Category: fun

birds, Florida, friends, fun, perseverance, photography, Rise and shine, road trip, sunrise

Changing times…

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I suspect that waking up early at John’s Pass Hotel, which is right on the boardwalk, is the closest I’ll ever come to walking out onto my balcony for a sunrise, or sunset for that matter, photo op. I used to wish for one or the other, but not being able to afford a view like that in the first place has me feeling like I dodged a bullet now that I hear of people’s property insurance bills of +/_$30,000 per year! The cost of living in Florida, which not so long ago was very affordable, is now on the rise and rising. I suspect that the same is true most everywhere else also, so I expect to be a Floridian for the rest of my days. Thankfully there is no lack of photo ops everywhere.

This great blue heron was already up when we walked out to the balcony to see the sunrise.
He tolerated our shifting positions as we looked for just the right angle.
This green heron was being blown in the wind.
I think the birds were active because the fishing boats were being readied for their day.
It wasn’t the spectacular sunrise I might have hoped for, but it was still pretty and I was happy to be there.
Then the sun came peeking through.
This egret posed nicely for us.
The end.
'scene' along the way, a second look, adventure, brainstorms, bucket list, dolphins, family, Florida landmarks, Florida wildlife, friends, fun, Just do it, making memories, nature, Nature's beautiful creatures, perseverance, photography, Rise and shine, road trip, technology, timing is everything, unintended images

Dolphin photobomb!

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The trip to John’s Pass was a spur of the moment decision, with little expectation except a chance to catch up with a friend, but with sunset and sunrise as possible photo ops at the same time. We sat on the balcony overlooking the boardwalk, on a beautiful breezy afternoon, drinking beer and enjoying apps at Bubba Gumps. Staying in the hotel right there on the boardwalk was an essential part of the plan, so that the drinking could be enjoyed with no long drive home, and the sunrise would be right outside the door in the morning also. The dolphin’s were a bonus. I hadn’t seen them at John’s Pass before, and I couldn’t resist focusing my camera on the water and waiting, all the while expecting a fin to pop up, but I got more than I expected.

This was more of a photobomb than anything else. I was only looking for a fin, and then this dolphin leaped into the air almost in the focal point of the viewfinder, but close enough for a decent picture.
I decided that even if the sunset wasn’t great I was going to be happy with the trip because this sort of a picture doesn’t happen nearly often enough.
Splashdown!

We were so busy watching for dolphins that we thought we’d dithered too long to catch the sunset, but I wouldn’t have minded that after seeing this dolphin.

a second look, attention to detail, attitude adjustments, backyard visitors, Florida wildlife, flowers, fun, gardens, go with the flow, let it go, nature, Nature's beautiful creatures, perseverance, photography

Where’s Waldo…

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Or Mrs. Waldo as it turns out. My firebush has grown. There are flowers down in the foliage as well as at the outer edges, and down in the foliage is where she spent the vast amount of her one minute or so that she visited with us yesterday. And she waited until the shadows were developing to visit at all. But she came, so I’m happy.

I didn’t think I had gotten her in the shots at all until I zoomed in on the photos in the computer. Thankfully she did emerge from the foliage now and then.
So many flowers to visit.
Busy, busy, busy!
I was a little disappointed that the Mr. wasn’t with her.

You know, there are wildly expensive lenses that might give me better pictures. Or maybe it’s me that could learn more of the technical stuff involved in photography. Or maybe I could just count my blessings and by happy with how I get to spend my time these days.

backyard visitors, birds, Florida wildlife, fun, gardens, in the neighborhood, nature, Nature's beautiful creatures, perseverance, photography

Figuring it out…

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I bought the little ceramic birdie feeder with the notion that it would make a great photo prop. And that has worked out well since I’ve gotten quite a few bird photos framed in the opening. For once a theory turned into a reality. But now I’m tired of the background of those photos being a white vinyl fence. I’m sure I could replace the background in Photoshop, but I can’t seem to convince myself that it would be worth knocking my head against the wall to figure it out.

Natural photo props have their own issues. I have several poses of this brown thrasher sitting up looking proud of him (or her) self. But in those photos the upper branch is then crossing the bird’s head, a no, no according to the guy editing photos on his computer right beside me. Again, I could take the branch out in Photoshop, which is easy and I do know how to do that, or I can just choose to edit a different picture.
I had totally forgotten about this little Carolina wren with the cross-crossed beak. He or she looks well and happy so I guess the fact that it might not win a birdie beauty contest is no big deal. Think how nice it would be if we all just were happy with whatever nature gave us.
As much as the doves annoy me when they park themselves in a feeder and pig out, they are pretty. Maybe a little blue eye shadow wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Drinks are on the house at this establishment.
And more hummingbird photos because I was able to get quite a few of them that day, but many repeat almost the exact same pose.
Somehow the flowers on the fire bush don’t appear to me to be all that exciting, but then I’m not a hummingbird.
Dinner!
a second look, attention to detail, attitude adjustments, birds, egrets, Florida wildlife, fun, nature, Nature's beautiful creatures, Natures little dramas, perseverance, photography, Tricolored heron

