Reflecting Andrea

2012-02-19T13:23:00.000-08:00

Every year on the Sunday before Fat Tuesday, Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin goes to the dogs. Guardians dress their canine family members in their Mardi Gras best. This year was no different. I always enjoy the pet parade because it's fun to watch and the animals seem to enjoy the attention. One of my favorite entries was Brody. Brody not only was dressed to the nines, but, he had his own transportation, a very small miniature sports car. Boy, I like this little guy's style. Alaqua Animal Shelter is the recipient of the proceeds from the event. Alaqua is a no kill shelter in Walton County.

Unconditional Love

2011-12-29T14:32:00.000-08:00

It continues to amaze me when I read stories in the media about the services humans receive from animals, usually dogs. Our local paper had a story just today about a veteran that has a German shepherd that helps him in his struggle with PTSD. The dog wakes him before his nightmares become too intense and stands between him and other people if he is out and has an anxiety attack. A month ago I encountered a young woman in Petsmart with her service dog. The dog helps her with a medical condition. Anyone who has had a pet understands the special bond between an animal and its caretaker. The pet needs no special training to give unconditional love to those who care for and love him or her. I urge you to consider supporting the various shelters and animal care groups in your area at this year end, and if at all possible pay a visit to a shelter. There may be a very special animal waiting for you. You won't be sorry and you may be the difference in their living or dying.

2011-09-16T14:49:00.000-07:00

What a great summer we've had on the Emerald Coast of Florida. Tourists came in record numbers, no hurricanes (knock on wood), and the water and beaches were beautiful. I photographed lots of new families and thoroughly enjoyed meeting and working with them.

The weather has begun to cool off a little and the pace is a bit slower. Next month the Destin Fishing Rodeo will get underway as well as the Destin Seafood Festival. If you've never participated in them, you have missed a treat. Consider a fall trip. It's the best time of the year and I would love to see you again.

Nesting time in the Gulf Islands National Seachore

2011-05-22T16:25:00.000-07:00

Between Navarre and Pensacola Beach is an area that is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, a National Parks Area that shelters and protects migratory and residential birds and animals. During the nesting time of the year the speed limit drops to 20 mph, strictly enforced. and certain areas are roped off and restricted. These areas contain hundreds of nesting shore birds. Their nests are out in the open located on the sand and beach debris. The babies run everywhere as babies will do. Hence 20 mph, because they run on the roadway also. Last year with the oil spill, the nesting season was disturbed by all the big machinery and activity on the beach. I was anxious to see how this season is progressing and decided to detour through the area on my way to Pensacola Saturday. The birds seem be out in force and I was delighted to see many babies. I took pictures but the ones that showed up the best were the skimmers because of their coloring. The little sandpipers were barely visible in the sand.

2011-04-26T08:21:00.000-07:00

Nothing brings the child in a person out like sand castles. There have been a number of sand structures along the Emerald Coast from Panama City Beach to Pensacola marking the anniversary of the Gulf oil spill and celebrating the beautiful beaches and the beginning of the tourist season. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Destin commissioned such a structure on the beach in front of Finz Restaurant. I couldn't resist a trip to view it and photograph it. Hope you enjoy the photographs and maybe it will inspire you to come on down and try your hand. We have beautiful sand to work with and beautiful weather to enjoy it.

2011-04-11T17:09:00.000-07:00

One thing about living along the Emerald Coast of Florida is that there is always somewhere interesting within a short distance. As a photographer, I never run out of sights that intrigue and amaze me.

Sunday, I drove to the Weeks Bay Pitcher Plant Bog outside of Foley. Gulf Coast pitcher plant bogs are among the most diverse habitats for flowering plants in North America. Bogs bring together an unusual combination of water, soil, and environmental conditions. Bogs contain very little organic material. Coastal bogs are highly acidic and very poor in nutrients. The carnivorous pitcher plants obtain their nutrients by capturing and eating insects and other small creatures. Many of the plants found in the bog are found nowhere else on the Earth. More than 90% of bog acreage along the Gulf Coast have already been destroyed or damaged. They have been drained or filled to make the land available for agriculture, roads, and construction.

The bog is located on County Road 17, one quarter mile north of U.S. Highway 98.

