50^th  Anniversary Celebration

Lasting love is something to be cherished. Marriage takes commitment and a daily decision to honor and love your spouse. On August 24, 1973, Edgar William Jones and Kaye Miller were married in Bellevue United Methodist Church in Bellevue, MI. Their life together has been nothing short of an adventure filled with many memories of time spent with the people they love.

On August 26, 2023, Mr. and Mrs. Jones were honored with a surprise party to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary at the Monterey Yacht and Country Club (riverside) in Stuart, FL. Their daughters Amanda and Kerrie planned the event along with their husbands, Cory and Jake, plus friends Frank and Nadine. The couple walked into a room full of family and friends to include forty guests from as far as Pennsylvania and Michigan. The appetizer and dinner menu was catered by Crawdaddy’s of Jensen Beach and offered guests with several delicious dishes. DJ Chris Olsen of Lucky Shamrock Entertainment did a fantastic job of facilitating guest toasts and speeches in between some of the couple’s favorite dance music. The happy couple recreated their 1973 cake-cutting photo as they sliced into a 2 layer white cake decorated with daisies. Chuck Bessey photographed the event, capturing all the special moments of the evening. Each attendee commented on the beauty inside and outside of the Monterey Yacht and Country Club to include a beautiful sunset backdrop.

Click for photos

https://photos.app.goo.gl/f1nuUBDJ7n7s4GRm7

Christmas Eve at Christ Fellowship

 
Click for photos
https://photos.app.goo.gl/YtEAKzjw4NT24Vat8

                                 

                        Christmas at Christ Fellowship in Stuart                        After two years of COVID it's great to get together with friends to celebrate Christ birthday. 

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https://photos.app.goo.gl/2pYWCmnXa2XmMQBh6

                    

 
                

Christmas at Christ Fellowship Church - Stuart

A wonderful place to celebrate the birth of Christ. Family and friends experience the wonder of Christmas with great messages and and special entertainment. 

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https://photos.app.goo.gl/9WX1KNg4i1jx3BZo8

Jam Session at Blake Library

The Blake Library and others in the Martin County library system regularly provide a space for local musicians to meet for community jam sessions. All you need is your acoustic instrument. The space is free to musicians and visitors who want to enjoy some music by local artists.  There were 13 participates in this session which included guitars, harmonicas, ukulele and even a banjo and violin.

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https://photos.app.goo.gl/jwQKCSf7H6RUwMUJA

Fall in Stuart Florida

We do have Halloween and pumpkins and lots of fun in Florida but without the winter chill and snow. Ran into an old friend and her family while visiting the Stuart Pumpkin Patch.

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https://photos.app.goo.gl/nzQhaSSkXAdab5eJA

Intercoastal Cruise

While my son and daughter-in-law were here visiting from California, along with my daughter and son-in-law from Jensen Beach, we took the Island Princess tour of the Indian River south to the Jupiter lighthouse. It’s a fun luncheon cruise with narration on the history of the waterway and islands by the vessel captain. In addition to opportunities to photograph the Jupiter lighthouse, and some wildlife, we alo saw the yachts and homes of the some of the rich and famous celebrities.

Click for photos:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UKDa2xZb4Qe1s5HY7

Stuart Pinspiration

The Treasure Coast’s first craft studio based on Pinterest opened recently in Stuart.
The studio is co-owned by my friends Lisa Brady and Sally Coyne. Brady’s daughter, Aina, will manage the location at 1562 S.E. Federal Hwy. Guests can choose a project on the studio’s website and then make a reservation to create it. At the studio, guests receive a kit and the supplies to design and personalize it. Craft ideas include string art, acrylic pouring, wooden pallet signs, custom candles, kids crafts and gifts. If you book a session at Pinspiration’s splatter room, you’ll receive protective gear — including booties, goggles, shower caps and robes or coveralls — and then you’re set free to splatter paint into a work of art on a fresh canvas. Budding artists 21 and older who like to imbibe while they create will be able to do that, too, because Pinspiration has a beer-and-wine bar. Non-alcoholic beverages are also available.

