Florida – Oh, the Places We See . . .

Close and Closer: Lens Artists Photo Challenge #190

Patti’s challenge this week invites us to share dual photos of the same subject — one closer than the other. And if you haven’t seen her post, please take a look at the examples that show that one may not be better than the other, but a new perspective nonetheless. More and more people seem […]

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Lens-Artists Challenge #162: It’s All About the Light

The host of this week’s Lens-Artists Challenge, Tina Schell, couldn’t have made a more profound statement for photographers at any level: it really is all about the light. To love beauty is to see light. Victor Hugo Whether it’s soft, early morning light or rays turning everything gold just before sundown, light transforms ordinary objects […]

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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #138: Natural Light

This week, Amy’s lovely challenge — Natural Light — calls to mind the effects of early morning sun on shrimp boats in Apalachicola. Although at rest in Scipio Creek Marina (better known as Mill Pond to the locals), old fishing boats take on new looks by the hour, as ordinary objects have their very own […]

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WPC: Variations on a Theme: Island Cottages, St. George Island

It would be hard to miss these island cottages on St. George Island. On either side of the lighthouse, they stand tall with their backs to the Gulf while winking at passers-by on Gulf Beach Drive. They may seem like tiny homes (all the rage now on HGTV), but actually, they’re quite large with most […]

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Miniature circus brings big joy: Tibbals Learning Center at The Ringling

With the announcement that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus will perform for the last time in May 2017, we are re-publishing our post of August 19, 2015, on the Tibbals Learning Center at The Ringling in Sarasota. Although the understand the position of the owners, we personally regret the loss of the Ringling Bros. […]

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Connected

Down by the marina in Sarasota, Florida, a 26-foot tall sailor connects with a pretty young lady. The statue, officially named “Unconditional Surrender,” has also been dubbed “The Big Smooch” (at least by roadsideamerica.com), and people either love it or hate it. Originally intended to help people forever connect to the memory of WWII, Jack […]

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Beautifully patterned: Ca’ d’Zan at The Ringling

It’s not just the miniature circus at The Ringling that draws tourists to dreamy Sarasota, Florida. It’s also the lure of how the wealthy once lived. And who doesn’t like a glimpse of the lavish lifestyles of the past? If you’re visiting The Ringling, save time for a tour of the dramatic, highly patterned Ca’ d’Zan. Ca’ […]

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Beneath Your Feet

Over the past few years, we’ve stood on some pretty impressive spots. And, when we remember to look down, we’ve seen some mighty remarkable floors, stairwells, porches, etc. Here are a few surfaces that we’re proud to say have recently been beneath our humble feet. Pittock Mansion, home of The Oregonian publisher, Henry Pittock and […]

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Travel theme: Tiny

While you may think of the circus — and who wouldn’t? — as the Greatest Show on Earth, there’s a whole world of tiny circus people and animals and tents sure to make you lean in to glass showcases for a closer look. It all happens at The Ringling’s Circus Museum in Sarasota, Florida. In […]

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To infinity and beyond: Kennedy Space Center

If you’ve ever wanted to tap into your inner astronaut, strap on a jet pack and head to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex near Orlando in Central Florida. There’s nothing second-rate about this hands-on (and sometimes full-body) experience with big-time, big- size exhibits and right-there-with-you 3D movies. Float with an astronaut, experience weightlessness, or stand […]