Slow Summer

Calendar winner

Dragonfly Pit stop

 It's been slow photography wise this summer. I did manage to get my alligator picture picked for my work's calendar. I went up against 87 other people so I feel pretty good. My first published photo,Yeah me.







I got some good insect photos usual stuff.I think I need to travel somewhere.

The Kids

We have done lots of hanging out with the family.Some of them are quite the hams.

Bayport Inn's local fisherman

Bayport, love it. It has parks, fishing, the Inn and a scenic winding road. Great on a motorcycle.











Then we had tropical storm Debby. Luckily not a hurricane but we still had a four day deluge.we received 18 inches of rain and floated down the street. I hope my next post has better stuff just waiting for the weather to cool.

Tropical Storm Debby created Lake Whippoorwill street.

Tampa Bay Renaissance Festival

The village idiot

  Sunday March18, the crew and I stepped back in time once again. This time we went to the middle ages. Tampa's Renaissance Festival is held in the woods behind MOSI, the science museum.

The king and queen

Friendly barmaid with her interesting tip holders

A star of the Mud Show.

The myriad of different characters was amazing. We saw royalty, soldiers, peasants and even a few  monsters. My favorites were the village idiot and Hob the Troll. Both very funny.

After a tasty hamburger we enjoyed a beer from the pirate pub. Everything was a bit pricey, as expected. But how often do you have a dark ages beer from a medieval barmaid in a renaissance mug.

The number of vendors selling their wares was tremendous. As well as the number of shows. One of my more memorable was the Mud Show. The two stars took turns with some witty humor. Then finished with a superman launch off a platform and face plant into a mud pit.

We had an excellent time today. I got tons of great pics. And we will be back next year.

Nature Coast Civil War Reenactment

The sheriff's desk

 This Sunday , March 11, the crew and I went to Crystal River. The battle pitted the union army against the confederates. It included large numbers of infantry, cavalry and several canons.

pyrotechnic  canon blast

Rebel casualties

The morning was total overcast. Not exactly the best lighting for pics. About an hour before battle the sky opened up. Rain was there to stay the remainder of the afternoon.









The show must go on. All of us spectators took shelter until the first shot was fired. We took our wet seats and watched the show.

union cavalry

After a few minutes of heavy action, we hardly noticed we were getting soaked. I stowed the camera in the bag in between shots. The rain didn't dampen the show at all. For an hour we got treated to close quarters combat.









The moral of the story is I need rain gear. For us and the camera. But once again, one hell of a show.  If anyone knows of upcoming events like this one ,let me know. Have camera will travel

Ocala Trip

Part of my sister's backyard party deck.

  This week the camera crew, Barb,Jenna and I headed to Ocala. We picked up my sister Sharon and left for Sholom Park.                                                                    






This park is very different than the ones near our house.Winding paths lead you to signposts containing thought provoking messages.Our next stop was Micanopy, pronounced mic-a-no-pee.This is a town time forgot as well as the location for the film Doc Hollywood. The overcast sky was perfect lighting for the old buildings.

 

Sholom Park

Micanopy

Before finishing the day with a burger and a beer, maybe a couple beers, we landed in the Micanopy cemetery. Full grown oaks add cover to the graves. Some are over 150 years old. We noticed allot of children from the late 1800's. What could have caused this.

By herself  lies a 12 year old girl from 1897. Her brick made headstone had offerings such as shells and small toys. As we headed out we each gave her a sea shell.

Fort Foster rendezvous

I believe this is the Seminole chief.

 Today I went to the Fort Foster rendezvous. With my ten year old daughter in tow we stepped back into the 1830's.The fort is in the woods off of highway 301. Part of Hillsborough county's gem Hillsborough River State Park.

firing cannon at Indian onslaught

 Soldiers and Indians alike, camped out and had a battle to finish off each day. This is my second reenactment. This is the first for the Seminole war. The other was the Brooksville Raid which I'll show in another post.

Shooting an old flintlock musket.

These men and women are hobbyist not actors but they put on one hell of a good show. Maybe someday I'll be holding a musket,not a camera. If you've never seen a reenactment I strongly suggest you do. It's an inexpensive day of fun. You might even learn something.

Getting Started

I recently stole my wife's Canon camera, after buying her a new lens for Christmas . She seems to be ok with fact that I liberated her equipment because we now are out all the time photographing anything and everything.

Looking off the boat launch

The deer are plentiful,as long as you're early enough

One of the many marshland trails

Our first outing was to John Chestnut Park. Located on lake Tarpon, the park has a wide array of wild life. It also has a few miles of wilderness and marshy trails to choose from.