I went to a gallery opening where several artists' work was featured. The show was at the studio/home of a internationally respected glass blower. He has surrounded his property with fruit bearing plants. The late afternoon light through a Cercropia tree, native to South America, turned each leaf into canvas of light, color and texture. Handholding is risky in a fading light, but I had no equipment but a point and shoot, I was happy with the results, do you agree?

Lol

Really nice shot.

Cropping was difficult on these. The boys were in a narrow inlet off the bay, a very residential area. I did my best to shoot around boat docks, sea walls and such, wanting it to be more timeless and placeless. I will try and rework the two somewhat with your cropping thoughts in mind and see if it is possible without having 'stuff' show up.

I am looking for help in picking an entry for a magazine photo contest in our area. The contest winners traditionally are entries that showcase the beauty and lifestyle of this west coast Florida city. Yesterday on a ride along the bay, I spotted these three boys in a small boat with a trolling motor. It was late, almost twilight. I followed them along the waterfront for nearly 20 minutes so the light varied. To me, these boys typify the delight of the late day, a Saturday, summer and no school and unbridled childhood exuberance at just being alive. I have, not, however, been able to pick a favorite shot. You be the judge. Thnx!

#1 I loved his laugh in this shot


#2 My favorite composition


#3 The 'captain's' nonchalant posture I liked in this shot

There is a Night Blooming Cereus in the front yard. Whenever they bloom, I shoot. I keep trying to get 'the' shot. Shooting at night and using a macro creates some challenges. This shot was lit using a small flashlight. Depth of field, when trying for a deep throated flower presents another, but I was happy with the result tonight, at least until they bloom again.

My yard if full of flowers and there is never a time I can't just walk out the door and find some beautiful piece of nature begging to be captured by the camera.

We tried a concept along these lines but with much less success. These are great and inspiring. Now I want to figure out how to take theses the next step!

I take a great deal of frog pictures. Florida is overrun with Cuban Tree frogs and they are everywhere. I have dozens of close-ups of these guys shot at night, but a couple of weeks ago we found this mostly complete skeleton of one and it seemed it deserved portrait time as well.

Yes, the hive 'grows' a new queen (all worker bees are female, any egg that is female has the potential to me a queen, the workers feed the developing bee a special diet that results in a queen). The hive then splits with the virgin queen and a large portion heading off to start a new hive. Scouts are sent ahead to look for a good spot. When a likely spot is found, the scouts mark the trail and the swarm follows.

I have been fascinated by bees since I did a science fair project on them in the 6th grade. Today, the hive in our back yard swarmed, one of the coolest things I have ever watched.

Near downtown Tampa is area with one cemetary leading directly into the next, spanning almost two hundred years of Tampa's history. In one of the older sections, containing many Cuban immigrants from the early 1800's who came to the area's fledgling cigar industry. Even the oldest graves are still carefully tended by family. Conch shells imbedded in a concrete overlay is common. There is a serenity and beauty in these lovely grave sites.

Absolutely

Would love to have been able to have bought this old chevy, maybe just the tag off the front. The best I could do was a photograph The second photo is my 'John Prine' tribute for his 'Flag Decal' song, one of my favorites. I usually do macro work, but today, these are among my favorites.

Paradise

A macro shot of a night blooming cereus, really more indicative of the type of photos I shot, but you just never know what will catch your eye on any given day.