Festival of Lights - Stephen Foster State Park

Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park holds a Festival of Lights each year starting the first week-end in December, which we discovered three years ago. During a camping trip that October, all the volunteers we met told us we just had to see it, but getting a campsite that late would be nearly impossible. We managed to get a slot due to a cancellation, and now every year we book a site many months in advance. The festival attracts everyone within driving distance, and many of us who come from a longer distance and either camp or stay at the local bed and breakfast or hotel.

This year we saw several changes in the light sculptures, along with the old favorites. Festivities start each evening around 5 or 5:30 p.m as it starts to get dark. We usually start walking from the campground between 5:30 and 6 to get the best light for a few photographs. According to the volunteers, over 5 million lights shone this year. We usually walk around to see the lights, and then head toward the craft village area for hot chocolate, popcorn, music, and enjoying the craft demonstrations and exhibits. We went to the museum the first night at 6:30 to enjoy dulcimer music. People wandered in and out for a song or two, we stayed for several.

Below is a small sampling of the lights. Numerous displays dot the park grounds, with shooting stars and their tails sailing through trees, lighted angels, ornaments, and trees, and one of my favorites, the multi-color lolly pop "forest".

Changes in Nature Photography

On a recent hike I came across a frog sitting on a submerged log. I composed my first shot in a fairly straightforward manner: fill the frame with the subject, tack sharp focus, using the light to illuminate the entire frog. I took a few shots in the same manner, from different viewpoints. I liked this one best. The halo effect of the water around the head of the frog, and the horizontal line of the log leading to the head worked to make a good, straightforward nature shot.

I walked around checking out other angles, and noticed from one location the light bounced off the water, creating a shimmery, silvery, almost solid effect, with the exposed part of the frog's head the only part visible. I tried a few shots with different compositions from that location, and ended up with an interesting, and non-traditional, nature shot.

Nature photography, like all photography, evolves constantly. Once only professional photographers with the expensive cameras could get shots that a smart phone in the hands of almost everyone can get now. Take the time to really look for more creative ways to capture your subject.

Walking Through Brooker Creek Preserve Wetlands

The experience of an early morning walk along the boardwalk through the Brooker Creek Preserve wetland varies by the season. In late November, the pond cypress needles thin out, leaving the forested canopy open to the sky and natural light. A very wet summer, followed by a wet autumn kept the water levels higher, though they recede a bit each day now.

Photographing the landscape scene along the boardwalk always proves a challenge. Unlike the soaring mountains of the western states, or the rounding hills of the eastern states, Florida stretches out flat with numerous shades and intensities of green. After a recent course in art history, I find myself looking for the natural lines in each subject, where they originate and lead, and if they work for the image I want to make. I shot several scenes with that in mind, and the light worked with me. Reviewing my work later, I found several shots that worked, and one that captured the image exactly.

The slightly clearer line of water starts directly in front, and weaves back and out of the photograph guiding the eye along the banks. The trees along the edge are just barely reflected in the green covered water.

This scene makes the viewer wonder what remote part of the world is pictured here. That this beauty exists in the most densely populated county in Florida is amazing.

St. George Island State Park – A Different Trip to the Beach

September 27 – 28, 2015

The rain started about four hours into the six hour drive. We woke to cloudy skies that morning, and clouds stayed with us all day as we made our way on back roads and small highways, so we expected it eventually. The rain stayed light and occasional during the drive, but by the time we reached the park, it poured down. When we reached our site, the downpour had diminished to light rain. We did get a walk in around the park, but rain started again so we retreated to the RV for dinner and a movie.

St. George Island State Park occupies the eastern section of St. George Island, a small barrier island just over the bridge from Eastpoint, FL. We visited four years prior and looked forward to returning. We went in November that year, and the morning and evening sun lighting the sand dunes, with Ghost crabs everywhere, stayed in our minds. That beautiful lighting would not be happening much this trip.

The forecast started changing a few days before our scheduled departure. The low pressure area in the western Gulf started moving toward Florida, and the forecast changed at least twice a day as they tried to predict the direction of the storm. The day before we left, it was clear we were in for a rainy stay. We considered canceling, but the opportunity for interesting seascapes for Karl’s current project won out, and a little rain wasn’t going to stop us.

Then it wasn’t just a little rain. The storm intensified overnight and the forecast the next morning showed strong rain and thunderstorms heading our way. We considered leaving, but realized we would be driving in the storms and felt staying put a safer option. We planned to stay at our campsite or close by in the park, and kept the RV ready to leave quickly if circumstances warranted it. As the day progressed, we had several downpours but not the predicted storms. We learned that the storm tracked more north than east, and we missed the worst part of it.

We did get to the beach several times the first two days, keeping an eye on the sky at all times. These were not the idyllic beach walks of gushing travelogues or enticing post cards. The warning flags on the beach stood out straight in the heavy wind, the waves built more and more as we watched, and even the few shorebirds got out of the way. People stood all over the beach, or huddled down against the wind in the shelters, but everyone watched the sky and the waves. Travel pieces rarely write about these types of days, but they show the other side of those sunny dream trips, and maybe capture the imagination even more.

