Silver River Run

A former student of mine and I finally made good on our long standing "let's go take photos sometime" conversation ender. Sandy has a groovy little vintage Boston Whaler and he took me to the Silver River Run near Ocala, the river created by world famous Silver Springs - the river runs fast and deep, and is about as pristine as a place can be - the water is clear and cool, and home to lots of birds, fish, cypress trees and snakes  - "How do I know about the snakes" you ask? Well, I'm glad you mentioned that...Ever the nature photographer, I jumped into the water in an area where the bottom wasn't so deep, and edged up to a huge cypress tree, as I was interested in the textures and shapes of the root system. I had a super wide angle lens on my camera, and the best way to get crazy perspective shots is to get right up next to your subject - so I'm in water waist deep, slogging along the mixed sand/mud bottom - I can't move very fast because of the tricky footing and brisk current,  and I'm carrying a camera that isn't rated for water use(that means it's ruined if I fall in..).  I'm in the "get the shot" mode, paying no attention to my surroundings other than where to put my feet and camera for the best shot... so right when I'm getting up close to the roots, composing what I thought was a really cool shot, I see motion out of the corner of my eye, and a very large snake is about a foot from my head! Very luck for me that it wasn't a water moccasin, or I'd be writing this post posthumously, or at least from the hospital...The VLS (very large snake for all you non-texters) was as afraid of me as I was of it, and I was fortunate that it wasn't too upset that I had interrupted it's sunbathing time... I live to tell another story...The rest of the trip was gorgeous. (and I stayed in the boat too)...It was sooo cool to be in a place that looks pretty much the same as it did many thousands of years ago. I was reminded of Native Americans and how connected they were to the rivers, lakes, and swamps of North Florida. This large expanse of undeveloped wilderness is truly worth the visit. Go sometime!

 

Bobby and Karin Engagement Session

Bobby and Karin are getting married! They live in Orange Park, and have chosen to have their wedding at Steinhatchee Landing this fall.  I had an open Sunday a few weeks ago, so they came to Gainesville to meet me and get acquainted with my services and style - We met at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens and had a great time getting to know one another - I always feel blessed when I am able to put camera shy people at ease and get great photographs of them. The bride and groom to be were glad to find a photographer that they felt relaxed with, and the images speak for themselves...

Coreopsis!

So... if you're one of those "in touch with the seasons" types, you know that every month and every season has its own special wonders. The first of May brings the Coreopsis bloom to North Florida - Ordinarily average looking fields and roadsides explode with yellow flowers atop a sea of green stems...My friends the Whites (the ones from the Melrose/Hawthorne/Campville area) have been telling me about this field of flowers and that I HAVE to see when it blooms...turns out they were right! I arrived late afternoon, right as the light was going off...and saw this...

and this...

and when the clouds overhead turned orange in the final light of the day, the colors went crazy...

and the wind was blowing a sweet breeze...sometimes it feels like you are part of an impressionist painting...

and you keep on pressing the shutter as you smile...

Hey, did you know that Coreopsis is Florida's State Wildflower? Now you do!

Victor and Ashley

Victor and Ashley were married on the 18th of May at the lovely Palencia Club in St. Augustine,  Florida. One of my favorite images is of the bride getting ready - she had been straightening her gown front, and then just looked up at me with such confidence and grace - Click.  How lucky I am to be present in people's lives on their wedding day!

And the flower girl...

Dig that dress!

and the lovely couple...

Journey of a thousand miles begin with one step. Talk doesn't make rice. Yes, I'm talking about you. You know who you are. Enlightened. Aware. Sweating the small stuff, because it's all small stuff. Wait. Or something like that. It's time to throw all blog caution to the wind. Have a look see into the life and times of Dana. Well, at least some of my life and times... Some work, some play, and some things that just get my attention.