My first sighting of the summer. It was raining and of course, my camera was no where near, when the hummingbird appeared. And then he was gone. When he returned, about 20 minutes later, I was ready. No fancy setup. Handheld my camera and shot through the window. A few quick frames and he was gone again. Checking my birding book, this is an immature female Ruby-throated Hummingbird. If that’s not correct, please let me know.
My Entries for ADSO’s 11th Annual Photography & Digital Arts Exhibit:
Stooges
Ghost
The exhibit runs till August 27 at the Art Center in Fort Walton Beach. Opening night reception is August 6.
The Afghan Girl by Steve McCurry
Probably one of the most recognized National Geographic Magazine covers is “The Afghan Girl” from 1985. The photographer is Steve McCurry. The film is Kodachrome. Kodachrome was the favorite of many professionals (personally, I preferred Fujichrome back in the day), and so it was a sad day when Kodak decided to discontinue the film last year. Kodak gave the last roll of Kodachrome ever produced to Steve McCurry. The images on this last roll are being kept secret for now. National Geographic is planning the big reveal in an upcoming documentary. Listen to the story here.
Photographer Steve McCurry by Ahmet Sel
This is just too cool. Check it out:
And the final product:
A Renaissance Festival is an interesting thing. It’s like a step back in time, the costumes, jousts, falcons, dragon and faerie artwork. I remember, years ago, my sister went to one of these festivals. She hacked up a bridesmaid’s dress and her and her husband went in costume. The dress looked better all medieval than it did as the bridesmaid’s dress.
This juggler was cool. He did his act about five feet in the air, balancing on boards and a pvc tube. To get the shots, I stood in the back of the crowd, on a chair.
When his act was done, I turned to find a man filming me photographing the juggler. Hmm….just a little creepy. Get your medieval on….
Henri Cartier-Bresson by Martine Franck-Magnum Photos
To take photographs is to hold one’s breath when all faculties converge in the face of fleeing reality.
-Henri Cartier-Bresson
Sometimes you just “happen” upon things. I’m a big fan of the ridiculous scene, like a yard filled with Christmas inflatables. My daughter, I’m sure, tired of the numerous cell phone pictures she received of blow-up yard ornaments while in class. So when we drove by the large Turkey Hill cow at this Tom Thumb on Navarre Beach, I couldn’t resist.
Globs of Oil on Navarre Beach, Florida
Shell and Tar Balls
The Gulf Oil Crisis…. Been going to the beach, Navarre Beach, my beach, a lot lately. Last week, for the first time, there were globs of oil along with the usual small tar balls. As Hurricane Alex blew through the lower Gulf of Mexico, the skimmers stopped skimming and the rough surf brought more oil ashore. And now a second storm may be brewing in the southern Gulf of Mexico.
Bird Tracks & Tar Balls
It’s been 77 days since crude oil started spewing into the Gulf. BP still doesn’t seem to have any answers. Gulf Oil Crisis….hmmm….maybe Environmental Disaster is a better tag line.
Navarre Beach, Florida
Boycott BP!
I like this – short and to the point.
I finally made it to Fort Pickens on Pensacola Beach. The road, the only road, to the fort has been closed for years because of the destruction from hurricanes. Arriving at the Fort, you can take the guided tour with the tour guide, or the self guided tour with a pamphlet. Of course I took the pamphlet. According to the pamphlet, there are sixteen points of interest or sections starting with the Sallyport, the entrance to the fort, ending with Bastion D, the corner of the fort.. The problem with Bastion D is that it really isn’t there. It was destroyed in an explosion in 1899.
Crumbling Wall of Bastion D
Some of the arches from the top of the fort.
There is still debris left over from the hurricanes on the side of the road to Fort Pickens. This large rusty thing, yes that’s what I call it, was in the sand along the way.
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