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.

Click for photos:

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.