September Hike at Brooker Creek Preserve

We woke on Saturday, September 26 to rain. On the drive to Brooker Creek Preserve we saw fog, and evidence that rain still fell in other parts of the area. Of the dozen people who signed up for the hike, only one determined person showed. The weather kept the rest away. Fortunately, the rain stopped, so we did our brief introduction in the auditorium and then set out on the very personalized hike for our guest.

The hike to the parking lot took some time, as the bird activity picked up considerably. We briefly saw the Blue winged warbler sighted the week before, but before any of us could focus it flitted around and dove deeper into the canopy.

As we walked toward the bridge over the main channel, some wasps buzzed around building a nest in a tunnel of saw palmetto leaves, directly at eye level. At the bridge, an anhinga sat on a branch over the creek, allowing for shots from various angles. Then a Green Heron flew by and hid in some leaves, challenging all of us to find an angle for a shot. Further along we saw the start of the Fall wildflowers, numerous air plants, plenty of birds and dragonflies, and some interesting damage done to some leaves and vines. We spent a lot of time composing our shots and taking the photos.

As we came up the boardwalk behind the education buildings, a Black-crowned night heron stood in the wetlands. He saw us, but continued his slow walk looking for food. At the perched wetland just behind the education center a banded water snake lay on a branch just above the water.

In spite of the questionable start to the day, we experienced good light, and found great subject matter. Had the rain continued, we came prepared to do a classroom session but luckily we ended up with a varied and interesting hike.

Our next hike is Saturday morning, October 31 starting at 8:30 a.m. and continuing to 10:15 or 10:30. We hope to see you there.

Morning Walk at Green Key, New Port Richey

Hot days continued through September, not unusual for this part of Florida but the above normal rainfall meant above normal humidity, and it felt hot!

We decided one slightly cloudy but not rainy (finally) Saturday to head to Robert K. Rees park on Green Key. This tiny park sits at the end of a small causeway, off of US 19. Look carefully for the turn, it is easily missed. The clouds hung over as we arrived, causing hazy sun and an interesting view.

Not long after this shot, the sun finally made its way through the overcast.

First we wandered the beach, finding quite an array of waterbirds including a Green heron who squawked loudly, then seemed to follow us as we left the beach to walk the boardwalk.

 I spotted a warbler, but it dove into the mangroves too fast for a shot. I noticed the last time I walked the boardwalk that the mangrove crabs on the boardwalk felt the vibration as I approached and scurried away quickly. Looking carefully in the mangrove trees, I found other crabs more involved in finding a meal than paying attention to me.

This immature White Ibis sat on the railing watching us approach, finally flying away.

We are hoping for a milder, and much drier Fall!

Morning Hike at Brooker Creek Preserve

Reminder: Our monthly photography hikes start again September 26 at Brooker Creek Preserve, 8:30 a.m. to about 10:30 a.m. This year's theme is "Seasons of Florida". We start with a short classroom session of basic photography tips, talk about the type of lighting likely for that day, and a talk about the Preserve for that time of year and what we are likely to see of the landscape, flora, and fauna.

September 17, 2015 Brooker Creek Preserve

Even though the morning started cloudy, the forecast assured us of a small chance of rain so we took off for a morning hike at Brooker Creek Preserve. The unusual perma-rain summer meant less hiking than usual this season.

We walked to the bridge over the main channel, high and flowing strongly due to the recent rains. Mosquitoes buzzed, but not nearly as bad as one would expect with so much rain. We meandered, cameras in hand. As we started down the path to the bird blind, Karl stopped and announced "Rain, we better head back". We retraced our steps and started down the boardwalk to the Education Center buildings and, of course, the rain stopped. The wetlands around the boardwalk held more water than in recent years, and during one period of rain this year the boardwalk turned into part of the wetlands with water covering it by more than an inch.

I stopped and looked through the trees. An anhinga sat on a branch not far from the boardwalk, slender neck retracting and darting, looking for movement and the possibility of a meal. A perfect shot waiting on a busy boardwalk.

Running, Rocket Launches, and Cameras

September 2, 2015 West Central Florida

I run most mornings, for my health and not for any great love of the sport. I prefer to run just before daybreak, especially in the hot central Florida summer. Once the sun rises and the heat comes up, I lose all desire to make my three mile journey for the day. Plus, there is less traffic. I enjoy the aloneness of the dark, seeing the moon as it works through its monthly phases, and noting the changing constellations as the year progresses. It is a pleasant way to start the day.

Karl mentioned this particular morning that Cape Canaveral hoped to launch the Atlas V rocket carrying a satellite so I should keep an eye out for it. As I ran east on my second and final lap, I saw a white trail streaking upward with a red tip. I’ve watched many launches from my west coast location, but each time I feel the thrill and the excitement of the event. I continued my run watching the trail as it bloomed and grew. At first I thought something was wrong, I didn’t remember ever seeing a plume like that before. I later learned it was normal, but the atmospherics of the morning illuminated it completely which doesn’t usually happen.

I forgot my camera. Correction, I normally don’t carry a camera during my run. The chance of damage from the jostling and possible dropping, plus usual lack of subjects that early, means the cameras stay home. In hopes of capturing some part of the spectacle, I turned around and put on a burst of speed heading home. I turned the corner just in time to see Karl checking the back of his camera, and heading back into the house. Confident Karl had taken the shot; I finished my run at my usual more leisurely pace. Karl captured the last remains of the plume as they slowly formed patterns in the sky before dissipating.