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.
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.
Heron on a Palm
Herons like to find a perch up high to preen and watch. I know because we have one that sits on an oak branch out back. He typically shows up in the afternoon to scratch and decide what to do next. This one however I found at Emerson Point which is a local preserve. We are fortunate to have these birds in such close proximity. Years ago when I lived in Canada, Heron sightings were rare and a “big deal”. It’s still great when I see them down here in Florida, just not so rare.
Sunset Thunder
This evening I waited way too long to capture this. It’s not a good idea to stay outside when the clouds look like this. As I waited for the sun to appear in the break above the horizon, a thunderstorm approached from the east. Most everyone else scattered but I wanted to capture the combination of colors before me. Nonetheless, I lived to tell about it and I have the image that I made a bad decision for. Not sure if that’s good or bad.
Coquina Beach Stragglers
It always amazes me to see people leaving when I show up at the beach before sunset. To my way of thinking the best is yet to come, yet to scores of others it’s time to load up the car and leave. I guess that’s understandable especially if you have small kids or commitments. After the exodus there are two types of people left, folks like me who came for the sunset and, the rest of the beach stragglers that will not leave until they’ve seen the final act. In the end I suppose all that matters is that we all had fun and got what we came for.
Board Park at Sunrise
Bradenton Riverwalk board park at sunrise. Sunrise is the only time I’ve seen this place deserted. This park attracts crowds from all over and quite frankly I’ve never stepped foot on it. But since there was no one here I took the opportunity to take a few photos. Sure enough, before I was done the first boarder showed up; and then another and another.
Pier Before Dawn
The Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach Florida. The bridge is adjacent to the pier and so at this early hour a few early commuters are crossing the bridge on the way to work. I took this about a month back just as the pier re-opened from an extensive renovation. A great place to hang out if you’re ever in the area. And if you do come in the morning there is a restaurant here that opens early so you can sit with your cup of coffee and enjoy the scenery.
After the Rain
The best time to get out and take photos of nature is right after it rains. There are pools and ponds to create reflections and of course everything feels refreshed. I’ve posted other shots from this exact spot but lucky for me the clouds are always different. Clyde Butcher, perhaps Florida’s most well known photographer, said that the clouds are our mountains. It’s true, the clouds here are spectacular and ever changing throughout the seasons. The main thing is to get outside after the rain and you will not be disappointed.
Into the Light
I believe we are so much more than we think. That we are intrinsically light and that while here in this life we have an affinity with things that remind us of that. We stare at the fire, watch the sun go down and marvel at the colors of the clouds. It’s more than just that, I believe that the light is love and so we are drawn to reminders of love also. I see love in eyes. Eyes of people, but undeniably eyes of animals. My best friend passed today, my four legged sidekick named Marley. He gave me and so many more unconditional love. And today he returns into the light.
Pier Before the Fall
This is one in a series of broken down piers in Bradenton Beach. Actually, there are big barriers in front to keep people off, but I’m sure that doesn’t apply to fishermen or photographers, right? In any case, this is one of the last shots you’ll see because they are deconstructing and removing them all. I think that’s kind of sad because I feel they add character, but that’s just me. I’m sure the beach will look even more pristine once they’re gone. In general, I’m all for piers, they give us all a chance to go out over the water with very little effort. And of course I like taking pictures of them at sunset. I guess I’ll just have to focus on something else.