Floridiana Gloriana

'Navarre Beach' by Heather Rasley | Creative Commons

As I said, I don't know western Florida well and I don't know Navarre at all....but I am entranced by the slightly rosy cast of the sand under that sky and in that light; and by the translucent blue tint of the sky.   

'Navarre Beach' by Heather Rasley | To see her other photographs, click here | Websites: Heather is Watching; The H. Line | 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.  Do not save or use it without consulting the terms of the license (link shown here) 

'Americana' by Greg Turner | Micanopy | Creative Commons

Here's a wonderful shot by Greg Turner of the American Cafe in the beautiful little North Florida town of Micanopy (accent on the third syllable).  Micanopy is Florida's oldest inland settlement and---as the link will tell you---an excellent place to see alligators as well as to shop for antiques.   I particularly love the touches of color added by the umbrellas, the stained glass, and the flag....

'Americana' by Greg Turner |To see his other photographs, click here |  To see the full-sized photograph at 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.

'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.

'St. Pete Beach' by Porkfork6 | Creative Commons

Here's an iconic Florida scene for you....I think what really sold it for me was the cool, slate-tinted sky and water contrasted against the very white breakers, the blue-green umbrellas, and just two bright splotches of bright vermilion. 

'St. Pete Beach' by Porkfork 6 |  To see his other photos, click here |  To see the full-sized version of this photograph at Flickr, click here

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.

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.

Florida Oranges (Creative Commons)

You'd be surprised at how few Florida oranges I've eaten since moving here---you don't really get them in the grocery store.  Most of them are too tasty and too full of juice, I guess, not to be bought up for manufacturing into juice.  The orange groves of central and south Florida are beautiful and smell delicious in orange blossom season (though they make me sneeze my head off).  Here are some fabulous photographs.

Bright, shining oranges glowing like clusters of little suns:  

 

"Oranges" (Deland, Florida) by Doophy Xian |  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.  Please do not save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license.  The license is shown here.

Pastel oranges against a soft sky:

"Orange Tree" (Ocoee, Florida) by  Peter Dutton  | Joe Shlabotnik Is My Hero |  To see his other photographs, click here |  To see the large 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.  Please do not save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license.  The license is shown here.

One of my family members eats the peel right along with the orange....Just looking at these makes my mouth water; after you've eaten an orange, the juice stays around in the air. 

 

Photograph ("Winter snacking.  Thank God for Florida oranges") by Heidi |  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 Creative Commons license.  Please do not save or use it without first consulting the terms of the applicable license.  The license is shown here.

A Florida Winter Scene (Creative Commons)

This photo beautifully conveys the pure, transparent quality of the Florida winter light and the varied tints of the winter sky. 

"Winter Beach" by Fortune Cookie | To see more of Fortune Cookie's photographs, click here |  To see the full-sized version of this photograph at Flickr, click here |

I do not own the rights to this Creative Commons photo, but am using it in compliance with the applicable license.  Before saving or using it, consult the terms of the license (here).

Fanning Springs State Park (Creative Commons)

This is an incredibly beautiful photograph of a place I used to frequent quite a long time ago now.  I'm pleased to see that it has only improved.  That water is as exhilarating to swim in as it looks.  It's a very different experience, I can tell you, from swimming in a pool.  In the hot season, this is where you want to be.   The photographer has a marvelous blog called " Florida Springs" (A blog dedicated to the 700+ springs located throughout Florida and those rivers that are spring-fed.)  Florida's springs are the true "hidden Florida."

"Fanning springs State Park, Levy County, Florida" by Systems Librarian | click here to see other photos by Systems Librarian | click here to see the full-sized version of this photo 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).

Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier (Creative Commons)

This photograph captures the lightness and clarity of this blue and platinum day.  The colors are neutrals:  greys, blue-greys, tans, white, khaki, and beige---all the colors of sand, sea and wood---against the sky (that clear blue that is soft rather than brilliant).  I love the way it shades into that silvery violet near the horizon.   This is an effect I always wanted to capture and never succeeded in doing.

'Jacksonville Beach, Florida' by Kevin Trotman/The Rocketeer | See his other photographs here |  See the larger version of this image at Flickr here

 

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).

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.