Big Tree Park and Wekiva Springs

Freddy and I spontaneously planned to visit some local parks while we were stuck working the early morning shift at Starbucks. Later that same day I had a camera full of great photos. I love it when a plan falls together.

Our first stop was Big Tree Park. I was on the boardwalk and I looked over the side to see a shallow pool of water. It captured the reflection of the trees above it and became this shimmering natural tapestry.

This is The Senator - a 3,500 year old Cyprus tree. It is one of the oldest trees on the planet. Up until now I had no idea that I was living so close to it. I wasn't even able to stand far enough away to get the top of the tree in the shot. 

This is the top of the tree - 118 feet in the air.

Freddy and his friend Elena. 

We were lucky enough to spot a wild king snake. 

On the way out of the park I couldn't help but notice this wooden railing. It looks like a monkey sticking its tongue out at me. 

Marya, Freddy's girlfriend, was able to join us at Wekiva Springs.

At one point I looked up to see a banana spider so large that it created a five foot web between two trees. 

A beautiful display in the clouds as the sun sets over Wekiva Springs.

Power Lines

I was sitting with John at this warehouse downtown trying to come up with ideas for dying fabric. He went to go grab some bottles and I happened to gaze up at the sky as a flock of crows flew overhead.

I was interested in how the power lines created the frame work of the composition and I focused on them as the subject matter. I came up with a very modern shot set against the sleepy purples of a dusk sky. An elegantly simple representation of civilization and communication. 

Salt

When it comes to working with DRIP we love to experiment with unusual materials. One such material is salt. We dyed it for a pervious show and decided to play with it during a recent rehearsal. The object was to discover how many unique ways we could use it while having as much fun as possible.

Streak

I was walking out of Publix one day when I saw this in the sky.

It was like something was casting a shadow across the heavens. It wasn't smoke from an aircraft, it was more like some of the atmosphere was actually removed. I'm not sure what the cause of this event was, but it certainly made for a unique photograph.

The Sea Bird Sanctuary

On a recent trip to Indian Shores I was able to go to The Sea Bird Sanctuary. It is a rescue center for injured birds. It is unique in that it is a mostly outdoor facility that is home to hundreds of recovering birds. In addition to the captive animals the sanctuary also attracts a great deal of wild birds who seem to be visiting loved ones.

All the elements mix together for a lively experience. The birds seem unaffected by the human traffic and their chatter fills the air. I had been many times before with my family and it is a place I always enjoy visiting when I go home.

A Brown Pelican. 

I caught this little guy looking straight up at me through the mesh fence. 

This is a large Black Vulture - one of the wild birds that roams freely through the sanctuary. He was playing with the leaf in the middle of the path until I began to walk towards him. He abandoned the leaf in favor of inspecting me. 

This is a close up shot of a White Pelican. I love how the streaming sunlight illuminated the interior structure of her pouch. 

Another close up of the White Pelican. I wanted to focus on her pale blue eyes. I can't help but think about how closely she may resemble a pterodactyl. 

A very proud Red-Shouldered Hawk. 

This beauty is a Red-Tailed Hawk and she seemed quite happy to pose for me. 

Such striking features. It was very inspiring to be so close to such a powerful bird.

Leaf

At one point I found myself at the foot if the stairs of my apartment complex. I had my camera with me and I just sat in the grass grabbing anything of interest within arms reach. I found a leaf with a hole near the top right corner. I held the leaf in my hand and raised it up toward the tree before me. I let the hole in the leaf match up with the sunlight coming through the multitude of leaves in the tree and I was able to capture this shot.

Return to Ripley's

A short while after my first trip to Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum I found myself back again. Curtis's father Edward is the Vice President of the museum and he was meeting up with Harrod Blank, a man known for his art cars. This venture to Ripley's also produced another fascinating trip to the warehouse. I was lucky enough to tag along.

A model head depicting the pseudo science of Phrenology, the belief that mental capacity and character traits can be deduced by the shape and configuration of the skull. 

A small statue protecting his isolated shelf.

A row of skulls; only the the second one remains decorated.

Two life size African statues covered in enormous nails. I sat on the floor when I took this shot to emphasis their larger that life presence. 

A beautifully adorned tribal skull. 

This adorable dog stands over five feet tall and is made entirely out of clothes pins. Even the collar is made from the hinges! I love the scruffy cheeks and the gentle curving pattern on the neck. 

Harrod explaining Edward how to operate his Music Car while Curtis and his friend Shane look on. The Music Car is a drivable Volkswagen Beetle completely covered in a variety playable musical instruments. There is even a small stage and microphone attached to the roof of the car! 

A wax statue of Phineas Gage. Gage was a railroad construction foreman who in 1848 famously had the misfortune of having a tamping iron driven completely through his skull. Miraculously, he survived the incident and went on to live actively for another twelve years. As a result of his injury and behavior change scientist began to have clues as to how the brain functioned. 

This is a wax statue of shark attack survivor Rodney Fox. Fox was bitten and suffered extreme injuries 1963. His is often regarded as weathering one of the world's worst non-fatal shark attacks and received an astonishing 462 stitches. Remarkably Fox recovered and was the creator of the first underwater observation cage used regularly by shark researchers. Today Rodney Fox is one of the world's leading experts on sharks. 

Wax replicas of Arnold and Angelina.

A multicolored prop set up on a gray wall.

Edward and Harrod sitting in the enormous chair in the museum.

And of course, one more shot of Curtis in the Throne of Passion. 

To learn more about Harrod Blank's Art Cars please visit http://www.harrodblank.com/