Floridiana Gloriana

'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.

Late Afternoon Light by Caleb | St. Petersburg | Creative Commons

Another subtly glorious shot from Caleb's 'subtropical noir' series;  a portrait of the power of the late afternoon light to steep everything it touches in mystery.  I love the shadows on the house and the reflection in the forward limb of the tree and on the roof of the vermilion-tinted afternoon light. 

House by Caleb | To see other photographs in his Flickr photostream, click here | website:  calebism; subtropicalnoir.com | To see the full-sized version of this photograph, 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.

'Subtropical Noir' by Caleb | St. Petersburg | Creative Commons

Here's another richly colored, intricately textured photograph from Caleb's 'Subtropical Noir' collection of St. Petersburg scenes.  I am fascinated by the golden shimmer of the bricks.  The mortar appears to be made of gold.  The bricks vary in color from chocolate brown to maroon to burgundy.  You can see the slate blue of the sky reflected in the windows.  Really an amazing use of Florida's late afternoon light.

'St. Pete' by Caleb | To see other photographs in his Flickr photostream, click here | website:  calebism; subtropicalnoir.com | To see the full-sized version of this photograph, 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.

'St. Pete' by Caleb | St. Petersburg | Creative Commons

More of Caleb's St. Petersburg magic with late afternoon light and color.  This is my favorite time to photograph in Florida:  the colors are so saturated and so intense in that slanting golden light.  I love the contrasting textures here:  the rough apricot-colored stucco with its red roof; the light on the trunk of the palm tree, and behind it all, the beautiful blue of the sky and those delicate silvery-grey clouds.  Very painterly, but do painters know about afternoon light and color?

'St. Pete' by Caleb |To see other photographs in his Flickr photostream, click here | website:  calebism; subtropicalnoir.com | To see the full-sized version of this 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.

'Karin's Patio' by Ariel Ophelia | Gainesville | Creative Commons

This is so perfectly perfect Gainesville.  The porch surrounded by trees, the plants, the furniture covered in cool fabrics.  What elevates this photo from 'someone's porch' to 'the art of the porch' for me is the platinum and grey cover on the swing and the rainbow colors of the other, both adding that eclectic feel so characteristic of this university town.  "Gainesville is so lush," observes the photographer.  I just want to be on that porch with my book and my glass of wine.  "Is that a painting or a photo?" my husband asked.  "It looks like a painting."  It does.

Karin's Patio by Ariel Ophelia |  To see her other photos, 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 (shown here).

'Why do you come here?' by Greg Turner | Gainesville | Creative Commons

When I was living in Gainesville in the late Eighties, I dated a man who lived in a house much like this one.  It might even have been this one.  In a town inhabited by a huge transient population of students, many living hand to mouth, the quaint old places survive better than they might do elsewhere.  The eerie green light here is perfect.

"Why do you come here?" 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 in compliance with a restricted Creative Commons license.  Before saving or using it, consult the terms of the applicable license (shown here).

'St Pete' by Caleb | St. Petersburg | Creative Commons

Photographer Caleb clearly loves that certain slant of afternoon light as much as I do.  Look at the way the light shines along the crenellations (?) at the top of this beautiful Spanish style house and along the trunk of the palm tree and in the palm branches.  Note how the sky fades from blue to that watery Gulf-green.  Look at the two dark red jars.

'St. Pete' by Caleb | To see other photographs in his Flickr photostream, click here | website:  calebism; subtropicalnoir.com | To see the full-sized version of this 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.

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....

'Just Another House and Window' by Gerry (TwoblueDay) | Sanford | Creative Commons

Twoblueday is one of my favorite photographers at Flickr.  For one thing, he apparently shares my love of buildings, architectural detail, and high-saturation intense color.  For another, his photographers reflect that gift for composition that separates wonderful photographs from works of art.  Furthermore, he picks out the details that reflect that Florida glamour that's always floating near the surface.  This is from the town of Sanford in Central Florida, a town I once knew well.

Like this:

'Round window and Sky' by Twoblueday (Gerry) | To see his other photos (Flickr photostream), click here | website:  Twoblueday | To see the full-sized version of this photograph at Flickr, click here.

Two Marvelous Florida Houses (Creative Commons)

These beautiful photographs of Central Florida houses were all taken by the same photographer, Steven M., who has really put together some amazing photographs of the beautiful little central Florida town of Sanford (where, by the way, there is a marvelous zoo).  I've assembled a few of his photographs of your typical Florida "stately home."  This is the Florida I know and love and that I see around me every day.

Victorian Queen Anne House--Sanford, Florida by photographer Steven Martin | 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 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)

"Higgins House and palm trees, Sanford, Florida" by photographer Steven Martin | 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 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).