| Photo Galleries |
photo gallery
Descriptions |
Most of the information below can also be found in the View section of each of the galleries. We have added this page to make that information as it relates to all the galleries easier to access, and easier to modify.
Gallery #1 - Florida. The photos in this initial gallery were taken over a period of years throughout the state of Florida. You will find pictures of Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, Naples, Silver Springs, Rainbow Springs, St. Augustine, Gainesville, Ocala, Cedar Key, Micanopy, Destin, Lake Sumter, and Mt. Dora.
Most of these photos were taken with a Nikon D70 camera, although at times a Canon point-and-shoot and a Sony point-and-shoot were used.
Gallery #2 - New York. In November of 2003, Lois ran the ING New York City Marathon. This was the first time we had spent any time in New York City. Thirty-five thousand people ran the marathon which wended through all five boroughs, to end by sending the runners up 5th Avenue, then 57th St., and into the finish line in Central Park.
It was an incredible experience, and we fell in love with New York City.
We hope these photos give you a feel for New York as fall bursts forth in glorious color and cool, crisp weather. As you will see, Central Park was especially beautiful!
Gallery #3 - Paris. We were in Paris for a week at the end of June, 2007, to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. The photos in this gallery represent only a small portion of our portfolio. We took over 1,000 pictures.
We've chosen these so that you can experience a bit of what we experienced: there are photos of the Eiffel Tower, the Eglise du Dome (built by Louis XIV in 1670), the Rodin Museum, the Musee d'Orsay, the Louvre, the Palais de Versailles, and Notre Dame.
There is no way that mere photographs can do justice to this magnificent city! Plus it was quite cool and often cloudy while we were there and those things impacted our photography. Additionally, not having been to Paris, and having read about all the pickpockets, we left our good cameras at home and used point-and-shoots.
We hope you enjoy the photos, anyway. (And we didn't run into any pickpockets!)
Gallery #4 - Funky Fotos. This gallery consists of a series of random, funky and fun shots. There isn't any particular rhyme nor reason to it. Most of the photos are from Florida because Florida is about as "funky" as you can get!
Gallery #5 - Florida Favorites. These are, as the name suggests, some of our "favorite" Florida shots. Having lived in the state for 22 years, it is natural that most of our "favorite" photos would come from Florida.
There are some Disney pictures, but again, these pictures were selected pretty much at random.
You will note that some of the photos have a bit of "noise" in them. They were taken in pre-digital days and were scanned into the computer. Those photos also do not contain exposure data. Digital cameras, as opposed to film cameras, encode a variety of information into the photograph, including the exposure settings used.
Twenty years ago, one of South Florida's most famous restaurants was the Kapok Tree. We've included a photo of the way it looked back then. It was torn down some years ago, much to our dismay.
The last picture is kinda scary. I have no idea when or where that was taken.
Gallery #6 - Southeast Florida. The photos in this gallery were taken in the southeastern part of the Florida peninsula - from Palm Beach to Key West.
Running is an important sport in this area and we've included a few "start" shots from various races in which Lois participated. Other photos are from Palm Beach, Boca Raton beach, Fort Lauderdale beach, Dania beach, and Hollywood beach.
There are also a several photos taken in Key West, including one of the famous Sloppy Joe's bar, a favorite hangout of Papa Hemingway.
Some photos were taken at the Miami Zoo, one of the best zoos in the country, I believe.
And no gallery of Florida pictures would be complete without some shots of sunrises, sunsets, boats and marinas.
Gallery #7 - Mostly Minnesota. This gallery presents a few photos of certain areas of Minnesota. We hope, however, that they will give you an idea as to the beauty of this incredible state.
The first pictures are of the Duluth area. Duluth, built for the most part on a hill, is a major port on Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes. Lake Superior is vast, very deep and very cold. Only the brave or the foolhardy test its waters, even in the middle of summer.
From Duluth, the gallery moves up the north shore of Lake Superior. There are pictures of the lake, the woods, of the many rivers and waterfalls. This section ends with photos of Grand Marais, which is close to the Canadian border.
Next are shots of Taylor's Falls and the St. Croix River. This a beautiful area, heavily wooded, bounding with deer and other wildlife. You will find a variety of boats on the river and it is a favorite waterway for canoeists.
There are a few photos of the Stillwater and Minneapolis/St. Paul areas.
The last photographs are from the southern part of the state, focusing on Canon Falls, Red Wing, and Lanesboro. Minnesota has developed an extensive Rails-to-Trails system whereby old railroad beds have been converted to trails for people to bike, hike, roller blade and in the winter, ski. We have spent many delightful hours riding these trails.
