Each time I drive over to Longboat Key to my Coldwell Banker office, I pass by this houseboat moored in Sarasota Bay. On this day I had my camera with me and made my way through the bushes as close as I could to the water line. Sailboats and other “isolated objects” are often found moored in the Bay but most often they are in close proximity to each other. This one is not close to any other but has a fantastic view of downtown Sarasota and the Ringling Bridge.
This morning I was strolling alongside Sarasota Bay in search of a suitable photo to take with my Lensbaby Twist 60 when I came upon several eternal reefs placed in the park adjacent to Bird Key. These families and individuals have chosen cremation and the ashes of their loved ones are placed in these eternal reefs as permanent environmental living legacies for generations to come. I once read that some families and friends participate in the creation of their loved one’s memorial reef by placing their hand print in the damp concrete during the casting. What an “emotional” experience that would be but such a beautiful thing to do.
I have recently become interested in mastering bird photography and have found it to be quite challenging. To “stop action” and prevent an unsatisfactory, blurry image, I used a fast shutter speed (1/1600 sec) to capture this photo of a pelican flying over the azure water of Sarasota Bay. I elected to isolate the pelican and add a little punch to the water by applying a painting filter in Photoshop.
Blue hour, my favorite time of day, provided me with this scene one evening as I was traveling to my office on Longboat Key. In addition to the lighting, the movement of traffic crossing the Ringling Bridge was a perfect “photographer’s choice” for a long exposure.
When I first previewed the photos I took from a recent photo shoot, my first thought was to delete this one; however, after reviewing the 52-Week themes, I thought it might be a good one for “SOTC.” Thinking I could improve upon it, I then changed my mind because I liked how the long exposure created boat streaks and smooth water so I began playing around with it. I cloned away the bridge overhang, applied dodge and burn to the concrete walkway/curb/rocks and fishing pier, removed a few faint rain drops, removed a little noise, added a Topaz Equalize filter, cropped, and added a little sharpening. Below are the “before/after” photos.
f/14; 30 sec.; ISO 64; 35mm
There were so many wonderful times I shared with our little Bichon puppy, Genie, who is no longer with us. I often think about what a special place she had in our home and Mike and I talk often about how much we miss her and how no other puppy could ever take her place. If I had to select one time I shared with her that was more special to me than other times, it would have to be when we were on a long walk and it was just the two of us. I captured this photo one day of a lady walking her dog at Ken Thompson Park and it reminded me of the times little Genie and I shared.
There are many beautiful places to photograph in Sarasota and I cannot select one place over another. One that I especially love, however, is downtown at Island Park along Sarasota Bay. There is always activity such as children playing, people walking their dogs, sweethearts strolling hand in hand and much more. While enjoying a pleasant evening recently, I decided to practice painting with light and found the grasses by the Bay gently swaying in the breeze to be the ideal subject. 
Thanks to this challenge and a fellow photographer, I learned something new last week. On a beautiful day with a gentle breeze and puffy clouds above, I learned to use a variable filter, which I have had for nearly a year and never used. We spent about 3 hours together with a goal of learning how to use the variable filter resulting in a long exposure. Alongside the Ringling Bridge and overlooking the Bay towards downtown Sarasota provided the perfect venue.
As many of you know, I am a Coldwell Banker real estate agent serving Sarasota and Manatee Counties with an office in Sarasota on Longboat Key. Often I have said if a person works, his/her workday would pass more quickly if they had a nice view from their office window. Although this view is from our conference room, it is visible as I walk through the various offices and hallways. You’ll notice at a distance is where Sarasota Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico.
In the 1970’s, I lived in Macon, Georgia and had the pleasure of knowing Phil Walden, owner of Capricorn Records. Capricorn was the recording label for many Southern rock and soul bands in the 1970’s including Otis Redding, The Allman Brothers Band, Al Green, The Marshall Tucker Band, Wet Willie, Kitty Wells and many others. In essence, Phil’s Capricorn Records put Macon, Georgia on the map. Those were happy days, my memories run deep, and still today when I hear “Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay,” by Otis Redding, a huge smile crosses my face and I think about good times. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd3rA89VhtA
A 52-Week Photo Journey 