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.