I discovered a new-to-me state park beside the Guana River and the Intra-coastal Waterway. There are miles of interesting trails to explore, and wildlife to view if that is of interest. For me, the forest is the attraction as well as the pleasure of an easy hike! 

I had a vividly imagined scene I wanted to photograph that required me to be at Marineland beach at dawn. It's about a 45 minute drive in the dark. You'd be surprised at the volume of traffic at that hour on a Saturday morning, but, hey Interstate 95 is pretty busy nearly all the time!  When I arrived, I schlepped my gear to the jetty I had intended to make the foreground for the image, but there was a wedding party exactly where I needed to be...at 6:30 AM....on the beach....in dawn's first light!  Bastards! ;)  So, these several photographs, without the jetty, were what I was able to make. I like 'em, but I'll have to make another trip for the photograph I had imagined. 

 

I've not been able to photograph much around here recently, but finally did so yesterday.  I keep returning to the same places as they're usually interesting in one way or another.  Here are two images I made at Fort George Inlet, a place I continue to visit.  

During our return trip from south Florida, I had a chance to briefly visit Blowing Rocks State Park. These views do not capture the phenomenon the park is named for, but a bit of the beach and a long path through tunnels of sea grapes. I'll get another chance to explore it again in a few weeks.

Even in death, trees are interesting and often beautiful apart from what man makes of their wood. Here are three stumps - one on the beach, one in the ocean, and one still in the ground at Kingsley Plantation.

As a Yankee until nine years ago, I appreciate natural things in the south that are markedly different from what I was used to up yonder!  Among those things are, of course, palm trees, but also kudzu, live oaks, Cypress trees and knees, and Spanish moss. I haven't seen kudzu in north Florida as yet, but there are many live oaks, Cypress knees, and lots of Spanish moss!  Here are two photographs with Cypress knees and Spanish moss. 

A trip to Marineland beach on the 3rd of February was visually a lot of fun. There was a strong breeze and a turbulent surf that slammed into the coquina rocks lining the shore.  Here are several photographs from that early afternoon, some of which were made with a neutral density filter that slowed the shutter speed to 10 seconds. (All were made with film as are all my images.)

I am constantly attracted to fences. These are on the beach at Washington Oaks SP.

More long exposures today, but not at the jetty on Vilano Beach. This was again Boneyard Beach at Big Talbot Island SP.  For any who might be interested, these were f16 at one minute, and f11 for 30 seconds with a 10 stop neutral density filter and a Red 25A filter at ISO 12 (Ilford Delta 100 film).  I'm really liking this long exposure thing, but it's a challenge to choose the right subjects for the technique. 

These photographs represent my first successful attempt at long exposures...as much as two minutes using a ten stop neutral density filter plus a red 25A to enhance the sky a bit. I have been using my next to oldest camera for months now because it is completely manual having no batteries that would be depleted quickly.  The location is Vilano Beach which borders St. Augustine.

 

Big Talbot Island State Park is always a treat to visit with its fallen, sun bleached trees. The day was cool, the sky was gorgeous, and the tide was out making it ideal for photographs.  Here are three:

A long walk in a strong wind to photograph this favorite place!  

Here's another place I've often photographed, but, again, the light, the tide, the sandbar, and the clouds were different as they always seem to be. 

I've been exploring places I've been to before more deeply and discovering there's a great deal more to see. Here are several images from January 6th.

 I think I've finally fixed my ability to see your comments!  Thank you all who've offered them. Blogspot apparently changed the way that was done, and did not explain the changes so I am only just seeing them now after changing something as an experiment. So, please continue to offer whatever reactions occur to you to share whether positive, negative, or just informative.  I'll read them all and appreciate your time. Thanks!

I seem to return many times to the same places, so on the first day of 2022 I decided to explore at least some different parts of them.  Since moving here six years ago, the Timucuan Preserve area has been reopened with new trails to wander.  So, that's what I did even getting lost for a while which added several additional miles of hiking. Here are some photographs from that hike.