Waiting for Irma

Naomi and I are waiting for Hurricane Irma. The hurricane force winds are expected to arrive within the hour and last for the next twenty four. We have had tornado warnings for most of the day. We are expect to lose power. The weather has certainly been exciting since arriving in Florida. We wish everyone well as this storm passes.  Click on the image for a larger view.

Night Driving, Part 3

The method of photographing lightning by opening the shutter over a period of time allows for images over time to be recorded. Each strike causes an exposure of the landscape to be captured, showing both the passing forest and open pasture. Passing a moving car records the red tail lights across the bottom of the picture. The reflections of our car’s dashboard are reflected in the window. Click on the image for a larger view.

Florida’s Sandhill Cranes

For most of their species, Sandhill Cranes are migratory, heading north in the summer and returning in the winter. Central Florida has a population of non-migratory cranes. These large birds mate for life and can live for over thirty years. They can also become used to humans, although their confidence should not be confused with being harmless or domesticated: they are a wild animal and will protect themselves if felt threatened. Click on the image for a larger view.

Discovering New Places

With unpacking and setting up our new home, Naomi and I have had little time to explore. The other day we took a break from this routine and drove along the Atlantic coast of Florida between Melbourne and Cocoa. While the day did not live up to Florida’s motto of the “Sunshine State,” none the less it was a beautiful day. I suspect the weather kept the beaches empty. Click on the image for a larger view.