Floridiana Gloriana

Late Afternoon Light by Caleb | St. Petersburg | Creative Commons

Another subtly glorious shot from Caleb's 'subtropical noir' series;  a portrait of the power of the late afternoon light to steep everything it touches in mystery.  I love the shadows on the house and the reflection in the forward limb of the tree and on the roof of the vermilion-tinted afternoon light. 

House by Caleb | To see other photographs in his Flickr photostream, click here | website:  calebism; subtropicalnoir.com | To see the full-sized version of this photograph, 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.

'Showered in Sunlight' by Ralph Orona | Miami | Used by Permission

In addition to his glittering or glowing cityscapes, Ralph Orona does beautiful in-her-face studies of Nature manifesting herself subtropically.  Or, to be more accurate, he sees God manifesting himself in nature. He writes:  "This is an orchid I found glowing this morning at Pinecrest Park in Miami."

These orchids---filled with light like a pair of translucent lamps so that you can even see their veins---do indeed have a numinous quality.  They practically give off a scent:  that scent of white petals in the sun.  To see this glorious flower in detail, click the link below. 

Showered in Sunlight  by Ralph Orona | To see other photographs in his Flickr photostream, click here | Website:  Ralph Orona Photography | To see the largest version of this photograph at Flickr, click here

Used by permission---all rights reserved to the owner.  Please do not save or use without his express written permission..

'The Florida Theater' by Craig O'Neal | Jacksonville | Creative Commons

Here is a beautiful night shot by Jacksonville photographer Craig O'Neal.

 

The Florida Theater by Craig O'Neal | Craig O'Neal does photography for Jacksonville.com.  To see more fabulous photographs, click here or take a look at his albums at Jacksonville.com! |  To see the full-sized version of this photograph, click here |

I do not own the rights to this Creative Commons photograph, but am using it in compliance with the terms of a restricted license.  Please don't save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license (here).

'Fort Myers' by Alexander Wrege | Fort Myers | Creative Commons

Here's a radiantly tinted shot from the Gulf Coast city of Fort Myers.  I love the red awning and the flashes of yellow and royal blue.  Magnificent holiday shot---wish I was there now.  I really do.

Best-Winter 2007 -Fort Myers by Alexander Wrege | To see his photostream at Flickr, click here  | website:  Quantum Indecisions | To see the largest version of this 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. 

'St. Pete' by Caleb | St. Petersburg | Creative Commons

More of Caleb's St. Petersburg magic with late afternoon light and color.  This is my favorite time to photograph in Florida:  the colors are so saturated and so intense in that slanting golden light.  I love the contrasting textures here:  the rough apricot-colored stucco with its red roof; the light on the trunk of the palm tree, and behind it all, the beautiful blue of the sky and those delicate silvery-grey clouds.  Very painterly, but do painters know about afternoon light and color?

'St. Pete' by Caleb |To see other photographs in his Flickr photostream, click here | website:  calebism; subtropicalnoir.com | To see the full-sized version of this photograph, 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.

'St Pete' by Caleb | St. Petersburg | Creative Commons

Photographer Caleb clearly loves that certain slant of afternoon light as much as I do.  Look at the way the light shines along the crenellations (?) at the top of this beautiful Spanish style house and along the trunk of the palm tree and in the palm branches.  Note how the sky fades from blue to that watery Gulf-green.  Look at the two dark red jars.

'St. Pete' by Caleb | To see other photographs in his Flickr photostream, click here | website:  calebism; subtropicalnoir.com | To see the full-sized version of this photograph, 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 Blossom Motel' by Kevin Trotman (The Rocketeer) | Citra | Creative Commons

Another fabulous Florida vignette by Kevin Trotman:  I've passed this sign in the beautiful little town of Citra many times.

Photograph by Kevin Trotman (The Rocketeer) | click here to see his other photos | website: Radio Active Geek  | Click here to go to Flickr for the larger version

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

Red Glass, Rocks, and Cactus by Miz Shoes | Miami, FL | Used by Permission

The amazing photographer Miz Shoes has more astonishing imagery from the Chihuly exhibition at the Fairchild.  Just imagine:  till I saw her photographs, I did not know about Chihuly.  And then---through one of those pieces of synchronicity which form the stuff of life---a young person I know referred the very next day to Chihuly glass and this specific exhibition. 

Just fascinating.  As is this photograph:

She writes:  " I loved the contrast of the rock, the cacti and the brillliant red glass."  Yes:

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 by permission of the photographer (to whom all rights are reserved). Please write for permission before saving it or using it.

'The Orange Shop' by Kevin Trotman (The Rocketeer)| Citra | Creative Commons

This is an important Central Florida landmark.  Even locals love this shop and both locals and tourists love to photograph this sign. I have my own photographs, but they are nowhere near as gorgeous as this. 

The Orange Shop in Citra, Florida by Kevin Trotman |  To see more of his photographs, click here |  To see the full-sized version of this image at Flickr, click here

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

Florida Oranges (Creative Commons)

You'd be surprised at how few Florida oranges I've eaten since moving here---you don't really get them in the grocery store.  Most of them are too tasty and too full of juice, I guess, not to be bought up for manufacturing into juice.  The orange groves of central and south Florida are beautiful and smell delicious in orange blossom season (though they make me sneeze my head off).  Here are some fabulous photographs.

Bright, shining oranges glowing like clusters of little suns:  

 

"Oranges" (Deland, Florida) by Doophy Xian |  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 Creative Commons license.  Please do not save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license.  The license is shown here.

Pastel oranges against a soft sky:

"Orange Tree" (Ocoee, Florida) by  Peter Dutton  | Joe Shlabotnik Is My Hero |  To see his other photographs, click here |  To see the large version of this image, click here |

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

One of my family members eats the peel right along with the orange....Just looking at these makes my mouth water; after you've eaten an orange, the juice stays around in the air. 

 

Photograph ("Winter snacking.  Thank God for Florida oranges") by Heidi |  To see her 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 Creative Commons license.  Please do not save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license.  The license is shown here.