Gallery: Everyday Things Series #6

Karl's still life series of Everyday Things was published in an earlier blog, which was archived. This ongoing project features everyday items portrayed by themselves in a black-and-white still life. Some are composed in studio, some are seen and photographed in other locations. For the next few months, each Wednesday I will re-publish the current gallery of these photographs.

Mortar and Pestle

Lake Erie from Preque Isle State Park

We spend a few weeks visiting family each summer, and for the past several years we take the time to drive the 1250 miles to give us an opportunity to do some photography and sightseeing along the way. The last few years we scheduled these trips around family weddings, which mean the "stopping to smell (and photograph) the roses" part of the trip was sacrificed for the "need to be there by a certain date and time" part of the trip.

This year was no different, but we did manage to stop at Presque Isle State Park in Erie, PA. This park has been on our to-do list for years. The weather was cold for an early July day and very blustery. I grew up on Lake Erie, and forget how incredible the size of the Great Lakes appear to someone who has never seen them before. I thought of this as we walked the beach, the only people there except for another photographer and a group of students from a nearby university geology program. The waves crashed on rocks and rolled ashore as the wind tore through our light jackets.

I enjoyed trying to get THE photograph of the waves. For the blog I chose this one. The lineup of the rocks mimics the horizon line leading the eye right to the crashing wave. The rule of thirds works well for this shot.

More on Preque Isle State Park in the next couple of postings.

Living Near the Gulf of Mexico

In December we celebrate our 17th year of living in our little house/cottage near the Gulf of Mexico. This is the longest Karl has lived in the same place, and nearly the same for me. We considered moving several times, but never found a place to compare. Starting in June we check the NOAA website daily for tropical storm and hurricane activity, our flood insurance has increased by a factor of 10 over the years, even though this nearly 40 year old house has never flooded to date, even through the storms. We made the house as hurricane proof as money and modern technology allows, but a direct hit and storm surge could still result in major damage. The area has grown incredibly since we arrived with more and more people making this their home, and winter traffic on the main road just outside our community is unbelievable.

So why are we still here? Quality of life, that is the only way I can describe it. We are both outdoor people and our small fenced backyard dominated by a concrete deck and caged pool becomes part of our living space most of the year. We are both naturalists, and the creek behind our fence provides a home for many birds and animals. I can compile a pretty decent day list just sitting in our pool area reading on a Spring or Autumn day. When I run in the morning, I stand at the end of the road and look into the Gulf, seeing wading birds, the occasional nose of a manatee, the less frequent fin of a dolphin, the reflection in the water of a setting full moon, and I feel good. I know most of my neighbors, and they know me. Someday we may evacuate and come back to no house, but no one can take away the memories made here.

This scene greeted me a recent morning as I went outside the door for my morning run. I ran back in to get my camera, and Karl did the same. We both got good shots, this one of Karl's was the best, but a photograph still can't take the place of being there and seeing the towering clouds with many colors of white and gray and blue seeming to rise from the dark water of the Gulf of Mexico.

Gallery: Everyday Things Series #5

Karl's still life series of Everyday Things was published in an earlier blog, which was archived. This ongoing project features everyday items portrayed by themselves in a black-and-white still life. Some are composed in studio, some are seen and photographed in other locations. For the next few months, each Wednesday I will re-publish the current gallery of these photographs.

Fork and Plate

The Water Lily and the Dragonfly

That sounds more like the title of a children's book, but I captured both while taking photographs of the flower. A few water lilies dotted the shore of a pond. While shooting one, I noticed a dragonfly land near another. I took a quick shot, then realized my camera settings weren't right for the scene. Luckily the dragonfly had found a good perch, and stayed still while I changed and took a few more shots.

Around Home

I often talk about living in central Florida on this blog. We've been here for 18 years, the longest by more than a decade that we have lived in one area. We have lived in our current house, more of a cottage, for almost 17 years. With a creek and conservation area behind us, the Gulf of Mexico withing sight from the front of the house, and the canals in the neighborhood we see a lot of wildlife just relaxing in our yard.

Here is a shot from the top of the road leading to our community. We had just finished a wonderful lunch in a nearby restaurant, the day was sunny, bright, and warm, and I just felt like using my camera.

Happy 4th of July!

Gallery: Everyday Things Series #4

Karl's still life series of Everyday Things was published in an earlier blog, which was archived. This ongoing project features everyday items portrayed by themselves in a black-and-white still life. Some are composed in studio, some are seen and photographed in other locations. For the next few months, each Wednesday I will re-publish the current gallery of these photographs.

Cutting Board and Knife