Orlando Skyline

I took this photograph of the Orlando skyline shortly after the sunset. You can still see the faintest remnants of fading light to the far left. All the city lights are flickering in the reflection of Lake Eola. 

Red Moths

I was walking through Baldwin Park and I came across two beautifully vibrant Southern Pink-striped Oakworm Moths. They huddled together head to head on a window screen. Perfectly folded together in the morning light. 

Through the Window

I captured this stunning photo of my cat staring out the window. I got the shot of him looking out as well as the reflection of the house across the street.

Haze

Lovely view of an unusual cloud formation while driving down the highway.  

Grounded: The Art of Looking Down (Part 9)

I took this photo while I was in St. Augustine at the famous fort Castillo De San Marcos. Outside the fort I found myself standing on a weathered stone with a heart shape. 

My sister and I came across a washed up starfish on a morning walk along the beach in St. Augustine. 

William and I on the beach in Recife, Brazil. 

Stumbling across a large jellyfish on the beach near my home town.

Rainbow

I captured this majestic shot on the way into a restaurant. It was absolutely perfect.

"Gotcha!"

My cat Kobi loves to crawl into the space between my bed and my window. He likes to hide there because he can watch the squirrels in the morning, but I also think he thinks I can't see him behind the curtain. One morning I was playing with him before I went to work. He ran behind the cover of the curtain. I grabbed my camera before I pulled back the corner and was able to capture his moment of surprise. 

He was balancing himself between the window ledge and the edge of the bed. His feisty golden eyes mimic the morning sun. In a split second he was gone again, tearing away under the bed continuing our game of tag. 

Gossamer Morning

I was lucky enough to step outside my apartment just after sunrise. That particular day had a lovely sky covered in delicate wisps of clouds as far as the eye could see. The only thing that made it more beautiful was the soft pink rays of sunlight that rapidly began to define the vaporous sky. 

Revisiting the Sea Bird Sanctuary

I have made many trips to the Sea Bird Sanctuary over the years. These birds always make for lovely subjects. 

A striking White Pelican.

This Black Crowned Night Heron was one of the wild birds that stays close to the sanctuary. Between the grey roof and the patchwork of sunlight he was almost perfectly camouflaged. 

On this particular visit I was able to learn a little more about my favorite Red-Tailed Hawk. One of the staff members informed me that her name is Isis and she is just over thirty years old (close to my age). She is blind in one eye. She has a handler that comes to the sanctuary regularly to take her out for walks on the beach. Because of her age she shows little interest in flying but she does love to stretch her wings. I never would have guess that she was that old. They must take excellent care of her.

Shoreline

The funny thing about the beach is that sometimes the the waves can create the same windswept patterns in the sand that you see in the desert. This place could look completely barren if it wasn't covered in water. 

A tiny leaf floating aimlessly in the surf. 

Jellyfish washed ashore. These creatures are made up of mostly water and they will actually evaporate in the sun. 

Dramatic Dusk

I took this photograph on a walk through Lake Eola park near sunset. Even though the sun remains hidden the sky is still breathtaking. The swirling clouds and the slight tint of peach create a sensational skyline. 

David and Mariko's Wedding

On September 6th, 2015 DRIP's creative director and musical director got married. I've known them both for years and I was so happy to share in their special day. 

        

Mariko's grandmother, cousin Gabe, and niece Isla. 

The photographer Tisse helping Mariko into her beautiful dress. 

Jessie and I got to design the bouquet right before the ceremony. We ended up fashioning it together with samples from her wedding dress. 

David anticipating Mariko's walk down the isle.

Jessie trying to cheer up the tired little flower girl. 

Jessie was the impromptu stylist for the wedding photos. 

My favorite shot from the wedding! 

Cutting the ice cream wedding cake. 

Peanut

I ended up having to take my cat to the vet's office for a routine check up. Shortly after I arrived an older man showed up with a sick pug. The man said he worked with a pug rescue organization and this dog was one they had taken on. The dog had a name when they got him but they preferred to call him Peanut. The whole time they waited to be seen the man spoke softly and cradled the dog lovingly in his arms.

Nebula

I woke up early for work one day so I could stop by a 7-Eleven and grab a cup of coffee. When I left I was treated to a beautiful display in the clouds. 

I have never seen anything like it before: the ethereal shape, dramatic loops, and subtle division of colors ranging from a cool lavender at the top to a soft peach below. Reminiscent of a swirling nebula far out in space. 

I haven't the slightest idea how it formed or how it could have two distinct colors. It was breathtaking. I couldn't believe I was lucky enough to see it.

Meeting Place

I decided to pop into a local restaurant called Strand after work one day. They are normally crowded so I was glad I get in at a slower time. A few minutes after I arrived two adorable women came in and were seated a few tables away from me. I snapped this picture of them while they poured over the menu. 

I laughed to myself when their order got to the table. Two ice cold beers.

Bullet Hole

One day while I was in the break room at work I decided to pull up the blinds to see what the weather looked like. I ended up finding a bullet hole from a failed robbery attempt. 

I always wondered why I could hear the traffic from outside so well. 

I have never once gone to work afraid, but I have to admit it was sobering to see it. The fracture stretching over the glass just above my head. The person who left it is most likely still locked up. No one was hurt, no money was taken. All they left was the bullet hole. 

