blows away and everything returns to normal.
Sanibel Beach Day
When I took this I was sitting on a towel right next to the gentle waters of the Gulf of Mexico on Sanibel Island. It’s hard to convey the feeling; maybe it’s the sand, the warm water, the breeze; maybe all these combined. Sometimes the waves are so small you might think you were on a lake. The bigger waves along the Atlantic coast of Florida are fun to swim in also, but nothing compares to the calm waters of Florida’s west coast.
City Time
A million other versions of this exact same shot have been made. So when here recently I was glad to try my own. This futuristic setting is from Brooklyn near the ferry terminal, these are ancient pilings from some long forgotten pier or dock. A six second exposure makes the water look smooth as though maybe time has slowed down. A parallel universe in a city that never sleeps.
Path to the Beach
Being one of the more popular destinations in the area, Holmes Beach has a big parking lot. But if you walk a little ways north or south you can find all of these hidden paths from quiet residential areas which provide less used access. Unlike the beaches of Miami and Ft Lauderdale, the beaches of Anna Maria Island are laid back. And even more so when you can find your own little path leading to a stretch of beach to call your own.
Bradenton Beach Afternoon
This is from a series of photos I shot with my old camera recently. The camera I normally use was in the shop and to my surprise I really liked the handling of my old reliable friend. I always tell people that it’s not the camera that matters but the person behind it and even a cell phone camera can take great pictures. Even so I was surprised at how much fun I had with my old camera. I guess I my likes and preferences changed in the last year and when applied to the old equipment seemed to yield different results. Or, …this is all just in my mind and much ado about nothing. Whatever. 😉
Half Moon Bay
Sunset over Half Moon Bay in California. Somehow this photo got buried in my backlog and I just recently found it again. It’s a little surprise and reminder of a day about a year ago.
Tugboat Sunset
A tug in the Gulf of Mexico just off the beach in central Florida as the sun sinks. When I looked closely I noticed the tug was from Texas. That’s probably about five hundred miles north west of here. Then I noticed that it had a satellite dish and several decks. It occurs to me the occupants can live on this for quite some time. It was probably here on a job as I was standing next to a large barge on the beach which is being used to dismantle an old pier. Anyway, all that aside I positioned myself to catch the tug close to the sun as it went down. The end of another day of work for the crew as they watch satellite TV and eat dinner in the galley.
Sanibel Thunderstorm
A thunderstorm the other day along the Sanibel Causeway. It’s all the more spectacular when the last rays of the sun can peak out during a thunderstorm. By the time I finished taking this the heavens had opened and I ran for the safety of my car. After it passed the skies once again cleared up as though it never even happened. Typical Florida afternoon.
Letting Time Pass
Another day comes to an end on Anna Maria Island. Sometimes it’s nice to just sit down on the sand and stare out into the water and let time go by. Nothing wrong with passing a little time on the beach.