Monday, March 11, 2013

Becoming a Florida Photographer


Morning spider webs
I have gotten behind on my blog before, but six months is much longer than I ever intended.  All I can say is that life got in the way.  I have gone through a lot of changes since September, including getting engaged, moving to Florida, and starting a new job.  I moved down right after Christmas and have spent the last couple months trying to find my footing in a new place.  Since I'm updating this, I'm hoping that means I am starting to get a handle on things and can relax a little to photograph and update my website.

Morning mist at
Archbold Biological Station
Five years ago I started with a part time job in science education at a science museum.  Little did I know at the time that it would end up turning into what appears to be my main career.  For a while I really wasn't sure how to identify myself.  At first I thought of myself a photography who happened to be teaching science.  As time passed I began to really associate with science education.  So much so now, that I have to make sure to push myself to keep making art.  I get to be creative so much of the time at work, that it gets out most of those "urges" us artists have.  But I have to remind myself, that no matter how much I get to be creative or even use photography at my job, I need to make art for myself, too.

So far, I've been traveling around to different natural places and bringing my camera along.  I now work at a biological research station, so I am about ten steps from my desk to a nature trail.  This has been great for my nature photography skills.  I have opportunities every day to work on them if I want.  So far I've been trying to understand the panoramas down here as well as take close up shots of the plants and animals I come across   I have discovered that during the winter here there is a fantastic morning mist, which makes spider webs look amazing.  Unfortunately winter is now on its way out, but this may turn into a project down the road.  I haven't seriously photographed any people, but eventually I want to get back into photographing babies, weddings, and people in general.

I hope you enjoy these first impressions of Florida and stay with me as I investigate it further over the coming months and years.


Kissimee Prairie Preserve State Park

Morning mist at
Archbold Biological Station

Spider webs
Spider webs

The camping spot where I proposed to Emily