92 Photography 101

Old Town thru Dale's lens

     

Our path from New Smyrna Beach was to travel South West across Florida stopping at two locations and then turn South for our horse training appointment in Naples Florida.   We tried to wander as we usually do on the way to Kissimmee

 

however due to the abundance of city traffic in this part of Florida we soon chose fastest path and got on the freeway. Just to many traffic lights.   We had found a motel on price line next to the Old Town amusement park and 

 

because of the ratings Ruthie was having some concern about it.  The Seralago resort at the west gate passed the Ruthie test and we were soon settled in.   Our stop here was to reconnect with some friends from Minnesota that it seemed we hadn't seen for a lifetime.  At one time when we were just starting our families Dale and Leigh Ann and our family interacted on many occasions.  Then over time we lost touch with them.  Around Christmas a friend on Facebook commented on some beautiful photographs on Leigh Ann's page, recognizing the name we connected.    I see this as one of the advantages of the internet age, there are many people we knew a long time ago that would have been great to keep in touch with, unfortunately many of those connections are lost forever.  However this one is not.  The connection was made and I was able to keep up on their family's activities.  Sometimes a life leads in ways you hadn't planned, Dale is a good example of this.  Dale's business was connected with new construction drywall and for a short time I actually worked for him.   My blisters and sore muscles will vouch for how hard Dale worked for his livelihood.  It was the comments  on some of his pictures that had caught my eye.  I need to modify that from pictures to photographs.  These were not my point and shoot kind of pictures, these were composed, lighted and framed beautifully.   I noticed on our social connection that they also were traveling to Florida this winter. We kept in touch, and this would be our chance to see them.  They were kind enough to pick us up at our hotel and we headed to Applebee's.  It was great to catch up with them learning about their lives and family,  We reminisced about mutual friends we both had lost touch with.  We learned of their winter trips to the Kissimmee area and his photography.  It seems that after retiring he has turned his hobby into a passion.  Taking photography class's and learning all he can has produce some wonderful creations.  With encouragement his speech goes to a different level with talk of pixels, megapixel, lens apertures,  F stops, lighting, bounce lighting, jpeg and raw photos.  It's probably like asking a chemist to pass the salt or Ruthie if she likes riding trike or about her family.    They took us on a tour of Old

town and of course Dale photographed the event.

Photographer: Leigh Ann

   The conversation drifted to our winter trip and method of travel.   As they dropped us off at our room Dale started taking pictures of the trike with the lights on.  I was embarrassed how dirty it was.  Dale asked if he could take some pictures in the morning before we left, he wanted a grassy place to put it on.  I was up early and did a hand wash in the parking lot of the hotel using a rag and waste basket for water.  We had made arrangements to meet at mile marker 8 by the Arabian nights and a ice cream stand shaped like a cone.  The photo shoot:  We arrived a little early, Ruthie seen a spot on some grass that required

driving over the side walk. Dale and Leigh Ann arrived and with Dale's direction we maneuvered the trike into a more suitable position.  And then the gear started coming out of their SUV, lights, cameras, tripods, umbrellas, reflector discs, light holders.  Leigh Ann said the grandchildren hide when he suggests a picture, except for one that loves to pose for pictures.    Here are some of the trike pictures he took that morning, You have to remember there was no sun that morning.  Later he can take the same picture and change it so that it appears to be a  painting.   One of his story's connecting his photography with nature was so intriguing I I emailed him during the writing of this story to make sure I got the story correct  

     "Hi Vern,  The Bird is a Great Blue Heron. It takes anywhere from 3-14 days for the building of the nest. The male goes and gets twigs, branches, weeds, it seems like he is very deliberate in his choices.  He then flies up to the nest gives it to the female and she places it where she thinks is correct. He will continue until the nest is complete. When he flies to the nest with a twig she takes it from him and he sometimes lifts his head straight up to the sky and she responds, (like what a great job I 'am doing).  They usually lay 2-6 eggs, take a month to hatch, the young can fly in 6-8 wks.  If God didn’t give them directions where did they get it? "

Dale

 

All of the photographs on this post are Dale's except the one of him working and that was taken by Leigh Ann.  Thank you both for an interesting stop. 

 

     Something to think about.  We all have talents.  Who is aware of them?   What would surprise me about the people I know if I took the time to learn more about them.  What talents are they keeping to them selves?  

 

 

 

 

 

     While in the Kissimmee area we had contemplated a visit to Epcot, It had been many years since we had seen it.  We kept questioning everyone that had returned to see if it was worth returning.  In the end due to the (in our opinion) high cost for one day, $200 for the two of us, we would save it for another trip

 

 

     

 

 

 

      Now off to Polk City. Florida.