Skyway All Lit Up

Crews recently finished working on the bridge. Only afterward did I realize what they were up to. I photographed this from the adjacent south fishing pier. I was here early on a Sunday morning hanging out with some fishermen while I took a bunch of photos. The colors are always changing, so I'll probably post another one with a different color. I used Skylum's Luminar 4 to process this. As part of that, I used the new AI sky replacement tool to add stars. Typically there's too much light pollution to see the sky in all it's glory. But in the days of AI, that's no longer a problem, at least concerning post-processing.

Fleeting Moments

Lately, we have been getting a lot of rain. When that happens, it usually means you can count one thing, a sky full of colors in the evening. When I took this image, I didn't realize children were in the picture until later. I was too busy making sure I didn't drop the camera in the water. In any case, it was a lucky happenstance caused by the wide-angle of the lens. All good things are fleeting and come to an end. But taking photos is a passion for me, partly because it saves a moment to re-experience later. Pictures like this are memory pills that cause neurons to fire, bringing back moments, and sometimes surprises.

Sunday Reflections

Most Sundays, I take a drive along country roads. Sometimes the most significant thing to see is the river, clouds, and reflections. With all the urban growth, I started driving further out. The funny thing is that if I drive far enough, I'll end up approaching the outskirts of another metropolis. Open spaces are dwindling. I'd like to think other places are still wide open. Like maybe some of the western states, or the prairies. But in reality, every little inch of space from coast to coast is owned. Or at least we like to think so. But I am reminded that the land is much older than our relatively new claims upon it.

Shady Oak

If I lived in a pasture, I'd spend most of the summer sitting under the shade of an oak, and that's no bull. I took this on a drive through the country here in Florida. Contrary to popular belief, most of the state is agriculture. All you have to do is drive from one coast to the other to see what I mean. The drive takes about two hours and passes through a lot of cattle country. It's no wonder rodeos are big here. I'm an indoor weeny, depending on air conditioning to make it through the summer. If you lose your air-conditioning here, you may as well live on Mars or, under a tree.

Hidden Gem

Mulholland road in Parrish, oddly enough, dead-ends at a bridge. Because of that, it feels remote, even though it's in the middle of a housing boom. Living in suburbia as I do, the trick to doing local landscape photography is finding gems tucked away in plain sight. Even though I think I've found most, I'm pretty sure there are more. They are, by their very nature, not easy to find. I took this photo about five years ago, and today, as I drove by, the road is under construction. That means it's probably going to get more traffic and, extend past the bridge; meaning no longer hidden. But I'll keep searching for more spots like this in the suburban jungle.

Bodacious Sky

I took this from the Green Bridge in Bradenton on a particularly bodacious evening. Does anyone use that word anymore? Bodacious is a west coast word, but I'm from there, so I get a pass. For some reason, a lot of new words come from California. When I was ten, I made up the word "bad" to mean awesome. I actually thought I invented that. Imagine my surprise when I heard it on TV. Surely I picked it up subconsciously somewhere. My vocabulary is not particularly great, enough to get by. But I do get impressed by words all the time. I love the dictionary feature in Kindle. Depending on the author, I might just spend a lot of time in there. It's not as easy as making up my own words, though.

Venice on the Brain

I almost didn't go down to Venice Beach because I knew if I did, I'd end up retaking pictures of the pier. But I went anyway, and I did it anyway. I have this internal dialog in my brain. One side plans, decides, and weighs; the other does the opposite. In the end, all the noise is just that, noise. So this is the pier in Venice, it's a shot I've done before, but each time is a little different. This time I included only the sun's edge, so its presence is felt without becoming the scene's focus. At least that's how my left brain explains what the right brain did without asking permission.

Old Church

I took a picture of this church along one of the lesser-known highways in Florida. I just thought it looked kind of old-school. When driving in the country, I look for things that stand out; this fit the bill. It was, in fact, a Sunday but late enough that it was empty. It doesn't look to me like it has airconditioning so, on a summer day in Florida, it's probably as hot as purgatory inside, give or take a few degrees. Not long after this stop, I started entering the suburbs of Orlando, and from that point on, everything is new-school. The only things that look old are facades made to look that way. So, getting out of the city to see throw-backs is pretty cool, even if it is hotter than the devil's den.

