Category Archives: Travel Photography

Philly trip

I returned almost a week ago from a photo trip to Philadelphia with a fellow photographer. Derek (of Chase Images). It was intended to be a trip to visit a lot of abandoned spots, but turned into much more. In addition to visiting an incredible industrial location, a school, a hospital, and a church (the UrbEx superfecta) we managed to get New York cityscapes from 3 spots in New Jersey, images of the Statue of Liberty, Cityscapes in and around Philly, and even a Navy shipyard.

Eye Love New York
Eye Love New York

I’ve been sifting through all of the images at random, like a distracted child looking at a multitude of available toys to play with. I’m going to have to tighten up my focus and work on one set at a time to make them ready to share. It is a most difficult thing to do.

Vacation!

My wife and I had the privilege of joining our good friends on a  trip to Siesta Key, Florida in late April. It was the first vacation for us in a while, and my first trip to Florida in nearly 25 years.

To say that I was excited is an understatement.

Our flight from Pittsburgh departed in an icy slush storm.  Good riddance.  Within an hour, we were treated to a sunrise above a sea of clouds. I love seeing the clouds from above.

Above A Sea Of Clouds
Above A Sea Of Clouds

We landed in Tampa, secured a rental car, and headed out in search of breakfast. Along the way, I spotted a sure sign that we were, in fact, in Florida. The Elvis manatee mailbox had confirmed that we were in the right spot.

Devil In Disguise
Devil In Disguise

As my travel companions settled into the beachfront condo, I scrambled to run out to the beach, camera in hand, to capture the first moments of paradise. It had been a while since I had been to an actual beach with waves and nothing but blue for as far out as the eye could see.

Layers Of Surf
Layers Of Surf

Beach sunsets are a wonderful thing, especially to photographers. Capturing that Cartier-Bresson “decisive moment” though, is difficult. I found myself struggling between this frame and that one for “the best” shot. A daunting task when looking through 40 frames of a gorgeous sunset.

The Rays Of The Setting Sun
The Rays Of The Setting Sun

One day of the trip was set aside for fishing out in the Gulf. The weather was nearly perfect, and we caught a few really nice sized King Mackerel.

Lovely Ladies On The Gulf
Lovely Ladies On The Gulf
Bringing It In
Bringing It In
Catch(es) Of The Day
Catch(es) Of The Day

We were greeted by a flock of pelicans when we arrived back at the dock. They had heard through the grapevine that we had a successful trip and they were eager for their cut of the spoils.  There was a bit of a battle.

The Watchful Pelican
The Watchful Pelican
The Battle
The Battle

Our third day found us in Lake Myakka State Park. Deer, Limpkin, Cranes, Egrets, Anoles, and of course, Alligators. Oh, and a canopy walk complete with a tower rising 74′ above the surrounding forest.

Mama Limpkin And Child
Mama Limpkin And Child
Arched In Spanish Moss
Arched In Spanish Moss
Gator Country
Gator Country
Cool Breeze And Shutter Guy At The Top Of The Tower
Cool Breeze And Shutter Guy At The Top Of The Tower
The Canopy Walk
The Canopy Walk

That evening, we were treated to a thunderstorm and lightshow over the Gulf.

Bolts Over The Gulf
Bolts Over The Gulf

My photographer companion and I visited a pier on Anna Maria Island to cross a long desired shot off of my bucket list.

Beneath The City Pier
Beneath The City Pier

While there, we happened to catch some dolphins.

Surfacing
Surfacing

The next day we hand fed squirrels at Coquina Beach, fed the gulls, and I shot way too many images of the surf crashing against the rock wall.

Feeding The Hungry
Feeding The Hungry
The Chase
The Chase
Fluid Dynamics
Fluid Dynamics

The moonlight on the evening of the last day allowed me to do a fun portrait shoot with my wife. Moonlight beach portraits are super fun.

Moonlit Beach Portrait
Moonlit Beach Portrait

As much as I enjoyed being out of the Western PA area, It did feel good to come home, especially being greeted by this view of Pittsburgh from the plane!

Steel City From Such Great Heights
Steel City From Such Great Heights