The great majority of these pictures were taken during the summer months. Having left Minnesota for more moderate climes years ago, we have studiously avoided returning to the snow and cold of wintertime, in spite of the radical claim by some that they love the changes and challenges they experience during a Minnesota winter.
Been there, done that!
Gallery #8 - The Florida National Cemetery. There are four veteran's cemeteries in Florida. One of them is called the Florida National Cemetery and it is located near Bushnell, about 50 miles north of Tampa, just off I-75.
The FNC contains almost 513 acres in the Withlacoochee State Forest. The state transferred this land to the Veteran's Administration in 1983 and internments began in 1988.
You will see the Memorial Parkway that is lined with various memorials honoring America's veterans. A beautiful carillon was donated by The American Veterans (AMVETS) in 1993.
We have dedicated this gallery to all those military men and women who, in one way or another, served their country. This cemetery is a beautiful place to be laid to rest and we hope this gallery reflects that beauty.
Gallery #9 - Cedar Key: 1988 to 2008. Cedar Key is a small fishing village on the west coast of Florida, about 75 miles west, northwest of Ocala.
We first visited Cedar Key in 1988. We have returned to this delightful, laid-back town many times over the past 20 years. Cedar Key remains today much as it was 20 years ago. Some things have changed, of course. Buildings have been torn down and new ones erected. The dock area experienced considerable destruction in the wake of a hurricane and the pier you see in some of the pictures is no longer usable. Other structures have disappeared.
But many of the stores and shops remain, and the community is thriving. Several hotels serve the needs of the tourists, along with a few bed-and-breakfast inns. A number of new condos have been built in recent years.
In an era of constant and seemingly radical change, there is something soothing and satisfying to see this quaint village remain substantially as it was years ago. And just like 20 years ago, the locals continue to greet visitors with warmth and courtesy.
Gallery #10 - Ocala, Florida. Ocala takes pride in being called the "Horse Capital of the World." The breeding and training of race horses has been an integral part of Ocala's history and remains an important aspect of Ocala's economy. Because horses are everywhere, Ocalans celebrate "horse fever," part of which involves placing multi-colored horses created by various artists throughout the city.
Toward the end of the gallery, you'll find photos of Meadowbrook Farm, taken 20 years ago. Meadowbrook Farm is no more. It was sold and the land now houses a variety of commercial enterprises.
The last group of photos picture an area just a few miles north of Ocala's downtown. Obviously, a number of beautiful horse farms remain. Unfortunately, too many "For Sale" signs litter the landscape!
Ocala is located in north central Florida about 75 miles northwest of Orlando. It abuts the Ocala National Forest, and features gently rolling hills, woods and pastures.
This gallery depicts a few of Ocala's sites and attractions. The downtown area is in process of being refurbished. Big plans are afoot for chic new shops and residences. We have also included photos of Central Florida Community College, the Appleton Museum (arguably the best in the area!), the Ocala Civic Theater, the Marion County Library, the Veteran's Memorial Park, various houses of worship and much more.
Check it out and get a taste of the flavor of our town, Ocala, Florida.
Gallery #11 - Sholom Park. Sholom Park is located a few miles southwest of Ocala, Florida. Sidney Colen, a Florida developer, had a dream. In 1975, he bought the Circle Square Ranch from the Norris Cattle Company. The ranch contained 12,500 acres of prime pastures sweeping out over rolling oak-studded hills near Ocala. Although Mr. Colen intended to carve out a huge residential development on this property - which became known as On Top of the World - he felt great reverence for the land and wanted to express that reverence in a concrete way.
Thus, Mr. Colen and his family created Sholom Park. It was opened in 2004 and given as a gift to Marion County. It was to be a park for peace. The land was set aside as a sanctuary to promote peace. Named for Colen's grandfather, the park's mission is to provide a setting for exploring the "anatomy of peace."
Sholom Park is designed to enhance meditation and introspection. There are rules: no cell phones, no golf carts, no bicycles, among others. What you find as you wend your way through the park are paths for walking, a butterfly garden, a huge variety of native and ornamental plants, wide lawns on which to sit and read, an ampitheater for Socratic-like discussions, a reflecting pond, and a meditative labyrinth.
Sholom Park (the word, sholom, often spelled shalom, is the Hebrew word for peace) offers all who visit what one person called "an experience of peace, an hour or two of tranquility, inspiration and insight."
It is not Disney World. Children looking for the thrill of the ride will not find it here.
