When I first saw someone’s artwork on the side of a building in downtown Sarasota, my first impression was that it was somewhat “quirky.” I have been trying to master portraiture photography so the more I looked at the artwork the more I thought it would make a creative backdrop for a portrait if I used a wide aperture to blur it significantly. Thanks goes out to my husband for agreeing to be my model.
It was 6:15 a.m., September 6, 2017, and Category 5 Hurricane Irma was pushing herself in a fierce manner as it approached Puerto Rico packing winds of 185 miles per hour. All indications were that she had her eye aimed at Florida and warnings to Floridians were to be prepared. It has been 25 years since Hurricane Andrew devastated parts of the state and tension was high. Preparation was evident as locals sat in their vehicles waiting until the local BJ’s gas pumps opened, already void of regular gas with only premium available. As a “documentary,” I jumped out of my car and took this photo with my iPhone.
The interior of the Sarasota Opera House is a beautiful building of great interest and history. If you have never attended an opera or ballet there, I would encourage you to do so but beforehand read about its history and renovations here. It’s a place where dreams are fulfilled and because of that, I have processed it with the dreamy “Orton Effect.”
I really struggled with whether or not I should post this photo for something that was “underneath” something so to get the answer I asked myself, “What would Tim Nerenz do if he were me?” The answer was clear.
I would like to introduce you to Isaias and his lady, who I met at the Sarasota Fair one evening. He was most proud of his lady, and rightfully so, but equally as proud of his man “hair” bun and design.
My friend, Patricia, and I spent an enjoyable evening at the Sarasota Fair recently and when I looked up at the flashing sign for the Rock & Roll ride, I saw only the front portion of a pink Cadillac. Obviously, there was a section “Misplaced/Lost” as the “Missing Piece” a/k/a the rear end, was nowhere to be seen.
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.
My friend, Susan, and I decided to do some Sarasota night photography a few weeks ago. Blue hour is one of my favorite times for photography and I was not disappointed with “the night sky” on this beautiful evening. I was thankful for the gentle breeze which created wispy movement in the clouds as they passed between the palm trees and moon.
If driving out University Parkway in Sarasota, FL near the UTC mall doesn’t get you in the holiday spirit, nothing will. Brilliant lights wrap tall Royal Palm and Cabbage Palm trees, hang from water oaks, and gracefully drape the shrubbery. Tall lighted candles, drummer boys, boxes aglow with flashing lights, red ribbons and wrapped with colorful Christmas paper, lighted rowers floating in water, and so much more. As I was returning home from having an early dinner with my husband, I saw the entrance to the Square at UTC, an out parcel across from the mall, and noticed it was decorated with lights which formed circles of snowflakes. Lucky for me that I had my camera and captured “Circle In A Square.”
A 52-Week Photo Journey 