Leaf Lougainis

On the footbridge was the lone leaf. It looked as if it were on a diving platform.
I titled it "representing the republic of cypress, Leaf Louganis!"

Leaning Pine

Like a pietta, the pine fell just right so the other pine could hold it.
I titled it, the day ma pine realized lil sap was spoiled rotten.

Addiction

I know mine. Do you recognize yours?

Seventy-five sun rise

On our way to Gainesville Thursday for Melanies dentist appointment, I had the 35mm 1.8 lens on the D7000 and blindly snapped out the window to my left the rising sun around Alachua.
Of the six taken blindly, this one half way came out with trees. Melanie always freaks out when I do this while driving.

Kayak upon Alligator

Yesterday while walking the three mile loop I came upon Michael Pope and his cousin from Atlanta kayaking on the lake. It was cold and they seemed to me quite under dressed. When I came upon them they were walking along the dike. Michael asked if I had seen any alligators, as they were looking for some. His cousin had never seen one in the wild.
I left them at the bridge where they made a shaky re-entrance into the Pelican kayaks like mine and made their way back to the landing by the high school.
Brian from FP caught up and I walked the rest of the loop with him.

These things I miss

These things I miss
The early morning mist
Turkeys strung along the Gum Swamp
Keys to hidden places
Buffalo and ostrich grazing
the long forest lane
to a cell phone tower
reading the monthly use of power
making it in by two
the day through
and paid for eight
it was great
These things I miss
 waking old mister Foote
giving him a granola bar
riding Ralph to the soup kitchen
never a ride hitching
content in the long walk
like me
in rain,cold and heat caught
running from the coming canine
jumping fences just in time
never reporting the near miss
bogging down behind hotels
brunt of jokes to tell
These things I miss
sunrises upon the route
camera always out
miles and miles all alone
home after home
meter after meter
Slim and trim
These things I miss. 

Rock of Gators

Rock of Gators
Cleft upon Suwannee
Let me hide
My face from thee.

Rock of Gators
Cleft upon Suwannee
I shall slide
And come for thee.

Rock of Gators
Cleft upon Suwannee
You shall abide
Forever with me.

 

 

vertical orientation

 

Balance beam

In the last mile of the three mile walk, stopped at the cypress stand in Alligator Lake.  I had shot the same scene several times, with the Nikon and the Canon. Some shots were under exposed by two stops with fill flash, some without flash. This shot appealed in that the fill flash and ambient light were balanced.

Air Men

It was the last day of 2013. It was nearing the park closing time of 5:30. It was a three mile loop. The  retired air man came. He had passed many times before in 2013. This was his last 2013 run  upon the dike. I held the D7000 to my waist. I took one wide angle photograph. I did not want him to know. When people are near, like the wildlife, I pause, let them pass. Wary, wait, then resume my walk. Earlier Brian had passed me. He worked in the cubical at Florida Power. I passed him every day in 2012. It was odd to pass him out of context.
These walks are not so much about taking photographs. They are walks attempting to right a soul. A wayward soul that reeks of many sins. The photographs are only fringe diversions. An excuse.
As the air man passed, my thoughts immediately went out to my air man son in Misawa Air Base, Japan.
He like me, no doubt needs much space to walk the three mile dike. Three years he will be in Japan. Content I suppose, like me, to walk in total silence, choosing to pause and let family pass.
And yet, in the silence, there is an uneasy feeling. A feeling that something is not right.
Solitude is fine for a season. But not for a life. Not for a family.
Not for a Father,Son and Grandson as Diane said.
Pray.
My word for 2014.
Pray the silent son returns.