The park is managed by the non-profit Horticultural Arts and Park Institute. It is free and open to the public during the day. More information may be obtained at http://www.hapi-info.org.
When you view this gallery, sit back, relax, and let your mind go. Follow the paths, wander through the trees, cross the bridges, smell the flowers, listen to the birds, sit on the benches, breathe the air - seek sholom.
Gallery #12 - Lake Sumter Landing. Lake Sumter Landing is one of two turn-of-the-century town squares to be found in The Villages, Florida. Located in the central part of the state, Lake Sumter Landing is a beautiful concoction of shops, restaurants, and businesses built around a town square that is located on a waterfront.
In the evenings, the town square is bustling with activity. We decided to visit Lake Sumter Landing and arrived in the late afternoon of February 4th. With temperatures in the mid-70's, we found the place jammed with shoppers, walkers, watchers, cars and golf carts. [In The Villages, golf carts are a major mode of transportation.]
Several hundred people had gathered in the town square to listen to a young woman singer and music wafted through the air. She performed for the crowd for several hours; had a beautiful voice and sang all of the old favorites [which was appropriate as most of the people were old!]. She was excellent!
After getting a bite to eat at Toojays, a great deli, and as the sun settled into the western sky, we wandered about taking photographs. I used a Nikon D300 set to Vivid and plus 2 saturation. My lens was a Nikkor VR 18-200. Lois shot with a Nikon D70, also set to Vivid with plus 2 saturation, with a Nikkor 18-135 lens. Most everything was shot in Program mode (which is pretty much automatic).
With the exception of the last 5 or 6 shots, for which I used a tripod, everything was hand-held. Well, the water shots were balanced on whatever posts we could find. We were fortunate to be there at that very special time when the sky meets the earth, and the light turns to perfection and the day gives way to night.
This isn't a large gallery, but we think it provides something of the ambiance of Lake Sumter Landing. I'm not sure I'd want to live there -- too many old people like us, but it's a great place to visit!
Enjoy!
Gallery #13 - Micanopy, Florida. Micanopy is located just south of Gainesville (home of the University of Florida), about 30 miles north of Ocala, and one mile east of I-75 in north central Florida.
Micanopy (pronounced "mic-can-opee") has been called "the town that time forgot." That's true in a sense as Micanopy has changed little in the past 50-100 years. But if time forgot it, people didn't. Just about any day during the winter and on weekends during the summer, you will find Micanopy bustling with visitors from near and far.
Don't come to Micanopy if you're looking for Disneyland. It's a quiet little town which has one main street on which almost all of the activity takes place. Micanopy is noted for its many antique shops, and you can find almost anything your little heart desires. My problem was that I found too many things from my youth that are now called "antiques!"
Other than its great shops, unique B&B's, superb little restaurants, Micanopy is also noted for being the site of the movie, "Doc Hollywood," starring Michael J. Fox, which was filmed here in the early 1980's. The biography of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings was also set in Micanopy. (We are planning a photo gallery of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Cross Creek home in the near future.)
If you are in the area, you may wish to stop by Micanopy in the fall when over one weekend the town holds a fall festival. Get here early, though, as thousands descend on this quaint little village for that two-day event. You may obtain further details at: http://www.welcometomicanopy.com.
We love to drive up to Micanopy to spend the day browsing the shops, taking photographs, eating in one of the cafes - in other words, relaxing. It's hard to find a better place to do that!
Gallery #14 - Spanish Springs. Spanish Springs is the original "hometown" in The Villages, Florida. It contains a town square, many interesting shops and restaurants, a movie theater, The Villages radio station, the Church on the Square, and the main Sales Office for The Villages.
Spanish Springs is located just off Highway 441 in Central Florida, about an hour northwest of Orlando. During the winter, it is usually fairly crowded, as snowbirds fly in from all over the country to spend a few months in the warmth and sunshine. As at the other hometown, Lake Sumter Landing, the town square offers music and dancing most evenings during the season and it fills up quickly as residents drive to town in their golf carts to enjoy the sights and sounds that waft through the night air.
We visit Spanish Springs frequently. The photos in this gallery were taken in the early evening of a fine winter's day as the sun was setting and the sky was turning yellow and red and gold and purple. Those colors gave way to what looked like a deep blue carpet pierced by a sliver of a silver moon. And the music played on.
The photos represent our personal impressions of this glorious transition from day to night.
Gallery #15 - Cross Creek. The Cross Creek Gallery is a tribute to Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. Ms. Rawlings, best known for her novel, "The Yearling," moved to Cross Creek in 1928. With a small inheritance from her mother, she bought a 72-acre farm with citrus groves, seeking the simple life. Here she found the connection she had been seeking -- a sense of place, a sense of home.
