Surfin' Honeymoon Island

Hurricane Gustav is now making it's way up into the Gulf of Mexico, heading straight for New Orleans. With forecasts putting it at a Category 3, the surf is really kicking up now in the gulf waters. Here in Tampa Bay, we started to see Gustav's cloud bands move in, so we headed to Honeymoon Island to watch it roll by.

Even though there are very light winds, but with occasional gusts, and very dark skies, it certainly brought out the surfers. When we arrived in the afternoon, there were about 20 to 30 just offshore, riding the tasty waves. We never see waves like this, except when hurricanes make their way into the gulf.

I spent a couple of hours photographing the action right off the north beach, and after talking to a few onlookers, the prime time will be on Monday as the waves are really expected to kick up. There are reports that we should see 3-5 foot waves, possibly higher depending on the currents. I'll be back to check out the action as well as spend some time combing the beach for all the cool and unusual shells that will certainly be littering the beach.

(Click on the thumbnails for a larger photo)

Run Kid Run

My brother-in-law and film producer, Todd Bemak, just sent me some information about a new project he just completed. He just wrapped up and finished producing a music video for the band Run Kid Run for their new song, "One In A Million".

The entire music video was shot in two days in Canton, Ohio. Todd had six city blocks closed in downtown Canton to shoot the video, but they only ended up using two blocks. The video which was directed by Andy Reale also had a 52 piece marching band, which did a GREAT job despite the 85 degree day in their wool uniforms.

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Watch The Video One In A Million By Run Kid Run
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Huge congrats from Tampa to Todd for another outstanding piece of work and cool video!

Stormy Sunset

I saw on the radar that a huge storm was racing across northern Tampa Bay on Friday, so I made a beeline to Honeymoon Island to see if I could get a great stormy sunset. I arrived at the park ahead of the approaching storm and set up in front of the salt marshes and waited for it to come to me.

As it got closer, it got darker and darker. Thunder started to really rumble, and lightning started to streak from the storm. It was impressive to say the least, as two storms came together to form a unbelievable series of events. I stayed out as long as I could, but the lightning really started to hit all around me, so I packed up and took cover at the bath house.

Just as I made my way under shelter, the skies opened up and torrential rains closed in all around me. It was loud, and the storm was so intense, it started to hail. One of the lightning strikes hit less then ten yards from where I was at, and that was a sound that makes you jump. I was having a ball watching this amazing storm as it passed right over my head.

About 30 minutes later, it stopped, and the skies opened up and the sun came back to give way to some amazing colors. I made my way back to the salt marshes, and began to capture the amazing colors in the sky, the cloud formations and the reflections in the tidal pools from low tide.

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View A HDR Photo Of A Stormy Sunset On Honeymoon Island   (JPG - 184KB)
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It was another killer sunset over the Gulf of Mexico, and I plan on going back this weekend to work on some more. The chances are good with the approaching hurricane going into the gulf, so it should be good for some amazing landscapes.

(Click on the thumbnails for a larger photo)

Stacked Up

Last week, Tropical Storm Fay completely missed us here in Tampa Bay. It brought heavy rains, and flooded just about every part of Florida. Now, a week later, we are surrounded by 5 storms.

Down in the Caribbean, Gustav looks to be heading towards the western gulf coast, with next week Hanna, while still a ways away, looks to be headed to Florida. Each one has the potential to reach a category 2 or 3 hurricane.

There are also 2 more out in the Atlantic, but the one I am watching is down in Mexico's Bay of Campeche. If this one fully develops, this could be the one that finally hits the Tampa area. Stay tuned...

Tampa HDR Workshop

Here is a photography workshop that is sure to be the biggest thing to hit the Tampa Bay area in 2009. "The Art Of High Dynamic Range Workshop" will be held right here in Tampa on April 19th - 23rd, 2009, with the master of lighting, Charlie Borland and the wizard of HDR photography, David Nightingale. I too will be joining Charlie and David for this exciting workshop.

