OH! I Hate It When They Watch Me Dive!!

Even now I feel bad when I look at this photo. I know it's silly, but I really think I totally broke his concentration. I was out on Pier 60, on Clearwater Beach, and he and some other pelicans had been swooping and diving and having a nice lunch. Then I came closer and closer to the rail with my camera.

Having watched the rhythm of their feeding dives for a little while, I was able to have my camera in the right place at the right time. Just as I was ready to snap the shot... he looked straight at me. I think it really put him off to have the camera pointed at him like that. He choked, as it were, hit the water way off target, and came up empty-billed.

I admit though, I do like the photograph, just the same. And hey, there are plenty of fish in the sea!

Check out my other blogs to see more of Clearwater Beach, Clearwater, and Dunedin.

Storm Crows Sunset Flight

I was clicking away, discovering the powers of my Nikon D80, and catching some really strange weather as I looked East. Behind me, the sun was setting over Clearwater Beach (not the same sunset as in the photo below). Then I heard these birds calling, and I could see a flock of crows heading my way. As I looked I realized there were hundreds, if not thousands! Seemingly fleeing the mainland for some rookery or such on the spoil islands in the bay around me.

I cannot be sure why they were all heading my way, perhaps the weather had them 'running for higher ground'. But it was indeed impressive, and way EERIE to experience it. It was like something out of a scene in the Lord Of The Rings movie, when the crows came after the good guys.

So, in order to make it so you could get the full effect, I am posting a pretty big version of the file, although not the original. So please be patient if it takes just a little longer to bring it up. And forgive me... but I really want you to be able to see this! By the way, this picture was taken from the top of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway Bridge.

Thanks for checking it out!

Clearwater Beach Sunset Meltdown

Here is a photo I promised to post a little while ago. Oops! So here we go. Taking one of many highly pleasurable sunset walks on Clearwater Beach. It is a beautiful thing, I tell you. I have a series of these, as it went down. Perhaps when I get my act together, they will appear together on this site.

Florida Weather

Nice lightning shot, from Dunedin, Florida, facing West. What is it about mosquitoes and lightning... if I want to shoot lightning shots, I have to payoff the mosquitoes with about a quart of my blood!


Clearwater, Florida... Memorial Causeway Bridge, facing East. Storm heading for the beach. See, even storms love Clearwater Beach! (I will have to remember to post some pics of how they are RUINING Clearwater Beach)

Photography After Dark - Crackalaka!

WOW! I'd like to say this photo shows I am a great photographer... but a lot of credit goes to the camera, my Nikon D80. I mean, that is one awesome camera.

I took a lot of pics, trying to capture the lightning. And I was delighted to get just a few that worked. Have you ever tried to take a picture of lightning?

This was taken in Clearwater, Florida, from Gulf to Bay Drive, looking North. I am looking forward to the next thunderstorm, so I can try some of the tricks I learned this time. I am finding I really enjoy 'photography after dark'. What about you?

Clouds Over Clearwater

Sitting quietly at home, I suddenly got this wild hair to head down to the bridge and get some sunset and sky shots. Wow, did I ever get an eyeful!

This shot was taken just as I was walking up the Clearwater Causeway Bridge, facing east. The sun was just starting to set over the beach hotels behind me. This system would bring gusty wind and rain just a little later.