Click for photos:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/s9ZUBZAExPJkJVcg7

For more Information: 772-500-0809; eMail: stuart@pinspiration.com

Hours: 6-9 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday-Sunday

Annual Stuart Air Show

While the weekend was cloudy, it was still very nice weather for 50,000 spectators to take advantage of the annual Stuart Air Show at Witham Field. There was a spectacular display of aerial prowess by daring pilots in modern as well as vintage aircraft. In addition to the full scale WWII battle reenactment including a parachute drop. Demonstrations by the Air Force F16 Viper, the Marine Corp Harrier jet, the DeHavilland Vampire, the Quick Silver P-51, as well as a variety of other aerobatic demonstrations, including the Black Daggers parachute jump with the American flag.  My daughter and son-in-law joined me for their first time at the air show. Nadine adventurously took a ride in the T-6 WWII trainer for a very memorial experience.

Click for photos:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/WdGM4zjL1zUbKVyX9

Cruising the St Lucie River

Mike took Chip and me on his replica tug boat for a St. Lucie river cruise. Departing from his home base south of the Palm City bridge, we traveled north to the main river fork and then northeast through the old drawbridge towards the Stuart causeway bridge and up to the Willow Creek pocket, going past Sandsprit Park into Manatee Bay before returning to his home base.

Along the way we saw many of the beautiful homes and yachts that are so typical here in Martin County.  It was a warm but cloudy day, though with creative control on my camera, we captured some great photos.

Click here for the photos.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/e6PnIS33XctFnNW82

Stuart Air Show

A beautiful weekend in Stuart for the spectators at the Annual Air Show at Witham Field. The partly cloudy skies provided just the right backdrop for the spectacular display of aerial prowess by daring pilots in modern as well as vintage aircraft. There was a full scale WWII battle reenactment including a parachute drop. Demonstrations by the Air Force F16 Viper, the Navy F18 Super Hornet as well as a variety of other daring aerobatic demonstrations, including the Navy Seals Leap Frog parachute jump with the American flag, and my favorite the AeroShell Aerobic team. I was using my new FujiFilm  XT2 with a 55-200mm lens this year and it was a learning experience, but I did get some good shots.

Click here for photos:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7htFOb1x2xOtPTS32

Indiantown Rodeo

The Indiantown Rodeo, now in its 70th year, is sponsored by the Martin County Sheriff's Office and  professionally produced by the 4L Rodeo Company. With generous sponsors and countless volunteer hours, the Timer Power Park event brings real cowboys to compete in Bull Riding, Bronco Riding, Steer Wrestling, and Barrel Racing, to name a few -  great fun and an out-of-the-ordinary spectacle.

Click for more photos:  https://photos.app.goo.gl/L7p7eJESRPKxaB3v1

Scott Kelbey's 10th Annual Worldwide Photowalk

Again this  year, photographers from around the world gather in various locations on the same day to explore, photograph, share photos with each another, make new friends, and be a part of a great cause. This year was the 10th Annual World Wide Photo Walk, which supports The Springs Of Hope Kenya Orphanage that feeds, houses, educates and empowers young orphans so that they can grow up to not just survive but succeed in life.

Click for some of my photos on the walk:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/wC2io099gxnTWljX2

WorldWide PhotoWalk:
http://worldwidephotowalk.com/

2016 Year in Review

A great year to get out and photograph in Stuart, Florida. Some of the photography opportunities this past year included a Scott Kelby photo walk, lots of downtown activities, including Dancing in the Street, the Riverwalk Concerts and of course my favorites the Stuart Air Show and the Stuart Sailfish Regatta. Even had a few paid gig's, sold some prints and of course always learning and growing in my photography skills.

 Click here for the year in review:  https://youtu.be/GbXl16w4tjU

Back To The Future

After years of photographing with DSLR's, I have taken the leap to mirrorless!  Early on, I had used point and shoot film cameras for family or friends-type snapshots, eventually moving on to digital point-and-shoots. After retiring in 2002, I bought my first bridge camera. It was a Panasonic Lumix FZ40, a nice compact 14mp - 24x zoom camera. While getting more serious about photography and getting out of "auto" mode, this was a great little versatile camera to start learning photography.

It wasn't too much longer when, in 2013, I jumped up to a full size DSLR. The Nikon D5200, a 24mp APS-C (crop) sensor with interchangeable lens was a big step up in my photography use and experience. Before long I had acquired several more lenses for the Nikon.  It's a great camera for all kinds of photography - portraits, sports, landscapes - but it is bulky and heavy.