The Tampa bay area is a perfect location to hold this spring workshop. With its modern architecture and cityscapes, historic areas, boat harbors, and warm spring weather, this is the perfect location for the HDR workshop. If you have ever wanted to learn about HDR photography, this is the workshop you must attend.

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Learn More About The Art Of High Dynamic Range Workshop

Learn More About Charlie Borland

Learn More About David Nightingale
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The Art of High Dynamic Range photography workshop is an opportunity for photographers to learn from the best photographers in the field and in the business. You will experience and learn more in these five days than you brain can absorb. The days will be long, the instruction intense, and the education immeasurable. Your instructors will bring decades of professional experience and an intense passion for landscape photography.

2009 Sea Turtle Calendar

Last week I received my copy of the 2009 Sea Turtle Calendar that has several of my photos in it. This calendar is dedicated to those who work with Sea Turtles on the beaches and at Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospitals along the East Coast of the United States. Their dedication is critical to the future of the species, and I highly recommend this great calendar to help a great cause.

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View The 2009 Sea Turtle Calendar
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The calendar measures 8.5 by 11 inches, and the price is $12.00 plus $2.00 shipping. You can place your order by visiting the link above. A donation will be made to the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Hospital for each 2009 Sea Turtle Calendar purchased. Thank you for your support.

Scott Kelby's PhotoWalk Day

Just got back from Scott Kelby's PhotoWalk Day. This event was being held worldwide, with over 8,000 photographers participating. It was organized by Scott, the guru of Photoshop and the President of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals to launch his new book, Adobe Lightroom 2.

I participated in the Dunedin, Florida walk, and there were over 50 participants that came out for the event. It was a close call, for just as we were about to get underway, it started to rain. However in good old Florida fashion, it stopped in about 5 minutes, and the sun came out (along with the heat and humidity!)

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View My PhotoWalk Day Photo Gallery On Flickr

View All Of The Photos From Around The World On Flickr

View The Video Of Scott Kelby's Dunedin PhotoWalk On YouTube
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Later in the evening, I met up with RC Concepcion and a few of his group to shoot the Memorial Causeway in HDR. Just as luck would have it, we got some nice pink and blue colors as the sun set behind Clearwater Beach, and it ended a great day of shooting. It was cool to meet Scott and RC and all of the other photogs at the walk, and it will be interesting to see what others captured from all over the world.

Fay's Aftermath

Here in Tampa Bay, it has been one of the only areas in the entire state of Florida that did not get the wrath of Tropical Storm Fay as she has zigged-zagged back and forth across the state, dropping record rainfall amounts in many areas. We have had at times had a rain band or two come through, but nothing of significance.

However, on the east coast, they have been getting pounded. One of the side effects of the storm has been on how it will directly effect the sea turtles nests, and our good friend Tammy at the Marine Science Center has certainly been busy. They monitor nesting sites up and down the beaches in Volusia County.

Just this past week, numerous nests were scheduled to hatch, and hatch they did. So far, they have collected over 430 baby sea turtles from their nests and are now being cared for at the center. Five of the baby turtles are Green Sea Turtles, the rest are Loggerhead Sea Turtles. Looks like she has her hands full with all those babies over there!

(Click on the thumbnails for a larger photo)

All Bark & No Bite

Tropical Storm Fay limped ashore around 5am just south of Marco Island, Florida. Here in Tampa Bay, all of the warnings and watches have been dropped since we will see nothing but a few showers and perhaps a bit of a breeze.

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View A Photo Of TS Fay's Effects At Ponce Inlet Beach
(Photo Taken From Our Friend Tammy At The Marine Science Center)
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Turned out to be more hype then anything, for the forecasts had it coming to the bay area and it was going to be the end of the world. Amazing what difference a day makes.

Calm Before The Storm

It's about 36 hours before Fay comes this way, and so far, it has been very quiet. Not much going on, as Downtown Clearwater is sunny with light clouds.