2011-03-28T15:47:00.000-07:00

I am watching the osprey nest in Marler Park on Okaloosa Island with much anticipation. It is obvious they are feeding the babies but the babies can't be seen. The nest has to be deep to keep the little ones from blowing out on a windy day. Mom and Dad take turns fishing and watching the nest. There is always one of them close by. The nest has drawn lots of interest from photographers and birders along the Emerald Coast.

2011-03-08T07:14:00.000-08:00

When introduced to Grayton Beach Affair, I was first intrigued by the physical and historical setting.
Author James Harvey is a Seaside resident. In his debut offering he focuses on the Florida Gulf Coast in the 1940s weaving a tale of history and romance in the shadow of World War II.
The heroine, Maggie Neal, retreats to Grayton Beach to recover from the loss of her fiance, who was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Christian Wolfe, American educated and German born had returned to Germany disenchanted with his American experience. Back in Germany he is forced into a mission that takes him back to America and the Florida Gulf Coast. During the mission, Christian meets Maggie, and a passionate and unlikely love story is born. Those feelings haunt them both as they go their separate ways and attempt to make their way in a world at war.
After the war, Christian is determined to find Maggie. Grayton Beach Affair is a great combination of love story and intrigue. The historical setting adds drama and urgency to the story. Check this book out. I think you will be glad you did.

2011-02-27T21:58:00.000-08:00

A beautiful evening sky and a beautiful couple at the start of a new beginning. The Destin and Emerald Coast areas are major destinations for beach weddings. Couples are attracted from all over the country to the sugar white sand and amenities of the Emerald Coast.

Ceremonies range from very intimate (less that 6 attending) to large groups of several hundred. If you can picture yourself in this setting, I would love to work with you on your special occasion.

2011-02-22T06:24:00.000-08:00

I have been watching an osprey nest for weeks hoping to catch one of them on the nest. Saturday morning I was lucky enough to catch both on the nest. Ospreys are very impressive birds. You can see their nests of sticks easily, since they build in open spaces on docks, telephone poles, dead trees, etc. I was once told they do this because they are a little clumsy and need a clear space for taking off and landing. That's hard to believe after watching them fish.

2011-02-15T11:35:00.000-08:00

Picture the beautiful Gulf of Mexico, the incredible beaches of Destin and South Walton. Picture yourself or your family enjoying the Emerald Green water and the white sugar sands. Now, go one step further and picture a beautiful digital painting of that experience. Coastal Reflections specializes in such renderings. Contact me to learn more or to schedule a beach portrait for you or your family.

2011-01-27T13:09:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to offer a different type of beach portrait. These portraits are enhanced using Corel Painter. A hand painted portrait will cost thousands of dollars, but these can be done at a very reasonable cost. There is no better setting than the Emerald Coast of Florida. If you have been wanting something really special I urge you to consider this.

Beach fun at Miramar Beach, Florida

2010-11-04T20:14:00.000-07:00

It's cooler along the Emerald Coast this week and the sky is that dynamic blue that is seldom seen in the summer months. I have had great fun shooting beach portraits of little boys and boats in the last couple of weeks. When I first began photographing families, I had no idea how much fun it was to work with children. They are like that proverbial "box of chocolates". You never know what you are going to get, but you know you are going to savor the experience. To everyone who has let me work with their children, thank you. And if it has been awhile, I hope I'll be seeing you again soon.

2010-09-24T09:03:00.000-07:00

This is a wonderful time of year on the Emerald Coast. Cool mornings promise cooler days to come. Sea oats frame beaches and the sand and water are beautiful.
Migratory birds will soon be traversing the area in the quest for warmer climates for wintering. I always look forward to the return of the white pelicans to the area and further south. They are magnificent birds. Larger than the brown pelicans, they are solid white except for black on the underside tips of their wings. The white pelicans are different from their brown counterparts in several other ways. They inhabit bayous and bays. They don't dive for fish, instead, they herd them into a circle and eat them. They also have yellow feet and bills. Some of the pelicans that come through this area migrate from Canada and Montana. Florida has so many areas that are great places for this bird to winter. You never know where they will settle down. Keep an eye out for these wonderful creatures.

