Photography

Big

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Today, let’s go big. Whether inside or outside, photograph something of massive size. But feel free to interpret big in your own way, and get creative with your shot. Capture all or just part of the subject. Place it in the foreground so it takes up the entire frame. Or shoot it from afar so it appears smaller — yet still prominent.

Well my point of interest to demonstrate BIG is one of the super large cruise ships that sail by every day from the Port of Miami. For something so large they are extremely quiet cutting through the calm waters as if it was butter.

You can be relaxing on the beach or near the bay and suddenly look up and be taken by complete surprise at this massive ship sailing by.

Here are a few shots of these amazing floating hotels.

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From this perspective you can not really tell how large the ship is
Going out to sea
Going out to sea
Bon Voyage!
Bon Voyage!

Here are a few more images of cruise ships docked in Key West, FL. In fact these are the ships that will soon be making their way back to Miami.

Cruise Ship
Large Cruise Ship waiting to pick up its passengers at Key West, FL
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They are so super big – how do they manage to float?

Connect

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In this age of social media, we hear the word connect more often, don’t we? Connect with us on Facebook! Connect with me on LinkedIn! Given what today’s technologies can do, it feels like the world is getting smaller, and we’re more connected than ever before.

There are many ways to interpret this theme: from a gadget to a handshake, from a bridge to a gathering among friends. What’s yours?

Today I’m connecting with nature – here are a few subjects who were not too shy to connect with me.

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A cheeky racoon raids the local picnic area to see what delicious leftovers he can scoop up.
An Iguana just out for a stroll
An Iguana just out for a stroll
Such a sly smile and what's going on in that brain. Lets not stick around too long to find out!
Alligator – such a sly smile and what’s going on in that brain. Lets not stick around too long to find out!

 

 

Bliss and Solitude Revisited

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To finish off the weekend review of the photo101 week of assignments I’m revisiting the last two subjects of Bliss and Solitude.

Here are a few more photos that represent these categories.

Bliss

Relaxing under the palm trees
Relaxing under the palm trees
Ice-Cream
Ice-Cream
Lifeguard Hut Miami Beach
Lifeguard Hut Miami Beach

Solitude

Sunset
Sunset
The End of the Day
The End of the Day
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Resting at the end of the day
Resting at the end of the day

If you’re interested in looking at the original articles click on the links below.

Bliss
Solitude

Experiment with Composition

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So I’ve made it to the end of the first week of the Photo101 assignments and have covered topics ranging from Home, Wider Views, Water, Bliss and Solitude.

Now it’s a free for all weekend where we can revisit some of these topics and put into practice what we have learned. I’m using today to showcase some of the other photos that fit into the Home, Wider View and Water category.

Home

Palm Tree lined street
Palm Tree lined street
A bench with a view
A bench with a view
The local park
The local park
Dinner Alfresco
Dinner Alfresco
Smores
Smores
Bottoms Up
Bottoms Up
Crocodile
Crocodile
Mosquito Sticks
Mosquito Sticks
Shells
Shells

Wider Views

Beautiful Tree of Flowers
Beautiful Tree of Flowers
Interesting Shapes formed by nature
Interesting Shapes formed by nature
A Magnificent View
A Magnificent View
Lighthouse Sunset
Lighthouse Sunset

Water

Airboat - Everglades
Airboat – Everglades
Manatee Zone
Manatee Zone
Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park
A Serene Beach Scene
A Serene Beach Scene
Stiltsville
Stiltsville
Clear Waters
Clear Waters

Come back tomorrow to see my gallery of pictures depicting shots of Bliss and Solitude from the Photo101 assignments.

If you enjoyed this article, why not check out the original assignment posts related to each of the above categories.

Home
A Wider View
Water

 

Solitary Tree

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Today’s assignment for photo101 is to depict Solitude.

My photo shows a solitary tree reaching up through the undergrowth.

A Lonely Tree
A Lone Tree – Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

Even though there is a lot of nature in this photo, the fact it is the only tree of its kind hopefully depicts the feeling of being in a solitary state.