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Morning: View A HDR Photo Of Downtown Clearwater   (JPG - 260KB)

Evening: View A HDR Photo Of The Dunedin Causeway   (JPG - 260KB)
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The latest forecast has it coming in around Cape Coral, however it not for certain as the path keeps shifting east and west with each update.

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9PM UPDATE:


I made my way up to Honeymoon Island, however, due to the risk of storm surge, they closed the park. I ended up taking some shots from the Dunedin Causeway while dodging some raindrops. It was also low tide, and it seemed the shorebirds didn't have a care in the world, for they went about their usual business.

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5PM UPDATE:


Still no rain, but we can see it in the distance out over the Gulf of Mexico. The cloud formations however are very wicked.

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3PM UPDATE:


The first cloud bands have made their way into Clearwater. No winds or rain, but the cloud formations are impressive looking.

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Seems from the latest advisory Tampa Bay has once again missed the bullet. Won't know for certain until tomorrow, but it looks as if all we will get is some rain. Stay tuned...

Under The Gun

Currently, Tropical Storm Fay is making its way over Cuba and is expected to make it's turn into the Gulf of Mexico and head towards Florida. I have been watching the computer models on the storms projected path, and this one no one knows quite where it is headed. It was going towards Ft. Myers, then to Tampa, up to the panhandle and now back at Tampa.

Wherever it goes, Fay will certainly become a category one hurricane, for the entire bay area and south is now under a hurricane watch. It is predicted to pass here Tuesday around 8pm, and already there are lines forming for gasoline, and for supplies at local grocery and hardware stores.

I will be blogging live starting late Monday, first from Clearwater Beach, then from Honeymoon Island with photos and video of the approaching storm. Tuesday's plan is still questionable due to where it goes. Stay tuned...

Lazy Day At The Beach

It was an easy day on Saturday, as there wasn't much going on. I got a call from an old friend, Blake, who I met on a workshop I conducted in Oregon and Montreal last year. He just moved to the Tampa area from Houston, so I invited him to explore my favorite place, Honeymoon Island.

It was great seeing Blake again, and we spent the entire afternoon just bumming around, doing lots of High Dynamic Range photos when we found something of interest. When we made our way to the beach, we found a bonus of an Oystercatcher sifting through the sand looking for an evening snack.

We had hoped for a great sunset, however some low lying clouds moved in just before it reached the horizon, however we did get some great shots of it before it disappeared. Since it was low tide, lots of interesting tidal pools made for some interesting foregrounds. All in all it was a great day hanging out at the beach, which is always a good thing.

(Click on the thumbnails for a larger photo)

In The Crosshairs?

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. With a very quite hurricane season so far, Tropical Storm Fay is gathering strength in the Caribbean, and this weekend will be crucial to what happens next. Current models have it sweeping by Tampa Bay Tuesday evening (why do all these storms come in the dark?).

It's still way too early to tell where this storm is going, or if it will form into a Category 1 Hurricane by the time it reaches the bay area. Needless to say I will be ready to take photos and videos of it if Fay comes along our beaches. Stay tuned...

What's At Stake For Florida

A few months ago, I was invited by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to participate in their new campaign, "Wildlife 2060: What's At Stake For Florida". It is a study on the impact of development in the state of Florida, and our impact on the wildlife and natural resources around us.

Florida's natural lands and waters are at the core of our state's prosperity, bringing billions of dollars in economic benefits to our state every year. Our forests, rivers and creeks, and coastal waters are invaluable to fish and wildlife, and to our own quality of life.

But recent predictions indicate that our state's human population may double to 36 million in the next 50 years. If that happens, as a study published by 1000 Friends of Florida suggests, about 7 million acres of land could be converted from rural and natural to urban uses. If we develop as we have in the past, roads, shopping malls and subdivisions will replace the rich diversity our landscape currently offers. Development also will impact our coastal waters and coral reefs.

