Floridiana Gloriana

'An Eye' by Etrusia UK | Tampa | Creative Commons

I was mesmerized by the golden eye of this snowy egret set against the blue-green background.  Look at the luminousness and delicacy of its feathers, and the streaks of paler blue against the slate-colored bill.  Taken in Tampa, it's just an awesome capture and has deservedly won all sorts of Flickr awards and honors.  Gorgeous.

'An Eye' by Etrusia UK  | To see his Flickr photostream, click here |  Website:  WhyDon'tYou; also Etrusia--British History  To see the largest version of this photograph at Flickr, click here

I do not own the rights to this photograph, but am using it pursuant to a restricted Creative Commons license.  Please do not save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license.  The license can be viewed here.

'Why do you come here?' by Greg Turner | Gainesville | Creative Commons

When I was living in Gainesville in the late Eighties, I dated a man who lived in a house much like this one.  It might even have been this one.  In a town inhabited by a huge transient population of students, many living hand to mouth, the quaint old places survive better than they might do elsewhere.  The eerie green light here is perfect.

"Why do you come here?" by Greg Turner |  To see his other photographs, click here |  To see the full-sized 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 view of the Rawlings house near sundown | Cross Creek

The original photograph of the house from which I scanned this image was dark, hazy, and rather out of focus, partly because it was so late (you can see that the flash went off). Thanks to the wonders of modern technology I was able to tweak it so that you can get a sense of the look and feel of the house (we didn't go in that day; we arrived too late) and can even ssort of see the individual oranges on the tree. The pinkish-gold sunlight on the side of the house was really there. You can see it in the alternate version of the house which I included above.

I don't think any photograph can really capture the look of the Rawlings House; it looks completely different from every angle. 

I really feel that every Floridian should make a pilgrimage to this place once.  It's a trip back in time and will give you that feeling of place that makes you know you are---or, like me, have become---a Floridian.

For those of Us Who Live Here, it's Easily Possible to Forget.

   Years ago, I was talking to a couple I met at a restaurant in Kissimmee, Florida (where I was living at the time). They were English, from Birmingham. I asked them how they were enjoying Florida; they said that they found it ugly and overbuilt.

Last year, a man who looked through some of my photo galleries at www.Theflatlandoracles.com  kindly noted that I had made him see "another side of Florida." "I thought it was all parking lots and strip malls," he added. It hurts me in a way to hear this from tourists. People from elsewhere who don't actually own property here are strangely inclined to run down my beautiful state.