Bliss

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Day 4 of the Photo101 challenge is to show an image that represents Bliss.

What is your idea of bliss? Is it an image of your family, laughing at the dinner table? A state of total relaxation, while lying on the beach? Your latest painting, drying on the canvas?

In this picture I am relaxing under the palm trees looking over the bay after a cycle – bliss.

Relaxing by the bay, under the palm trees after a cycle.
Relaxing by the bay, under the palm trees after a cycle tour to the mainland.     Investigating led us to a small island called Brickell Key.

 

 

Water

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WATER – A source of life. A place of recreation. A calming presence, but also a destructive force.

We have different relationships to and stories about water: how it has saved or defeated us. How it reminds us of family vacations, outdoor adventures, or the hot summers of our childhood. How it might also symbolize a place we’ve left behind, or a location we dream to go.

Here are a couple of pictures depicting life on the ocean wave. Being near the water is relaxing, fun and invigorating.

Water Taxi - a great way to travel
View from the Water Taxi – a great way to travel
Island on the Water
Island on the Water – mysterious and calm island sanctuaries that can only be reached from the water.

 

A Wider View

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Today’s Photo Challenge is capturing a wider view of a scene with the emphasis on looking at the basic elements in the scene – what will be in the foreground and in the background of the picture.

I think this photo taken at the Bass Museum of Art hits the spot.

Some interesting artwork in the grounds of the Bass Museum of Art
Some interesting artwork in the grounds of the Bass Museum of Art

Home

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Today I’m starting the Photo101 Challenge where you post a photo a day based on a particular topic.

The first topic is HOME.

Home is elusive. When we think about this word, we might picture different physical locations. And while home is often found on a map, it can also be less tangible: a loved one, a state of mind.

This is an interesting one as my birth home is the UK but my new home for the last three years has been the U.S. They are two completely different places but here is a picture showing where home is right now – Miami Beach.

Ocean Drive
Panorama: Ocean Drive, Miami Beach

It’s a great place to be!

So how did I take this picture?

Since the introduction of iOS 6 it’s possible to take great panorama photos right inside your iPhone’s native camera app. The panorama feature only works with iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 and the latest generation iPod touch, so if you have an older device you have to use another panorama app.

I love the panoramic feature that is available on the iPhone. Sometimes you just want to capture your whole view.

Have you used the Panoramic option on your iPhone yet?

In order to access the panorama feature, open your iPhone’s Camera app, tap on Options, and choose Panorama. This will launch the panorama mode. Once you tap capture, slowly and steadily move your phone from left to right. You will see a guide line – this will help you keep your phone steady and produce a much straighter final result.

If you enjoyed this article you may be interested in finding out more about Miami in the following posts:-

Miami Beach on a Budget

The Best Places to Eat in Miami Beach

The Most Tasty Cocktails

The Wild Green Parrots of Miami Beach

 

What Hides Within

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Welcome…you managed to find me in the vast w.w.w universe, so now you’re here you may be wondering whether you should invest your valuable time and little grey cells exploring further. I hope this mini tour helps you discover a sample of some of the topics that hide within…

Cycling – As I’ve had some kind of bicycle most of my life, my posts on this subject will be a mix of my adventures and the places I visit as well as how my bicycle has become a big part of my everyday life. The useful products that I’ve discovered to help make cycling fun and some pictures of my journey. Check out my latest post My Purple Electra Townie Bicycle

Drawing – I never thought I could draw (I still think that…I mean I’m no Michelangelo) but then I started drawing with various apps on my iPad and the more I practiced the more confident I became that maybe I did have some hidden talent. My husband says he can see a certain style in my drawings and I just think everything looks like a cartoon (well apart from the ones that are trying to be a cartoon) but I will share my doodles here from time-to-time and maybe I will inspire you to unlock your inner Michelangelo.

You can find more of my drawings here

I’m venturing back into the wonderful world of using a pencil and paper which comes with it’s own quirks so look out for my articles on that subject soon.

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