Category: Just do it

nature, photography, sunrise, dogs, fun, adventure, perseverance, weather, sky, finding my way, go with the flow, a second look, 'scene' along the way, Just do it, making memories

The day after…

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I got to Green Key Beach early, before much color was in the sky. But it was low tide, I knew that because I checked the Tides App when I was trying to decide where to go on this morning after Thanksgiving. I knew that I would be able to walk out onto the sand to view the sunrise, and also across the road the sky would be pretty and the wading birds would be loving low tide. So I had done my homework, I was in the right place at the right time, but when I went to get my camera out of the car it wasn’t there. That wasn’t totally heartbreaking since I had my phone, but I wasn’t happy with myself. But there was a kayaker setting out for a paddle so I started taking pictures.

And the color starting rising with the sun.

And across the street the sky was becoming amazing. Birds were calling, but without the camera with it’s zoom lens I wasn’t able to capture them.

I was the first person there, but boaters and fishermen were arriving. And a paddle boarder, with his dog Layla, who obeyed his command to stay while he got the rest of his equipment.

Just as the paddle boarder paddled away my boater friend returned to his boat with his bucket which he had forgotten, and I knew that I had to wait for him to pull away before I could leave. I knew that that was going to be my favorite shot of the day. And it was.

And on the way home I remembered that when I loaded the car with things to bring to my son’s house the day before I had put everything in the back compartment of the car. So I had my camera with me the whole time…

'scene' along the way, family, friends, fun, Just do it, kids, life goes on, perseverance, photography

Happy Thanksgiving…

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This year I’m especially thankful for family and friends to help us all survive this most unusual year. I’m also grateful to be on my way to solving the computer issues that have laid me low the last couple of weeks. I’m on a better, and definitely BIGGER, computer, but believe it or not I’m still needing more computer power to be fully up and running. That would be a crisis if not for the fact that this computer can be upgraded, 32 GB of memory are on the way as I type. Supposedly I can install it myself, but that remains to be seen. I have to thank my photography friends for the advice and technical help that’s gotten me this far.

After a weekend of taking pictures the ones that appealed to me today were the ones with people in them. People out enjoying the beautiful weather, people being together. It wasn’t too crowded, just enough to remind me what ‘normal’ feels like. And that was a good thing. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

'scene' along the way, a second look, adventure, Camping, finding my way, fun, Just do it, learning, life goes on, making memories, nature, perseverance, photography, road trip, travel

Georgia through the phone…

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Looking at iPhone photos and came across a couple that I had missed. Black Rock Mountain State Park did offer the most wide-open views of any of the parks we visited. I believe that the write up we saw said that there were 80 mile views, so we knew that the drive to get there would be worth it. There are a few state parks that on the map appeared to be clustered ‘near’ each other, and to drive between them you rode a scenic byway so you could hardly go wrong. Each park was quite small, or maybe it was that I had just been to a couple of huge national parks, but there were overlooks that you could hike to, and even a suspension bridge that we didn’t get to, so another trip one day would be fun. And this area is only 90 minutes or so from Smokey Mountain National Park, which I’m even more excited to visit now that I’ve seen the views from here. So many places left to see…

'scene' along the way, a second look, fun, Hudson Beach, Just do it, making memories, moments, natural wonders, nature, perseverance, photography, simple things, sky, sunset, weather

After the storm…

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I had heard that the sunset can be especially nice after a storm has rolled through, which is what happened yesterday. It was nearly 6:30 when I glanced up and noticed that the clouds had broken up, which left a half hour until sunset. I hadn’t been to Hudson Beach for a while, and at 3 miles from my house I can be there in 10 minutes, I should probably go there more often. The sky was already streaked with reds, but the houses across the inlet looked so perfect in the light that the feature photo is the first picture I took when I got there. That lovely light doesn’t last long. It was a beautiful night.

'scene' along the way, ducks, Just do it, moments, nature, perseverance, photography, sky, sunrise, Up and at 'em

That morning light…

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All the dark clouds were discouraging, but my destination was the little pond a few minutes from my house so I didn’t let that stop me. And pulling over into the tall weeds at the side of the road gave me pause also. I had a tick on me after being there one morning, but I had chalked that up to a hike the day before, and the houses with their lights on looked pretty, so I got out and took a photo (or five). You wouldn’t know it by the feature photo, but it was dark as I took that first picture, and I heard rustling, but since I figured that ticks don’t make noises while stalking you I wasn’t too worried. And I was surprised when I saw the picture. After that those ducks seemed to follow me as I repositioned myself three different times while I tried to figure out just exactly where the sun was going to come up. I had to park on the opposite side of the pond as it turned out, and the homeowners on that side had apparently mowed the grass at the edge of the pond. A nice surprise. And a pretty sunrise.

'scene' along the way, a second look, adventure, Florida wildlife, following the rules, Just do it, nature, perseverance, photography, Rise and shine, sunrise

Aripeka redux…

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On my way home from Cedar Lakes Woods the other day I happened to notice the turn off for Aripeka. I hadn’t thought of going there for the sunrise since I got back from the Tetons. It wasn’t the 6 months away that I first imagined when I began to think of myself as a snowbird, but you’d think I was away that long for how thoroughly my mind has remained somewhere in limbo since I got back. But when I checked the weather yesterday morning and rain was a possibility for all afternoon into Sunday off I went for the sunrise. The feature photo was my first stop, the first bridge that I arrive at when I approach Aripeka from the south. It was still dark so the three exposures for HDR seemed to take forever to finish, but that first shot is the feature photo. You should have heard the splash under the bridge as I stood there on top, waiting for the last exposure. It must have been a big fish, but at least I don’t still imagine an alligator that might, in my mind at least, creep up on me on the bridge and gnaw off my foot.

I then moved just up the road to the next bridge, where I can never resist taking an HDR photo of the little bait shop. Plus the possibility of seeing One-Foot Fred dawned on me also.

I moved back and forth across the bridge, loving the pretty sunrise and the reflections on the west wide of the road. I must have been lost in thought because the voice surprised me when I heard someone say that I could get a shot of One-Foot Fred. It was Ray, the guy I’ve talked with before, who said that Fred had followed him over to the bridge. I was happy to see Fred again, and it’s nice to have someone to chat with as well. Ray told me of a new spot to go for sunset pictures, and said the if anyone gives me a hard time for parking there I could say that I have permission, from Ray. LOL. I will check it out one day soon.

Ray said that Fredhad followed him to the bridge, and he would follow him home also, so I stopped by my car and shot long distance photos as he walked away. Use your imagination because, just as predicted, Fred is following him, he’s that gray blur just to the left of the telephone pole. Must have been time for breakfast…