Trip to Venice, LA

2010-08-30T08:03:00.000-07:00

The second weekend in August found us on the road to Venice, Louisiana. News reports from Venice peaked my curiosity about the area and what better way to satisfy that curiosity than to pay a visit.
A number of things surprised me about the area south of New Orleans. There were numerous groves of citrus trees, cattle farms, horse farms, and pecan orchards. In some areas the land mass looked no wider than half a mile or so with dikes on each side. As we entered the Venice area helicopter pads dotted the area. The tops of huge vessels could be seen over the dikes. A few miles past Venice the road ends. Past that point are Cypress swamps and the Gulf of Mexico. The end of that road was covered with about six inches of water, a real reminder of how vulnerable the area is.
Many visitors come through the area on the way to offshore oil rigs and to fish the rich waters surrounding Venice. Numerous accommodations resembling mini trailers on blocks or stilts are visible throughout the area.
We intentionally traveled the coast line to and from Venice. We were pleased to see clean beaches.

2010-07-12T10:41:00.000-07:00

Meet Lionel and Coco. They were abandoned as babies. When we first took them in six weeks ago they were suffering from a parasite infestation, eye infections and respiratory problems. Coco weighted 8 ounces and Lionel 1 pound 2 ounces. From the beginning they responded to loving and good food. Coco now weighs in at almost 3 pounds and Lionel is a hefty 4 pounds. They are both healthy and both need loving homes. It would be great if they could stay together, since they have such a close bond. They are extremely loving and playful and will be a great addition to any home. Please look into your heart and see if there is room for such sweet and beautiful creatures.

2010-06-15T12:06:00.000-07:00

Pelicans on the Gulf

Growing up in Valdosta, Georgia, my father took me fishing with him at an early age. I learned to love nature and to respect all God’s creatures and I carried that respect with me to Destin when my husband and I moved to the Gulf Coast in 1999. My love and fascination with coastal wildlife and the shoreline only grows stronger with the years and I sincerely hope my photography reflects that. This beautiful, healthy Brown Pelican from our Emerald Coast is a sharp contrast to the photo visual that for me will forever define the horrible tragedy of the spill, the iconic image of the oil covered Pelican in Louisiana. Thankfully, our coast remains clear and so this pelican’s home, for now, remains pure and beautiful. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
I support the efforts of Audubon and our local wildlife refuge agency, The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge and Marine Mammal Stranding Center (http://www.ecwildliferefuge.com/). While the impact on birds in our area is as yet unclear, these agencies are working closely with NOAA, USFWS, FFWCC, BP, Okaloosa EOC and they are prepared to respond to oiled wildlife. I am ready to stand with them.

So far we Walton County Citizens are urged to be sentinels and to call these numbers: Walton County Citizen Information – 850-267-2000 with any oil related concerns. To report oiled or injured wildlife we are to call 866-557-1401.

Hazel

2010-05-22T06:54:00.000-07:00

Before moving to the Emerald Coast we had no close encounters with cats as housemates. We were "dog people". Our area has a large feral cat population and it was only a matter of time before we were fascinated by these creatures. Fascination led to feeding and feeding eventually led to five cats that get their mail at this address. One can only imagine the adventures these animals have had.

Our latest feline family member is Hazel. She was trapped, spayed and set free because she was too wild to socialize. We agreed to feed her and keep an eye on her if she allowed. At first she would appear for food each morning and evening. At night we made her a bed on the porch (with heating pad) and she would turn in fairly early and spend the night in her bed. She was very much alone and tried repeatedly to establish relationships with other cats that came into the yard. That failing, she began to eye us with more curiosity, particularily the indoor cats. She began to spend more time with her nose pressed to the glass door watching our every move. Since she was still very wild, we were not sure how to proceed. We finally decided to open the door to her and let her decide if this was a "hill" she could live on. She has quickly, with minimal encouragement, become our most sociable cat and has an insatiable appetite for petting and food of any kind.

We were not looking for a fifth cat. Had promised "no more cats". However, when Hazel applied for membership, the rules went out the window. Welcome home, Hazel.

Great Blue Herons

2010-05-18T09:45:00.000-07:00

May is a beautiful time along the Emerald Coast of Florida. Blue Lupine and Gaillardias dot the sand dunes, the water is a beautiful color, the weather is perfect, and bird nests are full of babies. I love photographing bird families, particularly the Great Blue Herons. This Heron couple is in their courtship mode. They nest in the tops of trees. This couple lives in the Dewey Destin Seafood Restaurant area on the Bay.