Bliss – Photo 101

sunrise
Bliss – Mullet Lake Park – November 2014

Bliss for me is a Florida morning, palm trees, Spanish moss on the oaks, calm water, couple of birds flying by, and many more serenading the day.

This is one of many small parks in Central Florida where you can spend a solitary morning, snapping pics, breathing air, and enjoying life. As I have said before, the best part of taking photos is being there.

Squawker

common-gallinule
Noisy – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015

“I’m so cool that the kids come to my bedroom and go “Mom, turn the music down” – Melissa Ethridge

Substitute “mom” with “dad” in above quote – been there.

The common gallinule above was caught as I continued my hunt for the purple gallinule. One morning I spotted the purple gallinule in the perfect light. Sun beaming off of it’s gorgeous chest – I didn’t have my camera. That said the common is quite beautiful too.

Quote found at https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/noise

Curiosity

great-egret
Curiosity – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” – Walt Disney

A bit of a whimsical picture today. This great egret stretched his neck about as far as it goes. His face at this angle reminds me of an ostrich.

Quote found at http://www.finestquotes.com/select_quote-category-Curiosity-page-0.htm

Florida State Wildflower

Leavenworths-Tickseed
Leavenworth’s Tickseed – Orlando Wetlands Park – March 2015

“To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wildflower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour.” William Blake

Leavenworth’s Tickseed is Florida’s state wildflower – in fact the entire species – Coreopsis. You can find it all over Central Florida.

Quote found at http://quotio.com/on/Wildflower

Alligator

alligator
American Alligator – Orlando Wetlands Park – February 2015

“For us there is only trying. The rest is not our business” – T.S. Elliot

This is one of the largest alligators I’ve seen in years. For perspective I usually take pictures with my zoom at 300mm – I had to drop back to 190MM to get the entire gator in it. Guessing 12 feet long. Yikes!

Off to day 2 of bird photography workshop. Hopefully we will be a little drier today. maybe even see the sun.

Edward Weston – Photo Pioneer

flycatcher
Flycather – UCF Arboretum – February 20

My own eyes are no more than scouts on a preliminary search, for the camera’s eye may entirely change my idea. – Edward Weston

Edward Weston, who along with Ansel Adams and Minor White were founders of the photography program at the California School of Fine Arts. Thanks to the pioneers of American Photography who gave us all inspiration to pursue our passions.

Please see more on Edward Weston at http://edward-weston.com/

Quote found at http://www.photoquotes.com/showquotes.aspx?id=51&name=Weston,Edward#ixzz3St1V47zK

Black-and-white-flycatcher
BW-Flycatcher