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Five Trees

This is another shot from Bendemeer which is between Queenstown and Arrowtown in New Zealand. I only had a couple of hours here but the landscape was such that there were compositions at every turn, I'm still finding shots that I took on this day. Lord knows I must've taken hundreds in that short time. It felt like an Easter Egg hunt, running from place to place trying to capture as many prizes as possible. Is it any wonder there are so many artists (photographic or otherwise) from New Zealand? You can't help but be inspired by the natural beauty all around.

This is another shot from Bendemeer which is between Queenstown and Arrowtown in New Zealand. I only had a couple of hours here but the landscape was such that there were compositions at every turn, I’m still finding shots that I took on this day. Lord knows I must’ve taken hundreds in that short time. It felt like an Easter Egg hunt, running from place to place trying to capture as many prizes as possible. Is it any wonder there are so many artists (photographic or otherwise) from New Zealand? You can’t help but be inspired by the natural beauty all around.

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Peaceful Afternoon

This is a few feet from the kayak launch in a wildlife area known as Robinson Preserve. I'm enamored with the place, I love the open expanse right in the middle of a city where the waters are calm, the wildlife takes refuge, and the stillness is enough to restore sanity. It's been a few weeks so I'm overdue for a trip back, maybe even with a kayak. Things are crazy all over and it's easy to lose track of what's important(I'm the poster child for that). But if I come to places like this, I have a better chance of finding peace than just about any other way.

This is a few feet from the kayak launch in a wildlife area known as Robinson Preserve. I’m enamored with the place, I love the open expanse right in the middle of a city where the waters are calm, the wildlife takes refuge and the stillness is enough to restore sanity. It’s been a few weeks so I’m overdue for a trip back, maybe even with a kayak. Things are crazy all over and it’s easy to lose track of what’s important (I’m the poster child for that). But if I come to places like this I have a better chance than just about any other way of finding that place of peace.

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Bridge to Somewhere

I captured this at dusk near the Skyway bridge to St. Petersburg the other day. There's a little highway rest stop and as I pulled up a couple of truckers were sitting in their cabs just watching this scene unfold in front of them. As rest stops go this is fairly scenic and each time I come here get inspired in some new way. If this seems to you like a relaxing scene you'd be right. Which is why I need to file this away before I start my week, otherwise I might not get anything done.

I captured this at dusk near the Skyway bridge to St. Petersburg the other day. There’s a little highway rest stop and as I pulled up a couple of truckers were sitting in their cabs just watching this scene unfold in front of them. As rest stops go this is fairly scenic and each time I come here get inspired in some new way. If this seems to you like a relaxing scene you’d be right. Which is why I need to file this away before I start my week, otherwise I might not get anything done.

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After the Golden Hour

This is the Fiorelli Winery just after dusk. I came here to capture a few shots for a brochure but the landscape photographer in me wouldn't let me leave without something a little more, well, ..landscape-y. It seems I'm always looking for something epic like the grand canyon even when I'm stuck in the middle of Florida. I suppose that's good and bad, but enough about me. It's been a long day and as soon as I type this I'm going to pass out on my keyboard. But before I do, I wish you all have a wonderful weekend.

This is the Fiorelli Winery just after dusk. I came here to capture a few shots for a brochure but the landscape photographer in me wouldn’t let me leave without something a little more, well, ..landscape-y. It seems I’m always looking for something epic like the grand canyon even when I’m stuck in the middle of Florida. I suppose that’s good and bad, but enough about me. It’s been a long day and as soon as I type this I’m going to pass out on my keyboard. But before I do, I wish you all have a wonderful weekend.

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Lake Hayes

One afternoon a group of us photographers stopped by Lake Hayes which is between Arrowtown and Queenstown in New Zealand. Little did we realize we were a little late to the party as a couple of other photographers were there shooting engagement photos, in fact there were makeup artist, lighting assistants, ...it was a big deal. So we all just kind of scattered in different directions so that this section of Lake Hayes was well photographed that afternoon. It might have had something to do with the calm water, I think it's usually not so still. So this is my take on it, but I'm sure that if you could look it up somehow, you'd see a lot more like this on that same day. We were all very busy.

One afternoon a group of us photographers stopped by Lake Hayes which is between Arrowtown and Queenstown in New Zealand. Little did we realize we were a little late to the party as a couple of other photographers were there shooting engagement photos, in fact there were makeup artist, lighting assistants, …it was a big deal. So we all just kind of scattered in different directions so that this section of Lake Hayes was well photographed that afternoon. It might have had something to do with the calm water, I think it’s usually not so still. So this is my take on it, but I’m sure that if you could look it up somehow, you’d see a lot more like this on that same day. We were all very busy.

