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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.