Just do it – A Snowbird's Life Through the Lens

photography, learning, perseverance, storms, technology, weather, live and learn, sky, a second look, Just do it, brainstorms

Getting ahead of myself…

October 21, 2022October 20, 2022 naturecoastimagesblog

The other day I decided that it was about time I went out to do something, anything. But right about then my phone app informed me that it was raining, only it wasn’t. I looked out to see dark clouds overtaking the sky, but leaving sunlit white clouds in a still beautiful blue sky. So I grabbed the new phone, the one that has an amazing new camera that does work, even if I can’t use it as an actual phone at the moment. One of the abilities of the new iPhone 14 pro max is the ability to take a 48 MP photo, so I set it to do just that and rushed to the park and shot a few photos of that gorgeous sky.

I hoped the depth of that sky would come through.

I disturbed the ducks who were all sitting on the bank minding their own business.

I wondered how that sky would look in black and white. I hope I can take the black and white class the next time my club offers it.

There was a problem though. At 48 MP WordPress couldn’t process the images as they were, and my post never uploaded, or even saved in WordPress. I guess it gave up and sent it into trash. So these are the reduced size photos that made WordPress happy, and makes me wonder what the heck you do with a 48 MP photo. Print it probably, another example of a technology that I haven’t mastered as of yet. It wasn’t my intention to have to deal with a new phone, camera, and even lens, all at the same time, but that’s where I am at the moment.

And, by the way, I made it back into the house just as the skies opened.

'scene' along the way, attention to detail, attitude adjustments, bunnies, exploring new places, finding my way, friends, fun, Just do it, nature, perseverance, photography, Rise and shine, simple things

Afternoon delight…

October 17, 2022October 16, 2022 naturecoastimagesblog

Lettuce Lake Park made for an enjoyable afternoon stroll, even if there was no lettuce, and no lake, to be found. In the moment I missed the prop value of the ‘I survived Lettuce Lake Park’ sign. But there was a paved trail to ride, and the woods were beyond gorgeous. Shady and cool, but that’s not as big of an issue now that October is here. And there is a boardwalk to explore next time.

Taking a picture is usually my first thought, but I saw these people coming up behind us with four dogs that could only be Bernie-doodles, and I got excited. I asked the breed and they were ‘mini ‘Bernie-doodles. Mom, dad, and two puppies. So darn cute!

Usually I want some wildlife or action in my photos, but I honestly loved the woods here, and scenes like this kept catching my eye..

If I remember correctly this is a scrub oak.

Beauty berries were the only ‘color’ we saw, and no butterflies or birds paying any attention to them.

With those long legs she could have chosen to hop away pretty fast.

But she didn’t. I told a Dad and his boys to look for her up ahead, and they seemed happy to tell me that they’d seen her as they zoomed past us on their second lap around the path on their bikes.

We continued on the path, nearly back to where we started.

There is lots more to this park, and when we come here again I’d like to do it earlier in the day.My friend isn’t as ‘up and at ’em’ as I am in the morning. But the sunset is getting earlier, and soon these afternoon adventures can include the sunset. That also works for me. Along with this cooler weather.

a second look, dragonflies, ducks, Florida wildlife, Just do it, live and learn, nature, perseverance, photography

The thing about dragonflies…

October 16, 2022October 16, 2022 naturecoastimagesblog

Dragonflies don’t take direction well. They land on a piece of frond and then they stay still. Which you probably think is a good thing, and yes it lets you take a photo. Actually, if you are like me, you take 10 photos, and the only difference between them might be the light if the sun goes behind a cloud. They land with their back to you, and you beg them to turn around. There are more attractive fronds that you wish they would land on, but mostly they just chose a plain stick. Years ago I took a photo class and we were told we’d take pictures of dragonflies that day. I was skeptical. They always seem to be just flitting past you, how would we take a picture? But in that class we were told the secret to taking dragonfly pictures. Watch where they are landing, then set up your camera, preferably on a tripod, and focus on that spot, because they will come back. So I should probably just be thankful for that tidbit of information, and not get frustrated when the dragonfly doesn’t smile for the camera.

