Floridiana Gloriana

'Navarre Beach Bridge' by Jason Humphries | Navarre | Creative Commons

One of the best things about this project is seeing places in Florida I've only heard of, but never visited.  The Panhandle, glorious though it is, is a long way from where I live.  People in the peninsula often seem to know little of the beauties of western Florida.  Looking at this photograph made me long to be in a car driving across this bridge.  Navarre Beach, which I've never even heard of till today, is in Santa Rosa County way out west, on the border of Alabama.  All I can say is: wow.  And well done, Jason Humphries, to have captured it!

'Navarre beach bridge' by Jason Humphries  |  To see his other Flickr photos, click here | To see the full-sized version of this photograph, click here

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

"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..

'Sunset in Key Biscayne' by Ralph Orona | Used by Permission

Ralph Orona has kindly permitted to use this beautiful sunset shot from Key Biscayne,  I love the gorgeous, serene radiance of it.  If you look at it for a moment, you feel as if you're standing right there.....

Sunset in Key Biscayne 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.  This image should not be reproduced, published, transmitted in any forum (even via e-mails) or in print or in any other physical or electronic forum either in part or in whole without the explicit written consent from the copyright owner.

'Pineda' by Don Jones | Brevard | Creative Commons

Photographer Don Jones, who does such amazing night shots and such evocative photos of old Florida houses, took this vintage-feeling and very painterly shot of State Road 404, the Pineda Causeway.  It's the primary access road to Patrick Air Force Base.  It made me feel very sentimental when I saw it----it's so like the postcards of Florida from the 1969's, with those pastels and all that intense green. 

'Pineda' 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.

'Miami Vice' by Ralph Orona | Miami | Used by Permission

Here's a breathtaking shot of Miami by Ralph Orona:  "A wide shot of the MacArthur Causeway in Miami Florida...it reminds me of Miami Vice. All it needs is a White Ferrari Testarossa with Crockett & Tubbs standing next to it."

 Miami Vice 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

This photograph is used with the express written permission of its owner.  Please do not save or download it without first obtaining his permission.  You can write to him here.

 

'Downtown St. Pete' by Artanis Knarf (Kurt) | St. Petersburg | Creative Commons

Here is a gorgeous photograph of downtown St. Pete just after sunset.  I love the contrast between the jewel-like effect of the lights along the causeway and the high-rise buildings against that very soft pinkish-violet and the clear blue of the sky.  The red and yellow boat (where is it heading??) adds as a touch of warm color to the icy diamond-like lighting effects along the causeway. 

'Downtown St. Pete' by Kurt (Artanis Knarf)  | To see his Flickr photostream, click here | Website:  Artanis Knarf.com | 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 in compliance with a restricted Creative Commons license.  Please do not save or use it without first checking the terms of the license here.

'Downtown Miami' by James Good | Creative Commons

"A view of downtown Miami, from underneath the MacArthur Causeway bridge," the photographer explains.  I love everything about this photograph, especially the magenta and violet tinted light on the arch and the glittering toy city in the background.

'Downtown Miami' by James Good |To see his other photos, click here | To see the full-sized version of the 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. 

'Biscayne Bay in the Mist' by James Good | Miami | Creative Commons

To be honest, I have grown tired of looking at sun-over-water photographs.  There are so many of them and they are all so similar.  I have already found some of Flickr's best, but how many photographs of rolling waves or serene Gulf with the sun behind them does one site need?

But then I saw this, illustrating how in Florida nature regularly transforms even the most workaday commercial landscape.  I love the watery effect of the sun behind the mist and the even waterier (well, naturally) effect of the reflection.  I love the pastel tints infusing the urban landscape.  Look how you can see the city's towers in the distance.

What you have to remember about Florida is that everything single thing here is beautiful at the right time of day.  You just have to find that right time.  Is that true everywhere else?  Maybe.  It's only since moving here that I've noticed it.

'Biscayne Bay in the Mist' by James Good | To see his other photos, click here | To see the full-sized version of the 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.

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge by Various Photographers | Creative Commons

It's a beautiful name, isn't it?  And the bridge lives up to it.

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge, spanning Florida's Tampa Bay, is the world's longest bridge with a cable-stayedfeet (exactly 5.5 miles or approximately 8.85 km). It is part of I-275 (SR 93) and US 19 (SR 55), connecting St. Petersburg in Pinellas County and Terra Ceia in Manatee County, Florida, passing through Hillsborough County waters....In November 2005, an act of Florida Legislature officially named the current bridge the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge, after the Governor of Florida who presided over its design and most of its construction. According to sources, he was inspired to suggest the current design by a visit to France, where he saw a similar cable-stayed bridge....The Travel Channel rated the Sunshine Skyway #3 in its special on the "Top 10 Bridges" in the World. The bridge is considered the "flag bridge" of Florida.  (read more: Sunshine Skyway Bridge)

 

"Sunshine Skyway Bridge" | Photo taken at Fort DeSoto Park near St. Petersburg, Florida") by Bac Clin |  To see his other photographs, click here |  To see the full-sized 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.  Before saving or using it, please consult the terms of the applicable license.  The license is shown here.

"St Pete 08" (The Sunshine Skyway) by  Carl Fogg, Jr | carlfoggjr.com | To see his other photographs, click here |  To see the full-sized 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.  Before saving or using it, please consult the terms of the applicable license.  The license is shown here.

"Sunshine Skyway" by Kahlil |  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.  Before saving or using it, please consult the terms of the applicable license.  The license is shown here.

 

"Sunshine Skyway Bridge" by Bac Clin | To see his other photographs, click here |  To see the full-sized 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.  Before saving or using it, please consult the terms of the applicable license.  The license is shown here.

Clearwater (Bridge from Clearwater to Sand Key) by Kathy | Creative Commons

Here's another glorious photograph of Clearwater.

 

Photograph (bridge from Clearwater to Sand Key) by Kathy.

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