She hoped to earn enough from the citrus groves to be able to relax and write. That hope did not come to fruition. The citrus fell prey to several early frosts and damaging freezes. Fortunately, her writing soon brought in enough money so that she was able to hold on to her place at Cross Creek.
Born in 1896 in Washington, D.C., Rawlings began writing at age six and at age 15, she won a prize for her story "The Reincarnation of Miss Hetty." She continued to write, with moderate success, for a number of years. In 1933, her first novel, "South Moon Under," was published. It dealt with the people and community of Cross Creek. This novel was included in the Book-of-the-Month Club and became a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
Real fame and success arrived for Ms. Rawlings in 1938 when "The Yearling" appeared. It was also featured in the Book-of-the-Month Club and this time she won the Pulitzer Prize. The year was 1939. MGM, purchased the rights to the film version and a movie by the same name starring Gregory Peck was released in 1946. Ms. Rawlings became famous.
She published other works in later years, but none achieved the success of "The Yearling." She died in St. Augustine, Florida in 1953 of a cerebral hemorrhage.
Rawlings had arranged that at her death, most of her property would go to the University of Florida in Gainesville, where she had taught creative writing. Today, her land at Cross Creek is the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park.
On February 21, 2008, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings was honored with a commemorative postage stamp by the U.S. Postal Service. A photograph of that stamp appears at the end of the gallery.
The photographs in this gallery depict the property and Rawlings "Cracker" house. The property abuts the eastern edge of Orange Lake, but as you will see from the photos, Orange Lake is very low. We've also included a few pictures of the restaurant at Cross Creek, known appropriately, as "The Yearling," as well as some pictures of that immediate area which is just a couple of miles from Rawling's home.
You must be part of a group guided by one of the caretakers of the property - people dressed in 1930's clothing - to enter the house proper. We did not do that so we have no photos of the inside of the house.
Rawlings was a good cook and used a wood-burning stove. She loved to entertain and converted a closet in the living room into a liquor cabinet with firewood underneath and "firewater" above. The guest room saw a number of famous visitors, including the poet, Robert Frost, authors Margaret Mitchell and Thornton Wilder, artist N. C. Wyeth, as well as the actor, Gregory Peck.
If you find yourself in the Gainesville, Florida area, it would be worth your while to drive the few miles to the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park.
Gallery 16 - Florida Dayze - This is a collection of some shots we thought interesting or colorful or different. The photos were taken in various places in Florida over a period of several years...places such as Naples, Sarasota, Ocala, Silver Springs, Destin, Weston, Fort Lauderdale, Flagler Beach, Altamonte Springs, and Gainesville. There are a lot of flowers.
When you feel the need to unwind, relax, or cool down, open this gallery, sit back (don't close your eyes!) and let the images wash over you...
Gallery 17 - Rainbow Springs - Rainbow Springs State Park is located about 30 minutes southeast of Ocala, Florida on the Rainbow River. Years ago Rainbow Springs included a small amusement park and zoo, but today it is more mundane, with a swimming area (water at 72 degrees year round), canoeing and picnicking.
The park is a beautiful piece of property consisting of a variety of gorgeous flowers, waterfalls, and gardens. There is a gift shop as well as a small snack shop.
Rainbow Springs is very well maintained, and while the park frequently offers events such as garden shows and musical events, it is a wonderful place to spend a couple of quiet hours wandering the paths and allowing the sights and scents to flow over you.
Just four miles south of Rainbow Springs is the small community of Dunnellon. A few of the photos in this gallery were taken in Dunnellon's Historic Shop Area, which consists mostly of antique stores, bookstores and gift shops. This is another opportunity to kick back and enjoy a couple of hours of relaxed browsing.
Gallery 18 - Lake Sumter Landing 2 - This is another look at The Villages' newest hometown on Lake Sumter in Central Florida. The photos were taken on a warm, April evening, and the downtown square was jammed with people. A combo was playing -- great music -- people were chatting, drinking, dancing, enjoying the sounds and the ambiance.
You've got to admit, the golf cars are amazing! If you'll look closely at the Cadillac replica shown in one of the early photos, the price is over $18,000!
Gallery 19 - Cedar Key 2 - The photos in this gallery were taken in early May, 2008. While some of them provide familiar glimpses of the Cedar Key community on Florida's west coast, others were taken off the beaten track to give a broader feel for the variety to be found in this small fishing village.