Floridiana Gloriana

"A Rusty Pelican Sunset" by Ralph Orona | Used by Permission

I love photographs of Florida cities that reveal to those who don't know just how closely the beautiful natural Florida obtrudes on, and glorifies, its sometimes stark urban realities.  This shot has got everything:  radiant sunlight; delicate sunset tones shading from violet and apricot to a translucent blue; a city skyline; a bridge; palm trees, cloud, and boats.  Love it. 

A Rusty Pelican Sunset 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..

'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. 

Apalachicola, Florida by Judy Baxter | Creative Commons

Judy Baxter (Old Shoe Woman) has some of my favorite photographs of Western Florida on Flickr.  This is a part of the state I don't know that well---the Peninsula and the Panhandle are different worlds.   The Panhandle is Old Florida; even the light is different there.  Here are some of its beauties.  Here is a gorgeous photograph from "Florida's forgotten coast," in Apalachicola.

This photographer has an amazing feel for the fall of the light.  Look:

 

"Shrimp Boats --- Apalachicola, 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.

Sunset Over Lake Washington (Melbourne, FL) by John Emerson | Creative Commons

Here's a gorgeous lake sunset---just as a break from all the gorgeous beach sunsets---from the lovely town of Melbourne (The Harbor City!) on the Atlantic coast.  Amazing clarity in this photograph.  Even the reflected apricot tints on the ripples in the foreground stand out sharply. 

Sunset Lake Washington Melbourne Florida by  John Emerson (website: John's Myspace Page)

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

 

 

Sunset Lake Washington Melbourne Florida by John Emerson (website: John's Myspace Page)

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

St. Augustine Waterfront (Creative Commons)

This is a lovely panoramic photograph of St. Augustine.  It seems to have been taken from a boat looking in towards the waterfront.  I love the soft pastel tints of the clouds and the rose colored roofs in this one.

"St. Augustine skyline" by Mosesxan | click here to see other photographs by Mosesxan | click here to see the full-sized version of this photograph at Flickr

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

The Beautiful Steinhatchee

These photographs were taken in Northwest Florida, along the beautiful Steinhatchee River.  I always meant to go back there and rent a boat.  I wonder if I ever will?  This site has some gorgeous footage that really conveys how remote and mysterious this part of Florida seems. 

The boat below was permanently anchored in the water for a very long time.  I don't know the story on it and I'd almost rather not know.  I have my own private version.  And I don't know the story on the little building (which appears to be a deconsecrated church).

Fernandina Docks | Amelia Island

A lovely scene from the beautiful Amelia Island town of Fernandina in Nassau County.  This is right in downtown Fernandina.

Cedar Key at twilight (c. 1998)

Here are two lovely photographs (well, I think they are lovely) of Cedar Key just around twilight.  The first is looking due east, with the sunset behind.  It's a bit dim, but I love the soft bluish lavender of the sky and that peculiar bright blue of the water that I associate with just those few moments before nightfall. 

It's just some houses/hotels and a few pontoon boats, but aren't the colors beautiful?

It was taken  facing east with the sunset behind.  You can see the reflection of the orange tints reflected in the house and the rocks.  I was trying to get more of a sense than I did of the waterfront town---visible around the bend---but I ended up liking this photograph just because it really gave me that "sunset on the Gulf" feeling, when the moments seem to rush by so fast.  Once the sun reaches a certain point on the horizon, it just seems to sink into the water.

Purple clouds---afternoon in Cedar Key circa 1995.

 

My late husband Don, who died at the end of 2000, snapped this photograph one afternoon as we were walking round the town.  This was one of his favorite photographs and I've always loved it.  It shows Cedar Key for what it is---slightly untidy, rusty in places, but incapable of being anything but beautiful. 

Views from the St Johns River | Jacksonville (c. 1998)

On one of our trips to Jacksonville, Don took this photograph of one of the water taxis on the St. Johns River.  I always like photographs that capture these twilight silvery purples and blues, but the most interesting thing about this photograph is the reflection in the building in the background of the sunset.

I do love the watertaxis, though, particularly in the early evening.  People from Jacksonville turn up their noses at Jacksonville Landing---it's meant to be touristy, I suppose--- but you won't find many better spots for taking photographs of the city and I'm sorry, but I just love to go there right before sunset.   The water taxi rides and the river walks alone are worth an afternoon's exploration.