Floridiana Gloriana

Bottle at Sunrise by Judy Malley | Tampa | Creative Commons

Even a discarded or a forgotten bottle can make art for a photographer who has the artist's eye.   Without the bottle to pull this together, would we notice the reflection of delicately tinted sunrise clouds in the reflected blue of the water or the weathered browns and greys of the dock?  The slight unsteadiness of the bottle's position keeps you looking, as does the flash of green in the label (subtly picked up by the post on the right. 

The one that follows is, of course, the same bottle.  I couldn't decide which I preferred so I decided to use both. 

The photographer took these photos in the course of a day of recording her life in Tampa.  She took this one and the one after it at sunrise at Davis Island. 

'Bottle' by Judy Malley | 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 restricted Creative Commons license.  Before saving or using it, consult the terms of the applicable license (linked here).

'Someone Liked Smirnoff Ice' by Judy Malley| 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 restricted Creative Commons license.  Before saving or using it, consult the terms of the applicable license (linked here).

'Winter Haven Sunset Celebration' by Josh Hallett | Winter Haven | Creative Commons

A sunset enormous lake in the little Central Florida town of Winter Haven in Polk County Florida, home of Cypress Gardens.  Having once been engaged to a man who was living there---and who lived right on the lake--- I spent quite a bit of time there back in the early Nineties.  Josh Hallett, who wonderfully captures the towns of Central Florida, took this radiant sunset scene, complete with all those Florida peach and apricot tints. 

Winter Haven Sunset Celebration by  Josh Hallett |   To see other photographs in his Flickr photostream, click here |  Website:  Hyku | 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 compliance with a restricted Creative Commons license.  Please do not download or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license. The link to the license is here.

Canal | Crystal River | Feb. 1997

I remember exactly when this photograph was taken and I'm fairly sure it was in Crystal River (which we were passing through on our way home).  The occasion is quite clear in my mind.  We stopped on a bridge so I could take it.  It's a lovely Florida winter scene, with lovely winter color....

Horseshoe Beach | c. 1998

I love this photograph from Horseshoe Beach (in Dixie County) because of the strange clarity with which the white buildings stand out against the sea.  That was a trick of the light rather than anything I achieved myself.  It's a scanned photograph from out of my files. 

I can't explain the big boat being built alongside those buildings.  I don't know what it was or is for.  I think I might have gone back and that it might have been a restaurant----but I really don't know!  I suppose I could find out if I wanted to research it, but I prefer to let it remain a mystery.  So much has happened since then....  I remember loving the place and thinking I'd never forget that day.  Alas---I've forgotten it all except my resolution not to forget. 

'Ocean Pier, Key West' by Natasja | Creative Commons

It's a Florida rainbow!  One thing I love about Natasja's photographs of Florida is that she photographs the things I'd photograph (only much, much more beautifully).  Also she appreciates the eloquence of inanimate objects.
 

 

'Ocean Pier, Key West'  by Natasja   | click here to see her other photos |  website:  Pixels and Photos | Click here to go to Flickr to see the full-sized version

I do not own the rights to this photograph, but am using it pursuant to a restricted Creative Commons license.  Do not save or use it without first consulting the terms of the license.  The license is shown 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.

Tampa Bay: Blue, Silver, & Platinum by Jo | Creative Commons

I look at this photograph, and I think:  I want to be there.  It's a simple, ordinary scene, but infused with such a radiant light.

 

Photograph by  Jo | MySpace page |  To see other photographs, click here | 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 applicable license.  Before saving or using it, please consult the terms of the license. The license is shown here.

'Sunset on Amelia Island' by Tim Vo | Creative Commons

"Sunset on Amelia Island" by Tim Vo | Patterns of Nature |  To see his other photographs, 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 Creative Commons license.  Please do not save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license.  (License shown here).

Cedar Key: Some Scenes from the Past (c.1997)

These were all scanned from photographs of Cedar Key, circa 1997.  My late husband made most of them and I scanned the photographs into my computer.  Although some of the buildings have had face lifts or been painted, the town still looks very much the same now.  Furthermore, I think these photos, despite their imperfections, managed to capture the light and color of the town (which remain unchanged, despite surface tweakings).

This little building is still there, but last time I saw it it wasn't an ice cream stand anymore.  I was sad that it had been repainted.

This restaurant is still there and is still a great place to have a meal while sitting right over the Gulf.

And, of course, the Captain's Table---where you can watch the sunset sink into the Gulf---is still there.  It's one of my favorite places on earth.  The last couple of times I was there the pier was closed, but maybe that's changed by now....

A scene from Cedar Key's Main Street.  Despite the (very cool) old cars, it was actually only 10 years ago!

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).