April … A is for Adjusting

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Laughing gulls at sunset, Anna Maria, Fl

In these uncertain times, one thing for certain is that our wildlife is adjusting to the absence of human intrusion into their worlds.  There are images of animals exploring empty streets and waterways, like in Venice where their canals are so clear right now, one can see sea life in the usually busy and turbulent waterways.  There are images of deer herds wandering around empty town streets, cougars wandering the streets in Santiago, Chile, and dolphins swimming and jumping near the banks of Istanbul due to the lull of boat traffic and fishermen.  Even on the beaches of Anna Maria, the birds have most of the beaches to themselves with little intrusion by the normal crowds.

It is a nice reminder that we are Mother Nature’s guests on this planet and all the beauty that is right outside our door …. is a gift.  And it is free.

 

April … Shutter Speed 1/2000

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Harry, overlooking Camden Harbor, Maine.

Typically every June, we head up to Maine for the summer.  But this year is not a typical year.  Covid-19 has turned everybody’s world topsy-turvy … so for now, we only plan day to day and take nothing for granted, especially our health.  And we are thankful for the thousands of folks who risk their lives daily to care for those who have succumbed to the virus.  #shelteringinplace #flattenthecurve

iPhone 6 Plus, edited in Lightroom, July 2015.

April … It Floats!

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Key West, November 2017.

Day 23.  We continue to shelter-in-place.  Still not highly motivated to get out and do some photo shoots, I rummaged through old photos for the theme of “It Floats”.  I’ve always loved this photo as the sun appears to be floating amongst the clouds.  I think it is impossible to take a bad sunset photo in Key West!  Continue to shelter, my friends, and stay safe.

April … Something Purple

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Little Blue Heron, Anna Maria, Fl

Well, here we are into April and still hunkered down on Anna Maria due to the pandemic.  We received some very much needed rain yesterday and this Little Blue Heron took shelter on our dock.  I don’t see these guys very frequently let alone have a photo of them, so I was delighted to have captured this one.  Stay safe and well, my friends.  Until next time.

March … Something Mauve

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Sunset, Anna Maria, FL

One would think that with all this ‘shelter-in-place’ time due to the corona virus, I would be out and about capturing images.  But the truth is, I haven’t really felt in the mood to venture out with the big camera.  I’ve been quite happy with late morning coffees with hubby, dogs walks, biking, hanging out around the pool and watching our resident crow couple build a nest in our neighboring pine tree.  A couple of Great Blue Herons had been building a nest in the same tree when we arrived here two weeks ago, but they decided to abandon their efforts due to our dogs objecting to their flight path.  Naughty dogs!!!

The above iPhone image was captured this past Thanksgiving as we spent a week with family on the island.  I had no idea that we would be spending March and probably April sheltering on Anna Maria.  During those months, we avoid the area all together due to the traffic and spring breaker families.  Now, it is quiet and peaceful.  And for now …  safe.

M is for …. Madness!

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Anna Maria, Florida, North End … March 22.

In all this crazy COVID-19 ‘madness’, I thought a peaceful beach scene would be refreshing instead of images of empty grocery shelves.  We are sheltering-in-place on Anna Maria in our vacation rental home after finishing up four months of its renovation.  There are punch list items yet to complete along with new landscaping, which is keeping us quite busy.  The beaches are closed except for residents and rental guests, so it is quite pleasant to be here now versus what March is usually like with lots of traffic and spring break families, (which is much better than this virus! ).  It’s a mad mad world out there and it’s my hope that we as a nation can recover soon from this invisible enemy.  Stay well and safe, my friends.  #flattenthecurve

March — Baby or Babies!

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Venice Area Audubon Rookery, Venice, Florida

“Hey Bro’ …. papa looks a bit grumpy!!”

Babies are popping up everywhere this time of year and the Venice Rookery is no exception with various chick species like the baby Great Blue Herons above.  I love watching the devoted parents’ relentless care of their offspring.  It always amazes me how overcrowded it is of the various bird species on the small island, some nests and chicks within a foot or two of each other.  I guess there is safety in numbers!!

Nikon d850, Tamron 150-600

February — Something Red

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One place that is serene and beautiful for a stroll is Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota.  The bountiful variety of flowers and plants make it a photographer’s paradise.  On a recent visit, I only had my iPhone 11 Pro Max to capture some of its beauty.  But next visit … I’m taking the big camera along!  By the way, if you are wondering what is that eyeball doing in that flower, it is part of Selby’s current exhibit of Salvador Dali’s “Gardens of the Mind” collaboration with The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg.  Selby has put together cool designs inspired by Dali’s fascination with art, math, science and nature.  Dali’s interest in “divine geometry” is based on the idea that natural forms such as the nautilus shell, daisies and beehives grow at a constant proportion without changing shape. Many of these numerical ratios are found in Dali’s works and throughout the Gardens.

February … Low Angle

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Marshall Point Lighthouse, Port Clyde, Maine.

Come every June, we pack up the car and dogs and drive for three days to our summer home in Maine, leaving the Florida sultry heat behind.  We are filled with excitement to see friends again and enjoy morning coffees on our deck watching boats bob about in the harbor and listening to the cries of the osprey’s new chicks.  Four months later, we do the same drive back, filled with the same excitement to catch up with friends and enjoy Florida’s warmer temps as frosty nights begin embracing Maine.  I can never get enough of photographing Maine’s landscape, returning to familiar scenes to capture different angles, like the Marshall Point Lighthouse.  This scene was captured the summer of 2017 as I experimented with ‘low angle’ shots of this iconic structure.  I then edited with a Topaz texture to give a painterly look.  Hope you enjoy!