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Road to Glenorchy

Early one morning on the way to Glenorchy in New Zealand we stopped at a vista to watch the sunrise. As you can see the road has a lot of curves and I managed to capture this commuter on his or her way to work in Queenstown. As a rule I don't like to commute to work, but I think if I lived here I wouldn't mind so much. Kind of like when I get stuck on a drawbridge in Florida, just sit there and watch the dolphins swim by. No dolphins in New Zealand, just beautiful landscape and the occasional black swan. That'll do just fine.

Early one morning on the way to Glenorchy in New Zealand we stopped at a vista to watch the sunrise. As you can see the road has a lot of curves and I managed to capture this commuter on his or her way to work in Queenstown. As a rule I don’t like to commute to work, but I think if I lived here I wouldn’t mind so much. Kind of like when I get stuck on a drawbridge in Florida, just sit there and watch the dolphins swim by. No dolphins in New Zealand, just beautiful landscape and the occasional black swan. That’ll do just fine.

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Summer Thunder Cloud

This is what a typical afternoon looks like near my home in Florida. These cells contain a lot of energy which lifts the moisture vertically resembling a mushroom cloud. Non-stop lightning is generated such that it will take your breath away if you've never seen it before. The first time I saw it I thought the aliens had invaded as I looked around at the locals who took no notice. As soon as it gets dark the skies light up in every direction as spectacular as fireworks. I just got back from walking my dogs around the block and directly above are stars, yet all around me were these clouds flashing in all directions. Now, I'm a local and I hardly notice.

This is what a typical afternoon looks like near my home in Florida. These cells contain a lot of energy which lifts the moisture vertically resembling a mushroom cloud. Non-stop lightning is generated such that it will take your breath away if you’ve never seen it before. The first time I saw it I thought the aliens had invaded as I looked around at the locals who took no notice. As soon as it gets dark the skies light up in every direction as spectacular as fireworks. I just got back from walking my dogs around the block and directly above are stars, yet all around me were these clouds flashing in all directions. Now, I’m a local and I hardly notice.

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Skippers Canyon Road

This road is on the backside of a mountain near Arrowtown in New Zealand. Apparently this is one of the most dangerous roads in New Zealand, at least according to the warning sign at the entrance. Adventure companies bring clients by jeep down this road for all types of activities including bungee jumping, white water rafting and extreme mountain biking. I couldn't get over how vertical everything seemed. The mountains around us were thousands of feet up and the ravines a thousand or more feet below. Lets just say I was glad to be walking and not on some adventure bus barreling down this road.

This road is on the backside of a mountain near Arrowtown in New Zealand. Apparently this is one of the most dangerous roads in New Zealand, at least according to the warning sign at the entrance. Adventure companies bring clients by jeep down this road for all types of activities including bungee jumping, white water rafting and extreme mountain biking. I couldn’t get over how vertical everything seemed. The mountains around us were thousands of feet up and the ravines a thousand or more feet below. Lets just say I was glad to be walking and not on some adventure bus barreling down this road.

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Jensen Beach Snack Bar

Its just after sunrise so I had this place to myself. Jensen Beach is on Florida's east coast and like the west coast where I live the wave are gentle. I expected them to be a little larger, not sure if that was just due to calm weather or what. I don't think there are any places in Florida where we get the waves like California or Hawaii. Even so there are a lot of surfboard shops. Maybe those surfboards are for novices like me. In any case this cool little beach town has a little bit of history and a whole lot of open beach for doing whatever, like maybe gentle surfing.

Its just after sunrise so I had this place to myself. Jensen Beach is on Florida’s east coast and like the west coast where I live the wave are gentle. I expected them to be a little larger, not sure if that was just due to calm weather or what. I don’t think there are any places in Florida where we get the waves like California or Hawaii. Even so there are a lot of surfboard shops. Maybe those surfboards are for novices like me. In any case this cool little beach town has a little bit of history and a whole lot of open beach for doing whatever, like maybe gentle surfing.

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Snow Capped Remarkables

The second day after I arrived in New Zealand it rained in Queenstown. It lasted for about a day and the clouds were thick so visibility was poor. Once the rain stopped and the clouds moved out we were left with a spectacular view of the Remarkables which bordered us on one side. They get their name from the fact that they extend directly north and south which is rather unusual. To get this shot, I stood on a bridge above some rapids on the river and every now and then a speed boat would zoom by over the rapids to the delight of the paying passengers. Looked like a lot of fun.

The second day after I arrived in New Zealand it rained in Queenstown. It lasted for about a day and the clouds were thick so visibility was poor. Once the rain stopped and the clouds moved out we were left with a spectacular view of the Remarkables which bordered us on one side. They get their name from the fact that they extend directly north and south which is rather unusual. To get this shot, I stood on a bridge above some rapids on the river and every now and then a speed boat would zoom by over the rapids to the delight of the paying passengers. Looked like a lot of fun.

Click on photo to obtain prints