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Read The Report "Wildlife 2060: What's At Stake For Florida"   (PDF - 3.2MB)

View The New Web Site "Wildlife 2060: What's At Stake For Florida"
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Several of my photographs were used in the development of the program, and I am especially proud to help contribute to this project. It certainly is an eye opening report, for I can attest to the amount of beauty we have here in Florida, one that cannot be replaced if we loose it. What does the future hold for Florida's fish and wildlife? That's up to all of us.

HDR Sunset Colors

On my way back home from spending the afternoon with the Black Skimmers on the beach on Sunday, I stopped at the Clearwater Memorial Causeway Bridge to capture the amazing colors of the sunset as it set behind Clearwater Beach in the distance.

Even though I have photographed this bridge several times in the past, I decided to do some High Dynamic Range (HDR) images of the bridge. HDR is quickly becoming my favorite tool of choice when shooting architecture.

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View A HDR Photo Of The Clearwater Memorial Causeway   (JPG - 132KB)
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It still amazes me just how detailed HDR images are if you know how to set them up right when capturing them. If you look closely, you can see a Night Heron as he stands motionless looking for an evening snack in the bridge base!

Beach Babies

Sunday was about as perfect as you could ask for. Light winds, low humidity, no rain and lots of blue skies and sunshine. Since it's been a while since I have been down to Reddington Beach, I decided to get out of the house and take a break and spend the afternoon enjoying the beach.

I was hoping to see if the colony of Black Skimmers was still there, although it is really late in the year for any babies. As luck would have it, not only were there babies, but lots of them. I ran into a volunteer from the St. Petersburg Audubon who said when they did this years baby count, the number was over 150, three times more than last year.

They were running all over the place, some tiny, some already as big as their parents, although they don't quite have their adult plumage yet. I ended up spending about five hours with them, and enjoyed every minute of it. Just watching them run around, sleeping and playing in the surf made for a great Sunday afternoon.

(Click on the thumbnails for a larger photo)

Summer Waterspout

My brother-in-law, Todd Bemak who is a movie producer and director in Cleveland, Ohio made the prime time newscast back home on the local NBC affiliate. Todd captured a waterspout that was forming over Lake Erie near his home in Willowick, Ohio. Needless to say he was excited to not only see one, since it was the first in his life, but to also capture it on film and make it on television.

Here along the Florida Gulf Coast we see them occasionally, especially during the heat of the summer months. As a matter of fact, late Friday evening, I spotted on that was forming on the north end of Clearwater Beach. It never made it all the way down, but it still is an impressive sight to see.

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View The WKYC Weathercast With Waterspout Over Willowick
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Way to go Todd on not only capturing the waterspout, but to make it on the local Cleveland news!

Da Ballers

All things must come to an end. Sadly, that is the co-ed softball team I play on with my friend John on Friday nights. With only two games left in the season, John decided to bring his camera to capture some photos of the action, and since he was lucky enough to get to be the designated hitter, he had plenty of time on his hands.

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View The Ballers Softball Photo Gallery
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Even though it was a lot of fun, the pinnacle was when we won the cup last season and I made a lot of friends in the meantime. Long live Da Ballers!

Wildlife Photography 101

When we hear the words "Wildlife Photography", we may immediately see a vast, open plain in Africa, where herds of wild elephants, zebras and big cats roam free. We may also have visions of a soaring and majestic bald eagle or perhaps polar bears in the far north of Alaska. Maybe some will see monkeys swinging overhead in the remote jungles of South America. Whatever comes to your mind, being a wildlife photographer is a richly rewarding and greatly educational experience, whether you plan to do it professionally or as a weekend hobby.

Starting on September 12, 2008, join me at the Perfect Picture School of Photography for an exciting new course titled "Wildlife Photography 101". Each week for the next four weeks, I will take you on a journey like no other as you will explore how to capture some of life's most beautiful creatures, from the birds of prey, songbirds and shorebirds, as well as many of our common and not so common animals, reptiles and amphibians that you can find right in your own backyard. Think you don't have lots of wildlife around you? Then be prepared as I will help you seek out that wildlife, as well how to photograph exotic birds and animals that you can find at your local zoo!