Because of desire for a smaller, lighter camera, I had been watching rapid development in the mirrorless field in recent years, with Sony, Fujifilm, Olympus and others making huge advancements in technology. After much research I zeroed in on the flagship Fuji X-T2. For me, besides reduced size and weight, the big features were the 24mp APS-C sensor, the retro manual dials, amazing EVF, fast focus, image quality, and available lenses.  On paper the Fuji, in a smaller form factor, actually outstrips my Nikon in every function and feature.

Because of high demand, it took months for my normal preorder to get filled, but once in my hands, the sophisticated tactical feel of the body and knobs was an awesome experience. Not having to fiddle in menus while having exposure settings all readily handy right on top of the camera is just astounding! There is something very comforting about the mechanical feel of this camera - you feel that you are part of the photography process. It is just plain fun to use!  The image quality is outstanding, and even while still learning to use the camera. It's unadjusted jpeg quality seems virtually to equal the Lr adjusted RAW files.

I have a lot to learn and explore with this system, but one thing I know. Spending time with this mirrorless camera will be an exciting adventure. 

Stuart Air Show

While the weekend was cloudy, it was still nice weather for spectators to take advantage of the annual Stuart Air Show at Witham Field. The partly cloudy skies provided just the right backdrop for the spectacular display of aerial prowess by daring pilots in modern as well as vintage aircraft. There was a full scale WWII battle reenactment including a parachute drop. Demonstrations by the Air Force F16 Fighting Falcon, the Navy F18 Hornet and a vintage Mig 17 supersonic fighter jets, as well as a variety of other aerobatic  demonstrations, including the Navy Leap Frogs parachute jump with the American flag.   Disappointingly, the ever popular AeroShell Aerobic team did not make it this year. I tried using a new 55-300mm Nikkor lens this year - but think I prefer my old versatile 18-200mm to capture a wider view and more of the action. 

Click here for photos:
https://goo.gl/photos/ErKV9MHzxpca7kTt5

Scott Kelby's WorldWide PhotoWalk

Each year, photographers around the world gather in various locations on the same day to explore, photograph, share photos with each another, make new friends, and be a part of a great cause. This year my club the Palm City Shutterbugs joined other photographers from the Stuart area for the photo walk. The Worldwide Photo Walk supports The Springs Of Hope Kenya Orphanage that feeds, houses, educates and empowers young orphans so that they can grow up to not just survive but succeed in life. 

Click for some of my photos on the walk: 
https://goo.gl/photos/FxW1x5ZEH3ehRVaC9 

WorldWide PhotoWalk: 
http://worldwidephotowalk.com/ 

Springs Of Hope Kenya Orphanage: 
https://www.generosity.com/community-fundraising/let-s-transform-orphans-lives-together-wwpw2016

Dancing in Stuart

 "Dancin' in the Streets" drew them in on Saturday, Aug. 20th, for a carefree day in downtown Stuart. It was the 26th annual celebration, and the vendors went wild - there were over a dozen food stands to please the crowds. It was a hot day, but who cared?  Festival-goers were in the mood for fun, and this is Stuart's biggest fundraiser of the summer, supporting free community events year-round.  Five stages and 17 live bands kept people dancing and partying from 3:00 p.m. till midnight.

Click for photos:
https://goo.gl/photos/6khrePWpjJziUmoD7

2015 Photo Slide Show

From the roaring thrill of planes in flight at the air show to the spectacular beauty of a Florida sunset. From locals sauntering Stuart's streets to three generations of a family in a once-in-a-lifetime gathering.  These were some of the photographic opportunities over the past year, bringing new confidence and even a few  paid commissions leading to my newest venture - printing and selling some select prints.  

 Click here for the year in review:  https://youtu.be/cdxxIx6ddq8

Stuart Air Show 2015

Over 50,000 spectators took advantage of perfect weekend weather to join the crowds at Witham Field for the 26th anniversary Stuart Air Show. The partly cloudy skies provided just the right backdrop for the spectacular display of aerial prowess by daring pilots in modern as well as vintage aircraft. Demonstrations by the Air Force F16 Fighting Falcon and the Navy F18 Hornet supersonic fighter jets, as well as the Army's Golden Knights, the world's most renowned parachute team, brought the crowd to its feet again and again. The AeroShell Aerobic team, always a crowd favorite, capped off the day's events, which we were privileged to view this year from the Antique Aircraft Foundation hangar as guests of Dr. Luis Villar.  

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Click here for photos:

https://plus.google.com/photos/104461058718739695077/albums/6212900742791614961