Kids Flying High

The kids are getting older and harder to surprise.  So this year, we arranged for them to go parasailing off Ft Myers Beach. The sail's smiley face was pale in comparison to the big grins on their faces...it was an awesome afternoon! Next time...I'll go :o)  If you're ever in Ft. Myers and want to give it a try...I highly recommend "Paradise Parasailing"...they were real professionals!

Firery Sunrise

A dramatic sunrise over Miami's Biscayne Bay.

Cloudy Sunset

Tonight I was out shopping and noticed the clouds in the sky...so I headed home to drop some things and get my camera.  I headed to a parking garage in my neighborhood to take a few photos.

Tonight's Rainbow - Skywatch Friday

We were heading to deliver toys to an orphanage in South Florida, it's been raining all day...and I have to imagine that God was blessing our mission because we were rewarded with this beautiful double full rainbow! I was taking the pics through the car windows because a co-worker was on a business call so to noisy to put down the window...but they didn't come out too bad considering.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas...one full of family, love and miracles!

Go and check out more Skywatch images at the Skywatch Site!

Mommie...come on...pet me!

This is Tiffany...she's sweet as sugar and is persistant. She lays on me and gives me a gentle stick with her paw (claws) to make sure I stay focused :o)

Hidden Sun

Remnants of a sunset...

Skywatch Friday - Early to Work Pays Off

Wednesday I had an early meeting so got in around 6:15...just enough time to head to the balcony and capture the sunrise over Biscayne Bay.  Well worth getting up early...although I'm sure it'll be hard to remember that the next time my alarm goes off at 4:15 am :o)

Go and check out more Skywatch images at the Skywatch Site!

Wispy Clouds Over South Miami

This was taken the night of the full moon (see post called "fly me to the moon") but from the other side of the building facing southwest.

Showing Some Leg

I thought this bird looked so funny...like he was busting a move (electric slide?) or showing off his skinny bird leg.  Whatever...doesn't look like it was going to last long with that wave hovering :o)

Wind Blown Pine

This was taken along the Sanibel causeway during the last minutes of the sunset.  The wind was blowing quite hard and in the low light I couldn't capture the details in the tree, but in retrospect I kind of like how the movement is captured in the pine...helps me remember the evening better :o)

Sunset Delicacy

While watching the sunset this bird flew right in and crept along the shore looking for a little something to eat.  I remained still, hidden by the trees so he wouldn't get spooked and fly off.  Eventually he made a capture and flew off.

Skywatch Friday - Sunset over West Miami

Go and check out more Skywatch images at the Skywatch Site!

Hungry Pelican

While watching the sunset recently we noticed alot of pelicans soaring over the surface and then nose diving right into the water to capture their dinner. Looking at the sequence of these two photos I know this isn't the same one, but it sure does look like it :o) Wonder how they can see the fish in such low light?

Bowman's Beach Shoreline - Watery Wednesday

This was taken as we watched the sun go down at Bowman's Beach on Sanibel Island. It's a very lively beach with the waves crashing onto the shore. I love that sound!

To see more watery photos from around the world, visit Watery Wednesday at http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

Fly Me To The Moon

Heading out from work tonight and the full moon was hanging over the city. It was beautiful! So I headed upto the 15th floor balcony to get a few pictures. In this one I caught a flight heading out of Miami International Airport. When I got home to view the pictures this one reminded me of a boss I worked with that used to sing "Fly Me to the Moon" all the time :o)

Pine Island Sunset

We were out on Pine Island this afternoon for an event that turned out to be a quick stop so we headed out to the tip of the island just in time to see the sun go down. I got bit by alot of gnats but it was worth it :o)

Moment of Sunrise

Coming, coming, peeking and then finally showing itself...it was a majestic morning...I really should get up earlier more often!

Lower Metacumbe Key

This was taken one day down in the Florida Keys. It was a beautiful, clear, warm day and I spent most of the day wading in the shallow water. Awesome way to spend the day :o)


Go and check out more Skywatch images at the Skywatch Site!

Coquina on Sanibel Shoreline

At the beach on Sanibel and I noticed these tiny shells all over the shoreline but didn't really pay attention. Then later started noticing they would disappear everytime a wave came and then they'd re-appear. So...I switched on the video and went in for a closer look. It really grossed us out! But I checked in a shell book later than night and found they are Coquina a small live clam that lives in abundance along Atlantic shores. Never saw them before or since...but they were pretty cool to watch...

Mall on the Way to Pompeii

I have no idea where we were when I took this! We were on a day trip from Rome to Pompeii and we stopped at a little town on the way with some time to explore. This beautiful building was actually a mall on the bottom level...I have no idea what it originally was and I didn't do any shopping...I was mezmerized by the ceiling!