A beautiful day…

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It may not have been exactly the day you might have pictured when I describe it as a beautiful day. It’s a little early to be dreading the hot weather already this year, but that was my first thought when we decided to head to the rookery at about 3 PM yesterday. Scorching sun was on my mind, with my recent and seemingly unending visits to the dermatologist lately I slathered on sunscreen and donned a hat and off we went. Much to my surprise the sky was hazy enough that the sun wasn’t an issue. And another surprise came when I looked at my pictures. I wish you could see them as I see them in my computer because I think the foliage looks amazing. The birds are nice too of course, but that foliage looks so good. It wasn’t any talent on my part, or my nice but middle of the road camera and lens, it was the light. And you can’t buy that!

You see the ‘kids’ carrying on in the feature photo. This is the nest that we saw last time. Mom looks exasperated.
Then mom decided she’d had enough for a while. Can’t say that I blame her.
This Woodstork pranced around and flapped his wings and he finally got his lady love to notice him, and he bowed down before her.
And then his moment was spoiled by an interloper grabbing the attention.
This is my favorite picture of the day. Yes I love the snowy egret, but the foliage really got me. Have you ever heard the sound snowys make? If you haven’t you ought to google it. They may look elegant, but it took me a long time to decide that it really was the snowy making that silly noise.
I thought the tricolor heron had just taken a drink, but it seems he got a nibble too.
If a dragonfly chooses to pose then I’ll always choose to take his picture.
We only found one other nest with two younger great white egret chicks.
This nest was further into the foliage and even the photoshop tricks weren’t going to be able to let me get the branches out of the way without ruining the picture.
This little guy is trying to be not so little.
On the drive home we were lucky enough to be stopped for a traffic light with a family of sandhill cranes moseying along the side of the road.
Even if there was a place to pull over I wouldn’t stop for pictures of them on this road. I’d be afraid I’d disturb them and cause them to head into the street. But I wasn’t going to miss my chance to shoot out the car window.

When we were getting out of the car and I heard the decibel level of the birds out there I was sure we’d finally see the numbers of nests that we’ve seen in the past. And I think they are there this year too, but deeper in the foliage or on the other side of the ‘island’. I’ve heard that the later toward sunset the better the rookery gets, but we were ready to head for home, and dinner.

attention to detail, attitude adjustments, blessings, Florida landmarks, friends, fun, life goes on, making memories, perseverance, photography, strangers become friends, timing is everything, unintended consequences

Our last race track photo shoot…

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Yesterday was the last of the Tampa Bay Downs photo shoots of the season, which ends right after the Kentucky Derby. Except for one weekend in July it will start up again in the fall. It was going to be HOT, and I wasn’t too enthused about going at all until Bernie said that he’d like to shoot from the grandstand and that sounded like an excellent idea. Standing trackside doesn’t give me a good angle to shoot, but the grandstand makes for a better angle and has huge fans to keep you cool. Walking out onto the balcony is still shaded and is a good option too.

I had my eyes open for shots of the people that were there also, but I think this kid would have caught my eye even if I hadn’t thought about it ahead of time. My son always toted a toy with him wherever we went and I thought for a second that this kid had brought a toy horse with him. Maybe this dinosaur goes everywhere with him. Note the horse ‘tattoo’ on his arm.
I thought that the babies in this group might make cute photos, and then the trainer brought over #8 to say hello.
I had already noticed the gray horse as they led the horses out for this first race of the day. I kind of wanted the gray one to win, but if not him then maybe #8 who had stopped to see the kids.
I wasn’t at the perfect spot to get a shot of the photo finish which had the horse in the center nosing out the other two horses. #4 was third.
I thought I could cheat and tell you that the gray horse won after all, but those with sharp eyes would probably notice all the dirt in the air and catch me in a fib.
When they moved the gates into position for the next race I thought it would be interesting to get a few shots of them loading up the horses. Number 6 was having no parts of getting into the gate however. AI got rid of a huge, bright red tractor that was center stage in the shot.
I always have to try to get the horses as they come right at you out of the last turn and into the home stretch. #6 is on the left, and, sadly, he didn’t win the race either.
The third race was a turf race so we like to get a shot of them coming down the chute. When I looked at the pictures in the computer I saw that a sea gull appeared to be racing with them, but they were gaining on him.

Thank goodness pollen season is nearly over, or so said the ophthalmologist the other day. My eyes were itchy and dripping so we left after this race. Lately we have been the only ones from the photo group who have shown up for the once a month trip to the races. I went to one just after I joined the group in 2017, and I was surprised to meet another member who also had grown up in Brockton, MA. Life happened in the meantime, and we are now the 5th couple who have met by joining the group. Funny how life turns out sometimes.