Anastasia Island, part 2

The best part about our walk on the beach was how few other people there were around us. Most of the beach was pretty much deserted. It was really, really nice.

There were actually a few nice looking shells on the beach, since so few people were there to scoop them up. This one was broken, but I thought it looked neat anyway.

I had never touched a live starfish before. Actually, I thought this guy was dead until I picked him up and he started wiggling. There were actually a bunch of them around.

Another thing I can't remember seeing before: baby seagulls. They're really cute. The gulls here didn't seem as aggressive as the ones at somewhere like Clearwater Beach, where they'll peck your eyes out to get your Wheat Thins.

Check out Adam's footprints in the wet sand. He was heading up to the sand dune that seperates the beach from the salt marsh.

Anastasia Island, part 1

Pictures from the beach at Anastasia Island state park. It was a beautiful day.

The thing that always strikes me about the east coast is how the afternoon sun is at your back, rather than out over the water. I know it's a very "duh" thing, but since I usually go to beaches on the western coast, it is a small but unusual change. This is the afternoon sunlight reflecting off of the wet sand.


There were a few minutes when the sun went behind a stray cloud, and everything in sight was suddenly a deep, lovely blue.

There were very few people on the beach at all, but this mother and daughter seemed to be enjoying themselves. They both seemed so relaxed, just letting the waves roll up to their feet.

Since Anastasia Island is only a few minutes outside of St. Augustine, we decided to stop by our favorite mexican restaurant while we were there. We sat on the second-floor balcony, which is completely open to the bay. We have been very lucky when we go there, since we almost always get the very best table in the house -- right on the edge of the balcony, with a perfect, unobstructed view.
This picture is blurry on purpose. It sort of reflects how I felt at the end of the day ... so relaxed, a little drowsy, but happy.

eric and erin's wedding

Eric and Erin had a lovely wedding recently. I wish more of my pictures had turned out well, but here are a couple that I liked.

I love the way the intense light washes out the window panes. Oh, and the cake is super cute!


The candles were so pretty as the backdrop to the ceremony. I really wanted to photograph this mantle covered with candles from a million different angles afterward, but I thought I might look kind of creepy, and I was hogging up the prime family photo backdrop, so I only took one angle.


This is Erin as she and Eric are leaving the reception hall.


Yay, Eric and Erin!!


P.S. ... if you happen to go to their professional photographer's gallery to view their pics, check out #709 ... it's me with my ever-present camera!

from june 2006 ... stuff I forgot

These are some miscellaneous photos that I meant to post several weeks ago, but never got around to it. They are from our trip to Boca Grande for Jana and Howell's wedding.

This, my friends, is homemade motion blur. This is un-photoshopped. (Actually, 99% of the pictures I post are unphotoshopped, but mostly because I'm lazy.) Anyway, this was a cool looking tree stump outside of the beach house. Made cooler looking with motion blur. I'm thinking of making it my wallpaper.


This is just some random boat rigging / dock hardware stuff that had such an interesting form ... and notice the contrast of the heavy metal with the wood. Fun stuff.


A lovely picture of the lovely Miss Kate that somehow got left out of the original post of this series of pictures.

from may 2006, part 2

These photos were also taken inside of the state park. A little less nature-y, though.
The fourth one is my favorite.

from may 2006, part 1

These pictures were taken in May in a state park in Tampa, somewhere off of Fletcher I think. Adam, his dad, and myself went for a couple of hours one day in May. I think we plan to go back sometime when the weather is cooler. Anyway, there were plenty of fun things to explore and photograph. The picture below is of a calm, quiet little creek inside the park. The water was pretty cloudy, which gave it an interesting color and let the light reflect in such a pretty way.

lots of new pics!

Adam and I were in Boca Grande last weekend for a wedding, and I took a zillion pictures. I put a bunch of them (28) on here, so scroll down and enjoy.

P.S. ... you can click on the picture to view it full-size.

relaxation

Some of the porch chairs overlooking the water. I could sit here for hours on end.
Reflection of one of the boats and dock on the water.

The sunset reflecting on the water. Did I mention this was a relaxing weekend?

us in boca grande

Adam outside of the beach house.
Me sitting on the dock. I was watching this school of crazy hyperactive minnows swim around.

Adam's big catch. I think it was the only thing anyone caught all weekend, actually. It was thrown back, of course.

Adam in the palm trees.

why don't we go to the beach more?

This felt so nice!
Sea foam ... sort of.

Low tide on a gorgeous day.

High tide. Notice how the beach is practically non-existant. The waves were coming basically right up to the rocks at the sea wall.

Adam's dad and his cousin's wife, Jeannie. About ten seconds after I took this picture, it started to POUR down rain on us and we had to run back to the house.