Florida Photo Journal #1
For many years I lived in Florida and travelled extensively throughout the state. As a avid kayaker I also paddled on many of its waterways. Those experiences quickly taught me that Florida is much more than a land of sand, palm trees and large amusement destinations.
The state of Florida is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. It has 1,350 miles (2,170km) of coastline and 8,400 miles (13,520 km) of tidal shoreline-more than any state in the continental USA. It also contains 7,700 lakes, 24 rivers, a national park and forest and, is home to the oldest continuously occupied city in the country, St. Augustine, founded in 1585.
Because Florida is known worldwide for its beaches, I’ll begin this series with the photograph that inspired me to begin this long-term photo project. It also helps demonstrate why Florida is a great destination for those who love beautiful scenery and it shows how you can capture a frequently photographed subject (i.e. a beach scene) in a unique and fresh way. The photo, titled State of Grace, has won many national and international awards. It was made moments after sunrise following an all night tropical rain storm. The moisture, high humidity and soft light from sunrise helped to bring out the deeply saturated colors in the sky and land. This photo was made in the western part of the state on the Gulf of Mexico near Tampa, Florida.
State of Grace
Sand Key Park, Clearwater, Florida USA
A Beach Scene Enhanced by Unusual Weather & Lighting
TIP: Because of the high humidity and moisture soaked sand, a circular polarizer (described earlier in this blog) helped to remove the sun’s glare, saturate the colors in the sand and sky and also make the double rainbow more visible in the photograph.
CHANGE IN PLANS AND HEALTH UPDATE
I arrived in Southern Florida several nights ago not feeling well. By yesterday morning I was at a medical clinic and given a shopping bag full of antibiotic medications that make it difficult to work and will require rest for 7-10 days. Since I begin a demanding 5-week photo assignment in a few weeks I’ll be returning to Ohio to heal and rest. I will continue this series, however, as time and health permits. Thanks so much for following along.
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Follow along on Rick's 5-week assignment as artist-in-residence at Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee.
• ABOUT RICK
Rick is a fine art photographer who tells the Earth's stories through images. He writes an award-winning blog, is a ten-time artist in residence recipient from the National Park Service and author of the photography book Standing With the Ancient Ones.DON'T MISS A THING
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Hope you’re feeling well again very soon.
A beautiful picture. However, and more importantly, I hope your health picks up quickly, Rick.
Rick sending you energy Healing over the airwaves and hope you will soon be feeling Tip-Top for your assignment in a few weeks. Sending you thoughts your way.
Take care
Blessings Sue xxx
Sorry to hear that you’re not feeling well. I hope the rainbows in your gorgeous photo are a sign that you will recover soon!
So sorry to hear you are ill. But are you sure you want to come back to Columbus to heal? I’m thinking Florida weather is better than here! Take care my friend.
Feel better!
Feel better Rick. Your health is more important than anything else!
Mend well!
Glad you’re taking care of yourself first, Rick. May the earth bless you as you have blessed it in your photography.
Sending healing thoughts! The photo is superb!
Take good care of yourself, Rick. I’m sending lot’s of love your way to support the path of healing as you choose it.
Also, I still love this picture and can see why it is an award winning one.
Wishing you a smooth recovery!
So sorry to hear, Rick… Why do bad things happen to good people? Godspeed for a quick recovery!
Sending healing prayers and thoughts….be good to you and rest easy. Praying for a quick recovery:)
Your photo is so striking, as so many others that you have shared with us. So sorry to hear that you are not feeling well and hope it is nothing too serious. Sending healing thoughts your way for a speedy recovery.
Fabulous photograph. Sending healing light for a good recovery.
Yes, hope you are feeling better soon!
Rick, I hope you are doing better by now. You must have traveled to the wrong area and picked up something from the alligators in Florida. Get well right now.
I have decided it is to expensive to read your blog.
Now I have to go out and get another polarized filter I had one for my Nikon but it does not fit the Cannon. I was thinking I really did not need it but thanks to your articles I really do. Especially the way the sun washes out everything here.
Toughen up Rick and get well soon!
Your supposed to travel to Florida to BECOME healthy! Sure hope you’re back on your feet quickly!
Stunning photo…..I used to frequent Clearwater and have been to Sand Key Park…..always a fun place with beautiful sunsets. Its never fun to get sick while away from home. Wishing you a speedy recovery and look forward to more photos and tricks of the trade
Amazing! Sending wishes for quick healing. I look forward to seeing Florida through your lens. I sure am having fun here and feel like there are endless opportunities for photos.
Here’s hoping you’re well again soon, Rick. Terrific photo, too.
Oh no…. Praying you recover quickly. Stunning photo by the way!
Take care, Rick. I look forward to seeing more awesome pictures you’ve taken once you are better.