Moth

When I first saw the moth it looked like a leaf being tussled by the breeze until I realized that all the other leafs in the parking lot were lying motionless. I got closer and realized that it was actually a Polyphemus Moth, and hands down the largest moth I had ever seen in my life. From the base of the wing to the top she was about six inches tall. She was moving in circles and it appeared that she was missing part of one of her legs. I took this lovely shot of her patterned wings in the morning sunlight before relocating her to some nearby bushes. 

Bad Weather

I am not your delicate flower; I am the bad weather that tests its will to survive.

I don't give warning signs.
I like to watch you panic.
I can feel your heartbeat; taste your pulse through shallow breaths.

I come with all the power of Heaven, but I am here to show you the doorstep of Hell.
Move upon you like the God of War.
The turbulent tempest filled with electric rage.

I am ugly because beauty is a weakness.
I am not here to be appeased.
I will take because you have; destroy because it exists.

I will leave scars on this landscape as well as your memory.
I will make you forever look upon a blue sky with suspicion.
It will only take a change in the wind for you to know that you can never have peace.

Apocalyptic

I was driving down I-4 on a typical Florida evening. The sun was setting and I was on the exit ramp for my destination. The elevated ramp offered a better view of the golden sky and I captured this fleeting moment. 

It looked like an alluring mix between an oncoming storm and a nuclear bomb exploding in the distance.

Resting Frog

I went to get the mail and I almost missed this little guy sitting on top of the mail box. I love the perfectly folded arms and the almost smiley expression. 

"A Different Painting Every Night"

I remember years ago when I was a child my mother use to take us kids to the Madeira Beach area for soccer practices or ballet recitals. It felt like between me and my three younger siblings we were always there or one reason or another. Often times while we were waiting we would get ice cream and watch the sun set. 

One time, almost out of the blue, she said that each night the sky was painted by a different angel and that was why the sunset never looked the same twice. You got to see a different painting every night and you should always appreciate its beauty because it would never repeat. 

It was one of those little things said in passing but it stuck with me. Maybe it was because I loved art so much or maybe it was the first time I realized just how quickly a beautiful moment can disappear. 

To this day I can't look at a sunset with it reminding me of a living work of art. 

This photo was taken overlooking the Orlando Executive Airport. 

Bee Rescue

Months ago I remembered reading something a friend had posted to Facebook. It was an article about saving bees, particularly tired bees. The article went on to explain how sometimes people come across bees that appear sluggish and the assumption is that they are dying. However, in many cases the bees are simply tired from gather pollen and just need a simple boost with some sugar water to get back to the hive. 

I remember the article all this time because I thought it was interesting, but I actually got to test it out for myself.  

One day I was doing laundry and walking back and forth between my apartment and the laundry room. On one of my trips back I noticed a bee right at the foot of my doorstep. Instead of being startled by my presence and flying away he move slowly and didn't make any attempt to fly away. At first I thought he might be dying but I remembered the article and I noticed that his legs were dusted with pollen. I went to the Starbucks down the street to get some regular sugar packets and I mixed it into a small cup with water. 

I used a piece of junk mail to move the bee and I ended up saturating it in my failed attempts to balance the spoon close enough to get him to drink the sugar water solution. But persistence paid off and he was able to drink some if it. 

I balanced the piece of mail over my knee to get this shot. From above you can see the tiny flecks of golden pollen that washed off the bottom of the bee's fuzzy legs.

After a while the bee started to move around a little more and even started to use his wings. I put him back down on the ground with a few more drops of sugar water. When I came back outside a few minutes later he was gone. Hopefully this little guy was able to make it back to the hive. I'm so grateful I happened to read that article months ago.

Green Bean

Most people who live in Florida are accustomed to seeing brown lizards (anoles) everywhere. Few realized that they are actually a Cuban import. The lizards that are the true Florida natives are the Green Anoles. They coexist peacefully the Brown Anoles, who are more visible because they dwell on the ground. The Green Anoles prefer the trees. The green ones are much more rare but I have one that lives right outside my apartment. He likes to hunt for bugs near the electrical boxes.

Born to stand out, his lovely green hue fades to a reddish-brown near his extremities. His eyes are also circled by a ring of pale blue. He is not as skittish as the other brown lizards. This little green bean likes to stand his ground.

Window Seat

The first time I was ever on a plane was when I was seven years old visiting my grandfather in Wisconsin. I've fought for the window seat and I've been enamoured with it ever since.  I think it would have been easy to be scared of heights, especially as a child, but I couldn't get enough. I spent hours with my face pressed against the glass. 

The landscape rolling by in slow motion, a glittering city in the dark, being above the clouds. The thrill of taking off and landing. Getting to be somewhere else. I fell in love with the whole experience. 

Years later I was flying from Miami to Orlando on my way back from Brazil. The sun had just risen. Shortly after take off one of the flight attendants asked if I could close my window so people could watch the in-flight movie better. The passenger to my left was asleep and as soon as the flight attendant walked away I opened my widow again in defiance. I didn't care how bright it might have been you only get treated to this kind of a view every once in a while. 

I can't think of any movie that could match exhilaration I was feeling. The sunrise and the billowing clouds were breathtaking. 

Most passengers were asleep or watching the movie. I was enjoying the view with my face pressed against the glass. There was no way I was going to miss this opportunity. 

Brasileiro

Photographs of William in his hometown of Recife, Brazil. 

The view from our hotel window. 

Standing on the reef at Boa Viagem Beach. 

Riding the bus to downtown Recife. 

At a local ice cream shop enjoying a milkshake. 

At Jaqueira Park.

Stopping at a local coffee shop before work to chat with the owner. 

With a beam of sunlight across his face at the rooftop hotel pool.