Cloudy

"What a lovely day; there isn't even a cloud in the sky". 

What makes a cloudless day so perfect? 

That pleasant blue hue that hangs over us every day is a back drop for those ever changing clouds. 

The atmosphere is huge but the clouds are what gives it dimension. We would lose our grasp of how expansive our sky truly is without clouds. When you look at those gorgeous cumulonimbus clouds that look like giant piles of fluffy mashed potatoes you can see the way the sunlight and shadows gives it  such depth and texture. Like if you could somehow get close enough to touch it would be the most luxurious thing to grace your fingertips. Or the cirrus clouds at the very edges of the atmosphere. So far away and so delicate it is almost a wonder that they hold any shape at all. 

And then you have my favorite type of sky: a mixture of many forms. enormous fluffy clouds layered in front of swirling levels of altocumulus and cirrostratus. Then, looming off to the side is dark, all consuming rain cloud unleashing all of its water over some distant patch of land. All are moving at different rates depending on the wind and what place in the sky they hold. Some existing peacefully, others about to collide. From one perspective the clouds could look like an inviting day-dream; a weightless playground. Then you could turn your gaze upon a cloud that feels like the devil himself could be just on the other side and he is about to bring hell with him. 

The most beautiful days can be cloudy. You can be standing in one spot and see everything the weather has to offer. You can be grounded to this earth while a sky filled with clouds dances for you. 

Grounded: The Art of Looking Down (Part 8)

I was waiting to meet my friend Meghan outside of a Tijuana Flats for Taco Tuesday. I liked the way the rapidly diminishing sunlight was grazing the hoods of the park cars and bouncing off the gravel in the parking lot.

My bright pink sandals against the Tetris styled Publix bathroom tile floor. 

Standing in a park pavilion in downtown St.Petersburg. Those beautiful magenta petals had recently fallen off of the trees that surrounded the park. 

I was on my way to DRIP when I got caught in the rain. I took shelter at a nearby Bahama Breeze restaurant and enjoyed what little cover their awning provided.

Surprise Trip to the Beach

My boyfriend suggested we make the drive to the beach after I picked him up from work one evening. I was skeptical about the time frame but I liked the idea of adventure. We changed clothes and made our way down to Cocoa Beach. The weather had begun to get stormy but it made for some beautiful photos. 

To my right the fading sunlight lit up these plumes in the clouds. 

To my left the clouds turned fluorescent and seemed to mirror the waves as they rolled up to the shore.

A close up shot of this beautifully rosy sky. 

My boyfriend basking the the simultaneously calm and stormy nature of the beach. 

Vibrant Rainbow

I stepped outside my apartment to grab the laundry on a rainy evening and ended capturing a stunning rainbow. It was a perfect double rainbow that was facing the sun at dusk. The beautiful evening sky after the rain set the scene for a dramatic, almost glowing rainbow. The rapid sinking of the sun created an intense changing of colors in a matter of moments. All pictures below were taken over the course of approximately seven minutes. 

 Hands down, the most striking rainbow I have ever seen. 

Lowry Park Zoo

Lowry Park Zoo is a wonderful zoo located in Tampa. I always have a fantastic time and one of my favorite places to take photos is within the free-flight aviary located just inside the entrance. 

A pair of Pied Imperial Pigeons from Southeast Asia.

A Sun Bittern from Central and South America showing off its beautifully patterned feathers.

A breeding pair of Red Legged Seriemas from Brazil with their two chicks. 

A young Orangutan munching on some leafs. 

An adolescent Orangutan joins the younger one who was eating. I was able to capture this dynamic pose of the older one reaching for the Orangutan below. 

One of my favorite animals from the zoo - a Yellow-Footed Rock Wallaby. Just adorable!

The incredible thing about the Wallaby's was that they were held in an enclosure that the guests could walk through. You were able to be inches away from them as long as you did not touch them. The enclosure also had two attendants standing by the entrance and exit. Apparently the Wallaby's were a little too curious about the rest of the zoo. 

An Alligator Snapping Turtle. 

A resting Pine Snake. 

A Bald Eagle framed beautifully by the branches of the tree. 

A decorative bust in the Asian Gardens.

Kobi

At the end of March one of my coworkers had a stray cat take up refuge in her backyard and gave birth to three kittens. I took one of the males and named him Kobi. He has proven to be a lively and wonderful addition to the family. 

The terrible "First Bath".

Completely wiped out after his first visit to the vets office. 

Learning to snuggle. 

I was surprised how quickly my ten year old male Jet had adapted to the newcomer. 

Both kitties sharing the bed while listening to the curious noises of my boyfriend brushing his teeth. 

He loves to perch on the cat scratching post. 

All curled up on a warm pile of laundry. 

Oleaginous (Part 2)

The rain brings out the beauty of the oil leak in my car. 

...Like glimmering peacock feathers. 

...Like a raging forest fire whirling across the tree tops. 

...Like a cosmic burst of radiation dissipating out into the universe.