Floridiana Gloriana

'Wacahoota Church' by Don Jones | Wacahoota | Creative Commons

Florida is filled with white-painted wooden churches.  They are beautiful against North Florida's indigo-tinted late afternoon sky.  I've passed this one---in Levy County,  S.R. 121, as the photographer explains----many, many times, but I never did so when conditions were right for a photograph.  And now I find this:  perfection.  The white looks almost silver against the blue backdrop.  You can literally see the ethos of the sky's color reflected in the wooden slats.  "The Wacahoota United Methodist Church. Established in 1852, built in 1899," the photographer explains. 

'Wacahoota Church' by Don Jones |  To see his other photographs, click here |  To see the full-sized version of this photograph at Flickr, click here

I do not own the rights to this photograph.  It is subject to a restricted Creative Commons license, permitting certain limited noncommercial uses.  Before using or downloading it, consult the terms of the applicable license.  You may view it here.

'Orange Beach Fenced' by Kevin 'Elvis' King | Pensacola | Creative Commons

This...is a work of art. How many colors can you see in this?

'Orange Beach, Fenced' by Kevin 'Elvis' King |  Website | To see his other photographs, click here |  To see the full-sized version of this photograph at Flickr, click here

I do not own the rights to this photograph, but am using it in compliance with a restricted Creative Commons license.  Before saving or using it, consult the terms of the applicable license (shown here).

Radiant Beach | Photographs of Pensacola by Kevin 'Elvis' King | Creative Commons

I discovered photographer Kevin 'Elvis' King while I was looking for photographs of Pensacola.  Over and over I'd find myself screaming, "WOW!" over a photo that turned up in my search, then look and----sure enough; he'd be the photographer.  I finally just wrote to him and asked straight out if I could feature some of his work.  I received a very gracious reply.  So I am going to start with these radiant, entrancing photographs of a Florida beach I once swear I saw in a dream I had about Pensacola (where I've never been).   Even the sunburst at the top of the first one, with its rainbow corona, and the silver sheen of the sand, is a perfect match.  You can see that its claim to the world's whitest sand is well founded.

'Pensacola Beach 2' by Kevin 'Elvis' King |  Website | To see his other photographs, click here |  To see the full-sized version of this photograph at Flickr, click here

I do not own the rights to this photograph, but am using it in compliance with a restricted Creative Commons license.  Before saving or using it, consult the terms of the applicable license (shown here).

'Pensacola--Thunder Building' by Kevin 'Elvis' King |  Website | To see his other photographs, click here |  To see the full-sized version of this photograph at Flickr, click here

I do not own the rights to this photograph, but am using it in compliance with a restricted Creative Commons license.  Before saving or using it, consult the terms of the applicable license (shown here).

A February Scene--North Florida Spring | Melrose, FL

Here's a scene from the pretty little town of Melrose (Putnam County). This building was once a church; back when I took this---in dogwood and azalea season---it was a Homemaker's Club.  Isn't it pretty?

'South Beach Skyline ---Looking Up at Dusk' by Miz Shoes | Used by Permission

As will eventually become clear, I have a thing for white buildings against a particular indigo blue color of sky.  This is particularly beautiful, more like a painting than a photograph.  Every frond of each palm branch stands out sharply.  The sun striking the side of the building illuminates it; the rest is in bluish shadow.  The sky is that soft, even tint that gradually intensifies to an eerie crystalline color before fading to violet. 

A perfect moment:

 

Photograph by Miz Shoes | click here to see her other photos | website: Girly Shoes.  | Click here to go to Flickr for the larger version

I do not own the rights to this photograph, but am using it with the permission of the owner.  Please do not save or use it without first getting her permission. 

Coffee on the Porch---Cape San Blas by Judy Baxter | Creative Commons

Is Cape San Blas Florida's "forgotten coast"?  This is a part of the state I don't know well at all, but would love to know better.  The beaches are gorgeous, like white sugar.

Judy Baxter writes:  "Our townhouse can be rented here: http://www.visitfloridabeaches.com/ BD 495 - 34.  Look:

 

"Having Coffee on Deck of Townhouse" -- Cape San Blas, Florida by Judy Baxter (Old Shoe Woman) | See other photographs here |  See larger image here

I do not own the rights to this photograph, but am using it in compliance with a restricted  Creative Commons license.  Please do not save or use this image without first consulting the terms of the license.  The license restrictions are shown here.

 

Looking Up and Over ---Townhouse ---Cape San Blas, Florida by Judy Baxter (Old Shoe Woman) | See other photographs here |  See larger image here

I do not own the rights to this photograph, but am using it in compliance with a restricted  Creative Commons license.  Please do not save or use this image without first consulting the terms of the license.  The license restrictions are shown here.

 

My Mug - Deck of Town House ---Cape San Blas, Florida by Judy Baxter (Old Shoe Woman) | See other photographs here |  See larger image here

I do not own the rights to this photograph, but am using it in compliance with a restricted  Creative Commons license.  Please do not save or use this image without first consulting the terms of the license.  The license restrictions are shown here.

Two Wooden Churches

These are my own.  Both are wooden churches in small North Florida towns.  The first is in Florahome; the second is---I believe---in Dunnellon.  I took them both years ago, so I am not entirely sure.  But both have in common the white woodwork and the celestial blue, which is what I wanted them for. 

A beautiful Western Florida Canal | Suwannee

This is a scene Don took of a canal in Western Florida. He took dozens of such scenes, but this is one of the best. I love the reflections in the water, the way the boat is anchored precisely in the middle, and the house with its screened in porch.

Tin Roof/Wooden Church | Lulu

This was a lovely little rural church in a little town out in the country---Lulu, I think it was called. All three roofs here were shining so brightly you could hardly bear to look at them. A sort of intimation of how the world would look in the presence of God, or so I felt at the time. That was an amazingly beautiful day---a different year and season from the preceding photograph.