Ceiling on Way to Sistine Chapel

Looking back through some old photos. This was taken on a trip to Rome as we made our way through the different buildings on our way to the Sistine Chapel. I was absolutely in awe of how regal and ornate everything was, but this hallway was just amazing!

Biltmore Hotel Against an Orange Sky

Took this one of the Biltmore Hotel right as the sun was going down and I was leaving work. If you ever have the change to visit the hotel I highly recommend it...it's a beautiful place and the spa is fantastic!

Things Just Not Coming Together

Sometimes when I'm taking photos I have days when things just come together: composition, color, lighting, focus, subject matter and I come away with at least one photo that captures all the elements important to me. Other days...like this day...I capture a piece here and another there, but not enough are in the same shot to really make me love the photo.
This one I love the placement, the colors, the different textures in the grasses and although the focus isn't clear on anything I kind of like it...almost gives me a sense of the breeze. BUT I didn't catch the beacon on the lighthouse properly. So when I look at this one...I'm pleased with most of it, but that half light bothers me...

In this one, I actually like the grasses more than the first...they're more distinct and you get more of the green (I love green!). I got the light and the composition pleases me...BUT the lighthouse itself is too out of focus for my taste...this one bugs me too.

Then this one is just lacking something...focus is ok, the light was dead center...but it's plain...blah, blah, blah.

Oh well...tomorrow is another day! I will say this was the first time I had ever noticed the lighthouse being lit. Can't say it never was before, but if so, I'd never noticed before...so good photos or not that was kind of cool :0)

Everglades Canal at Sunset

Took this one on one of my many trips across the Everglades. I was at a rest stop and noticed the last hints of the sun going down. I'm really drawn to a scene where the land is super dark against a light sky so I couldn't resist grabbing my camera.

Go and check out more Skywatch images at the Skywatch Site!

Waiting on the Sunrise

Caught these folks waiting for the sun to rise off-shore from the Sanibel lighthouse recently. What a nice way to start the morning...out on the sea, feeling the waves and listening to the birds :o)

St. John the Evangelist Church, Schenectady, NY

St. John the Evangelist Church, 814 Union Street which sits in the Union Street Historical District and is directly across the street from the main entrance to Union College. The church was built in 1899, it features a distinctive 230-foot (70 m) steel-and-glass central spire, with a view towards the college's Nott Memorial from the front. Bottom photo is the Nott as seen from the church.

Nott Memorial

This is the Nott Memorial which sits on campus of Union College in Schenectady, NY which was founded in 1795. I am told the building is the only 16 sided structure in the Western hemisphere and stands as a memorial to Eliphalet Nott who was the college president from 1804 to 1866. I'm also told it was shown in the movie "Love Story" which I saw eons ago so I can't comment on that one until I see it again.

The 3rd photo is of some totally cool window treatments inside the building. They were sections of stretched canvas...very simple but creative and effective. The bottom photo is of one of the many panels of stained glass windows throughout the building.

In the dome there appear to be colored glass pieces that allow sunlight to shine through and create an effect of stars or something shining through. It's really cool...but my attempts to capture it didn't come out so well so you'll have to go see it for yourself :o)

Water Features in Rose Garden

These are the 3 water features in the Central Park Rose Garden. The first flows into the pond under the little bridge and the third sits adjacent to the bridge. I actually got the last one on video but like a dork I held the camera on end so it would catch the length of the waterfall...and the video is now sideways and I don't have the software to rotate it. Anyway...it's a tremendously peaceful area. If you're ever in the area (during spring or summer) I highly recommend it.

Rose Garden in Central Park

While exploring Central Park in Schenectady we stumbled on their beautiful rose garden. It's row after row of every kind of rose you could think of . There were benches surrounding the garden to allow visitors to sit and reflect. Further into the garden was a small waterfall. The garden sits at the edge of the park, where it meets a quaint neighborhood. These were two of my favorites from the hundreds of blooms.

Central Park Waterfall and Ducks

There's an awesome park in Schenectady, New York...ironically called Central Park. We visited on our last trip and in the center is a pond with a waterfall and ducks. The weather was beautiful and it was an incredibly peaceful day.

Over the Florida Sky

These were taken from the plane a couple months ago while we were flying back to Miami from New York. I found it interesting how the clouds formed over the land and it was so clear over the ocean (top photo). Then as we got closer to South Florida we were actually able to see boats traveling on the ocean...the streak in the center is the wake they left behind. Dig the shadow of the clouds on the waters surface...cool :o)

Anyway...to the Skywatch folks...here's another set of pics of the sky from above it...enjoy :o)

Go and check out more Skywatch images at the Skywatch Site!