Emerson Point Clouds

To get here, you walk through a jungle trail, and it's easy to get a bit disoriented. That is until you pop out from the brush at sunset. The image I took here is similar to one I did from the same spot a half dozen years ago. The clouds and weather ensure each image will be different, and I never tire of it. Due to the full range of light and the difficulty of shooting into the sun, this is a combination of at least five photos. I combined the images with AuroraHDR and then parts of it re-layered in Photoshop. In some respects, this is a painting, in that the light was blended to create a picture. That creative process I find satisfying, even if it is the same scene on a different day.

Simple Seascape

This image is from Ken Thompson Park in Sarasota on a hot summer afternoon. So hot, in fact, that three minutes later I was back in the car. There are a couple of reasons I like this photo; one is the minimal aesthetic, and the other is that its same spot I took an abstract picture with an iPhone. The abstract I took during a sunset that was like nothing I’d ever seen. I didn’t have a camera, so I used an iPhone. Not that it matters. The two have nothing in common, yet I stood at the same spot for each. It just goes to show what imagination, setting, and post-processing can get you.

When I See It

If you head down this road for three minutes, you'll end up at the gulf. If you go the other direction for about two hours, you'll end up at the Atlantic. Only in, Florida. I was leaving the gulf and stopped for a different shot when I happened to look back; that's how I came to take this photo. Most of the pictures I take originate from this rather haphazard approach. That's not to say I don't occasionally plan; it's just that planning and this type of photography are only loosely connected. Having a plan gets me out of the house, and that's where the connection ends. Once out of the house, the struggle is figuring out what photos to take; to solve that I try to stay open and aware of what's around me. Over the years, I've developed an aesthetic which largely stems from my personality. So, when I go out to take photos, even though I may not know what I'm looking for, I will generally know it when I see it.

Brain Games

Here is one of the trails at Emerson Point that I recently explored. If it weren't for that they are well-marked, I'd still be in there somewhere. When you look at this photo, something might seem a little off. The path appears level yet distorted. Can you guess what it is? Spoiler, ...the boardwalk ascends a hill, it's not level. Once you know this, the sense of distortion disappears. Our brain is the most complicated thing known to science. But neuroscientist can do all sorts of little test like this to point out the contours of aspects we are only beginning to understand. Check out this short demonstration of the blind spot which we have that the brain fills in. Most of us never even know we have one. I certainly didn't until a few days ago. https://youtu.be/aB_oEknhlW8

Yellow Stand

These last few days it's been unbearably hot. The last thing I'd want to do is be sitting here all day; unless of course I had nonstop margaritas. The image is a redo of a photo I processed six-years ago. Because the tools and my techniques change so much, I like to redevelop images to contrast and compare to my former self. There's no right and wrong, just different ways to see the same thing. As we head into the middle of summer, I am looking forward to some downtime under a tiki hut sipping a frosty little drink with an umbrella. Umbrellas in glasses are a crucial element for survival in harsh environments. This is an important fact you may wish to remember. You're welcome.

River Reflections

The reflections along the Hillsborough River are entirely peaceful. That is until you realize alligators lurk just below the surface. But if I was an alligator, this seems like the perfect place to live. I'm living in a state park, I don't get harassed, there are plenty of turtles to munch, and I don't have to get stuck in someone's pool and have my jaws taped shut. In reality, alligators have it hard. Only a small percentage make it to maturity. The most energetic, most intelligent among them live out their full lives. And the luckiest of those are living here in these beautiful parks.

Longboat Key Public Pier

Docks are kind of a big thing here; everybody seems to have one. Dock Life is the new Salt Life; only you don't get wet. Not that I know the first thing about docks or salt. I'm one of three people that doesn't have one. Most of the docks in Florida are private, and they have No Trespassing signs posted. That's a shame, but I suppose it makes sense. Anyway, some of the best are public, like this one in Longboat Key. It's next to a couple of restaurants so you can dock the boat and have dinner. Near my home is a commercial marina with a couple of hundred yachts. It's also next to a restaurant, appropriately named Dockside Grill.

