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.