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) 

'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.

'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.

'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.

'Morning Commute' by Miz Shoes | Miami | Creative Commons

An amazing perspective.....The blue, platinum and silver cityscape, but with that unexpected flash of pure white and bright red in the background.  This is the photographer's  "[m]orning commute on the MetroRail. Entering downtown Miami."

 

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 right to this photograph, but am using it in compliance with a restricted Creative Commons license.  Please do not download or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license.  The license is shown 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.

'Highway Sunset' by Eric Jaegar | Clearwater | Creative Commons

This is what I remember from when I first visited Clearwater Beach in 1992.  As we drove along the causeway, this is what I saw out of my car window.

Highway Sunset by Erik Jaeger | ErikJaeger.com |  To see his 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 the photograph, please consult the terms of the license.  The license is shown here.

'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.

City Lights, City Bridge (Creative Commons)

This is a much more beautiful photograph of Jacksonville's Main Street Bridge than any of mine!

Jewel tints against this soft silvery violet sky...Jacksonville strikes many people as a pretty mundane city by day, but along the waterfront---especially at night---it is magical. 

Jacksonville:  Main Street Bridge by Stephen Sizemore |  StephenSizemore.com| click here to see his other photographs | click here to see the full-sized version of this image 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).

St. Augustine: The Old Bridge (Creative Commons)

"The Bridge of Lions" over the Matanzas River is one of the famous sites of St. Augustine and specifically of the Old City.   For a virtual tour of the bridge and photographs of other local bridges, see this site [free registration required; worth it.]  For information about the bridge rehabiliation project and the bridge's history, see this link.   My  hotos of it were pretty bad, since they were just scanned from old photographs.  I deleted them in favor of these gorgeous photographs from the generous donors to Flickr's Creative Commons.

  I love the softness of the light on the towers and the way the red stands out against that nameless color I love so much, the silvery violet of the sky.  This is the way I always remember the bridge.

 

Photograph by Dolan Halbrook | click here to see other photographs by Dolan Halbrook | 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).

Here's another beauty, clearly taken out a time of day when the light was at that certain slant.  The colors of the boats stand out so brilliantly against the water; they look as if they have been gilded.  Don't know what time of day this photo was actually taken, but it reminds me of many late afternoon walks along the waterfront.  It's magnificent.

"Bridge of Lions" by Uncle Bucko | click here to see his other photographs || 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).

This last is the bridge seen from a different angle still.  It looks as if it's been painting, so intense are the reds and oranges.   The sky is that cerulean blue, subtly streaked with violet clouds with a rosy tinge.  It's a heavenly contrast to the earthier colors of the bridge and the city beyond.

 

"St Augustine Bridge 2" by Bill Frazzetto | click here to see his other photographs || 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).