Blessings ~ Wendy
Beautiful photo! Hope you feel better soon!
I’ll add to the wishes for a speedy recovery and hope you’re back to shooting your wonderful images again soon!
Oh Rick, wish you better very soon…big hug
Hi Tom. I am so very grateful for your note and your good wishes. It truly helped to lift my spirits a few days ago when I was able to read your comment, and today I finally have enough energy energy to reply. Many many thanks.
Hi Sue. Thank you for the kind words on the photo and equally as important, thank you for the good wishes for my healing. It was one of those illnesses that really hit me hard and your note did much to help lift my spirits, although it took me until today to have enough energy to reply. Thank you for your patience.
Hi Rick, it is good to know you are on the mend. Being ill is never good, but it really is a bugger when you have things you want to be doing.
Thank you Sue. All those good wishes and energy is beginning to work a little at a time. THANK YOU!
Oh my, what a beautiful image you painted with that analogy Cathy. Who couldn’t help but feel better with lovely messages like that. Thank you { }
Oh I don’t know Susan, it’s really hard to heal when you’re not in your own home, even if it is in a place that’s 70 degrees F colder! After many days of resting and an unbelievable amount of antibiotics I’m going to try making my way back to Ohio tomorrow. Thanks for visiting and for your great message.
Many many thanks for the good wishes
So many thanks for all the good wishes Cindy. I’m definitely starting to feel a bit better, especially after reading all these good wishes messages. Thank you.
Thank you Lee. I’m doing well enough that I’m making my big airline flight back to Ohio tomorrow. I sure appreciate hearing from you!
I’m deeply grateful for all your prayers and good wishes and am beginning to feel good enough to travel home. Many many thanks.
Thank you LuAnn. As you and Terry know so well, sometimes life gives us those lemons and we have to make the best of it. On the one hand, I’ve just had to ingest 120, yep 120 antibiotic pills. On the other hand, I’m beginning to feel a little better and only have 20 pills to take. Yippee!
So many thanks for the kind words on the image, and equally as important, for sending that beautiful healing light.
So many thanks for those good wishes Joy. Guess I haven’t been doing all the fitness things I needed to these past few months! I better reread more sections of your great blog again
You are SOOOO correct in your thinking Karen. This all came about from a prior trip to a South American country. I know from my many travels not to drink tap water, but in a moment of memory loss I guess, I ate some lettuce that had been rinsed with local water.
So sorry (and happy too) that the blog is costing you some $ in photo investments. I have photographed quite a bit in Hawaii and a polarizer will prove well worth the investment. By the way, if you spent a great deal of money on the polarizer, there is an inexpensive fitting called a step-up or step-down adapter that might make it possible to use your old polarizer on your new camera. They are usually around $15-20 USD. Your local camera store should be able to help. Aloha!
Thanks for all the good washes these past few days. Sorry I didn’t get over toward Lakeland on this trip, but as you know, my plans changed drastically and I have been spending all my time taking antibiotics and resting so I could travel back to Ohio tomorrow. Actually, come to think about it you are right—Florida is been the place that’s helped me to get healthy
It’s always so nice to hear from you Ingrid and many thanks for the good wishes. Clearwater and Sand Key Park still are absolutely stunning places as is Honeymoon Island just North of there. So, if you’re ever looking for a lovely place for some R&R, they are still waiting for you!
You sure have me feeling happy Pat. I believe photography should always be about fun, creativity and joy and I’m so pleased that’s what you’re feeling. Keep on clicking
So lovely as always to hear from you Rene and thank you for the prayers and good wishes. I am starting to feel better and who wouldn’t with great get well wishes like this one from you
So many thanks for your good wishes Wendy. Since I’m starting to get more of my energy back, I’ll begin posting more photos in a day or two. So great to hear from you.
I probably don’t have to tell you this, but remember to take your probiotics after a round of that many antibiotics. Glad to hear it’s almost over.
What a stunning photo !
I hope you feel better soon.
I am glad to hear that and wish you the best:)
Stunning photograph, Rick! I’m sending positive energy your way for healing. Take care of yourself.
Thanks so much for that , LuAnn. Yep, I’m eating LOTS of good yogurt several times a day.
Hello Tok. Many thanks for the kind words on the photo and also for the good wishes. Fortunately, I’m feeling a little better each day.
So great to hear from you HRCG. Thanks for the good wishes.
Many many thanks Lori for the good words and the good wishes. That positive energy is working!
Thanks Rick for the advise but I did not spend that much money that I can remember. It was so long ago. But I’ll check into the filter non the less. I’ve been doing a lot of sewing so have not written nor read anything so I’ll be checking in with you soon. Hope your 100 % by now.
Great to hear from you Karen. Get your sewing done. The posts will be here and you can catch up when your project’s finished.