Every lesson is jammed packed with information, tips, and tricks on how to capture award winning images, from the camera to the digital darkroom. We will also explore some very interesting techniques that take the ordinary and turn it into a piece of art that will give you the tools to see the world around from a whole new perspective. For those who may have pets at home, we also cover just how to make your beloved best friend look as cute as they can be. When you are ready to take that wildlife photography safari or workshop, this course will get you prepared when you arrive and have that split second decision to capture the moment flawlessly each and every time.

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Learn More About Wildlife Photography 101 At The Perfect Picture School of Photography
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Wildlife Photography 101 is based in part on the article I wrote that appeared in Florida Wildlife Magazine as well as a very popular lecture series I teach in the Tampa, Florida area, but takes that article and information much deeper and in-depth. It is considered the "how-to" blueprint on wildlife photography, and this course will give you the insight and information like no other available today. Each week as we explore these invaluable subjects, you will be given an assignment and critiqued on how to improve your shot which will begin your journey on enjoying the world and nature around you.

Florida Wildlife Magazine

I received an email from the editor at Florida Wildlife Magazine today. Recently, I submitted an in-depth and one of the most comprehensive articles I have ever written, and it is on the nature and beauty of one of Florida's most delicate ecosystem, the Florida Mangroves.

Along with the extensive article, there will also be numerous photographs that I shot while spending a month of Saturdays in the mangroves at Honeymoon Island. It contains some of the most interesting images I captured of all of the creatures that can be found there, most of which few realize even exist.

Florida Wildlife Magazine also will be publishing lots of other photographs as well, most of which were taken in one of my favorite places, the beautiful Everglades. All of these photographs, as well as the article will be appearing in the September-October issue. If you are into the wildlife in Florida, this is a MUST read magazine, for it is the best I have ever seen.

(Click on the thumbnails for a larger photo)

Catching Up

This summer is going by fast. It has certainly been the craziest, with lots going on project-wise. First a recap and then some some exciting news of things to come. One of my largest projects lately was photographing the entire catalog of gift shop items for the Tampa Bay & Company. That was a great project, and I have finally finished it!

My book, Tampa Bay: A Photographic Portrait is flying off the shelves here in Tampa Bay, and I gotta admit, it's a little weird to see you own book when you walk into Barnes & Noble. So I bought a copy online! I even got a nice review of the book which was awesome.

I also recently had a real large turnout for a Nature & Bird Photography lecture on my favorite place, Honeymoon Island. I met some great people, and the lecture was a huge success. I am holding a workshop titled "Stunning Sunsets" in September. This should be lots of fun to say the least, for I can never take enough sunset pictures here in Tampa.

Now onto some new developments. I received a copy of a new book titled "By Design". The cover is a photograph of an Arctic Tern I shot last year on Honeymoon Island while standing out in the surf as they were feeding on the little fish along the shoreline. The designer who put together the cover did a fantastic job, and it is cool to see that little tern looking so good!

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View The Cover Of The Book "By Design"   (JPG - 48KB)
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Lastly but most importantly, I will be developing a new and extensive 4-week online photography course in bird and wildlife photography that will be exclusively available at the Perfect Picture School of Photography. I am really excited about this new course offering, and will be posting more details in the coming week when it is officially announced at the school.

That about wraps things up and gets me caught up, so look for these new announcements soon, so stay tuned!

Back Into The Studio

I headed back into the studio on Sunday to work on the rest of the items that needed to be photographed for the Tampa Bay & Company online catalog. This time, I had more of the larger items to photograph, including ones that were tall and lots of the clothing items.

I had to make adjustments to the studio backdrop to accommodate these larger items, which took a little ingenuity to get it all to line up. I only have a few more pieces to photograph, and should have the entire project wrapped up tomorrow. It was a great project, and I can't wait to see the new online store when it launches.

(Click on the thumbnails for a larger photo)