Hollow Cypress

The hollowed out Cypress tree is along a path I was exploring recently. I'm pretty sure this is a nightly meeting place for gnomes. The fun thing about a path through the woods is you see different things in each direction. I walked about a mile-and-a-half in one direction but missed this completely, then found it on the way back. The little stubs grow up from the roots and are known as Cypress Knees. It's thought their purpose is to provide stability to the swamp floor or, extra oxygen to the Cypress during times of flood. These are the best guesses of the scientists, but no one knows for sure. However, if you look closely, you can see they are actually sleeping gnomes. And I didn't need science to figure that one out.

Lower Path

There are two paths along the river; one higher up and one lower down at the bank. The alligators prefer the lower one. The problem with the higher path is there is too much growth to get a clear shot of the river. So every fifty yards or so I'd make my way down here to set up for a photo. It's amazing how the sense of hearing becomes heightened at such times. I've been in Florida for a while, so I've become familiar with some of the animal sounds. I also carefully scan the water and banks all around to ensure I'm not disturbing them. Alligators don't want anything to do with us, and if you're mindful and steer clear, there will never be a problem. With this knowledge and care, I spent much of my time on the lower path.

Rainbow Chair

Where there are rainbows, there must be rain. In Florida at this time of year, you can count on it every day. Look close, and you'll see the Sunshine Skyway Bridge under the rainbow. I used a wide angle lens, so the bridge seems far away. I took this about five years ago at Fort DeSoto Park. Looking at it now I wish I'd used a smaller aperture so the foreground would be sharper, but I like the photo anyway. Sometimes I try not to sweat the little stuff if I like the image. Technically the picture is a bit subpar, but I like the shot anyway, and in my mind, that's what counts.

Bradenton Causeway

The Bradenton causeway has advantages over the beach. You can park at the water's edge, and there aren't nearly as many rules. At this spot, you can generally see horses in the water. But I was here on a Monday, and they weren't. The causeway isn't fancy, but if you want to spend time at the water without the parking hassles, this is it. Many people prefer the beach with its powdery white sand. However, a lot of the locals come here. Just drive up, pull out a lawn chair and Bob's your uncle.

Lone Oak

Whenever I drive these roads, I have my eyes peeled for lone oaks. They add a natural aesthetic to the interior landscape of Florida. Much of the state is agricultural and along the highways are pastures with these massive trees. They provide shade for livestock and, lucky for me, are not shy about posing for photos. There is a theory in science that consciousness is present in all things. It's tricky to know what to make of that given our limited understanding of the subject. Nevertheless, it's hard not to feel the presence of something when standing near these great living creatures. It makes me wonder what we'll eventually learn through science and if, it will validate that sixth sense we sometimes have about certain things.

Venice Visit

Here is a picture from the other day at the pier in Venice, Florida. Isn't it interesting how so many places are named after a city in Italy? I suppose it's no surprise; it just makes me wonder what we'll name places on Mars should we ever begin to colonize there. If there are no bodies of water, Venice may not be high on the list. You never know. These are the kinds of silly things I think about when I have nothing better to do.

Less Obvious

The other day I visited the pier at the beach in Venice, Florida. It's an excellent place to hang out at the end of the day. I took this picture from the patio of Sharky's, one of the best beach restaurants in the region. When guests come to town, this is where we go. From the terrace, you walk onto the pier to fish or look for dolphins. It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it. What caught my eye was the sunlight through the grass. At the time, I thought to focus on the less obvious subject. It's the concept behind my website name. Sometimes, I focus on highlighting the underappreciated gems right in front of the more obvious choice. While I don't always succeed, that's the idea behind "Just Enough Focus" dot com.

Wave Motion

The best things about the water are the feeling of weightlessness and, the motion of the waves. Makes me wonder what it's like to be a dolphin. Speaking of which we see them all the time along the beach. Generally, dolphins swim by in pods or family groups. Many have returned since the end of the last red tide. I take a lot of these shots and just can't seem to get enough of them. It reminds me of times I visited Hawaii and would float for long stretches in the water, rocking with the waves. Now that I live in Florida, it's ironic that I can go whenever I want but seldom do.