So this one landed on an interesting stick, and smiled, but his face is in shadow.

In the meantime the ducks were splashing and quacking. But not much else was going on.

I recently declared that Hurricane Ian had ushered in some fall-like weather. But today was hot and sunny, and I was out at probably the worst time of day for light in my photos. I guess I don’t take direction well either.

a second look, food, friends, fun, Just do it, nature, perseverance, photography, say goodnight, sunset, Uncategorized

Craving wings…

October 15, 2022 naturecoastimagesblog

I think I was the first one to mention that I’d been craving chicken wings, which led to a discussion of which local restaurants served the best wings. But my criteria for wings is where can I go and get photos also, and with that in mind Hooters was the obvious choice. Naked wings with a Parmesan rub, and one order of sunset please.

The clouds had been rolling in but I was still hopeful that we’d get a nice sunset.

The sky hadn’t blazed with color, but we saw color nonetheless.

In addition to offering up the chance for a pretty sunset to go with your wings, this Hooter’s location is only minutes from home. So it will stay at the top of my list for a place to grab a beer and some wings.

classic cars, family, friends, fun, Just do it, memories, perseverance, photography, Rise and shine

Cars by the river…

September 19, 2022September 19, 2022 naturecoastimagesblog

I’m not sure why I wanted to go to the car show yesterday. Maybe it was the location, along Tampa’s riverwalk, with the water taxi readily available. And all the good food we might choose to eat at Armature Works. There was a nice crowd, lots of families, but it was the older cars that interested me. There seemed to be a lot more interest in the ‘muscle cars’, and much reviving of engines too, but they all looked alike to me. And those motorcycles in the feature image weren’t cars, but they looked good sitting side by side.

I chatted with the British owner of this car. He was more interested in talking about how he found that model car at an antique shop and haggled the price down to $20. And, of course it was that display that caught my eye.

This isn’t what I imagine a Rolls should look like. And no hood ornament.

How do you go over a curb in these cars? So many of the cars, new and old, were low like this. I can’t imagine what the point is, or why you need a running board at all?

I didn’t quite nail the head-on view of this hood ornament did I?

Not so many hood ornaments to photograph at this show, but there was this.

And this license plate is a mystery to me.

My uncle wanted to give me his old caddy to drive into Boston to school every day. It was pink, and finned, a bit like this one. I would have had to find two parking spaces for it.

The same uncle borrowed my father’s car and it got stolen, so he loaned us his VW bus. I’ve loved them ever since. If they ever start selling the latest VW camper van in this country I might get in line to get one.

This was the star of the show for me, a ’56 Chevy Bel Air. I learned to drive on this car, no power steering, the thing was a tank. You could start from a stop in any gear, and it was three colors after a fender replacement straight out of the junk yard. I took my drivers test on it, after my mother duct taped the holes in the seats first. I couldn’t manage the three point turn, so I stopped, took a deep breath, and finished my five point turn. He gave me my license because I didn’t fall apart and cry, said the instructor.

The show was from 8 to 11 AM. By 11 most all the cars had left, which might explain why I didn’t notice this car until there was no one parked beside it.

We are well into September but the heat and humidity are still with us. A couple of hours of that will wear you down, but I’m glad we went.

'scene' along the way, a second look, birds, black and white, exploring new places, friends, fun, Just do it, making memories, moments, nature, perseverance, photography, road trip

Puffins redux…

August 18, 2022 naturecoastimagesblog

The gal from Audubon who rode along with us on our Puffin adventure acted like a bit of a cheerleader. She gave us a talk about their history in Maine as we were cruising to Egg Rock Island, and warned us that it was possible that we might not see them at all. No guarantees. She told us about their habits, how hard it is for them to become airborne, and that we might see them ‘running on the surface of the water’ until those flapping wings took over. So I blame her for the fact that 463 photos of the 1344 that I took on vacation were taken on that cruise. We first came across just a few, but they were close to the boat and in the sun. They might have been the only ones we saw, so I started shooting and pretty much didn’t stop.