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.

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?

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).

Red Roof Church

I fell in love with this little church during a period when I was travelling around to a lot of small Florida towns, taking pictures.  I love red and white against a dark green backgrop.  The cross shadow on the side of the building now strikes me as distinctly oddly placed.  When I went back to see it again, it looked completely different.  Things you revisit always do, even if it's just the next day.  I believe that this church is in the tiny town of  Lulu, Florida.   I haven't been back there in years. 

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. 

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.

Light Shining on Tin Roof | North Central Florida

This photograph is one of my all-time favorite summer scenes. I love the way the light reflects off the tin and shines through the bush, while the rest of the house is just a mysterious dark silhouette. I am not sure anymore exactly where I was when I took this photograph. I didn't label it and all I know was that it was sometime in 1999.

It's odd that I can't remember where it was because I can remember taking it. Don didn't think it would come out and was annoyed with me for taking it anyway. Then when I showed it to him, he didn't like it because it's so dark.To me, it perfectly evokes that mysterious feeling of certain summer afternoons and the contrasts between brilliant light and deep shade. When I look at this picture it's always accompanied by the phantom smell of damp wood. Central Florida has many beauties: many lakes and creeks and forest. In my imagination, this house is near a creek and perhaps overlooks it. I wish I could remember more.