Travel

Warmth

by

Photography means “drawing with light,” and when you snap a picture with your camera, you use and record light to create an image.

A front-lit subject faces the light source and is even-lit and flat, primarily without shadows. Front light is the most straightforward to work with, but isn’t as dramatic.

Side light is fun to experiment with, especially for portraiture, fine art, and architecture.

When you light a subject from the side, the mix of light and shadow shows more depth and reveals textures, patterns, and complexities (even flaws) in the shot. It can create unexpected results, and be more dramatic.

Sun Halo

I was extremely lucky to capture this photo of our sun. The phenomenon is called a Sun Halo or 22° Halo.

This was an amazing moment when I looked up at the sky and managed to frame the sun halo perfectly.
This was an amazing moment when I looked up at the sky and managed to frame the sun halo perfectly. I still think it’s funny that it involves ice crystals especially when you’re basking in the 80/90F degree heat.

Among the most well known halos is the 22° halo, often just called “halo”, which appears as a large ring around the Sun or Moon with a radius of about 22° (roughly the width of an outstretched hand at arm’s length).

The ice crystals that cause the 22° halo are oriented semi-randomly in the atmosphere, in contrast to the horizontal orientation required for some other halos such as sun dogs and light pillars. As a result of the optical properties of the ice crystals involved, no light is reflected towards the inside of the ring, leaving the sky noticeably darker than the sky around it, and giving it the impression of a “hole in the sky”. The 22° halo is not to be confused with the corona, which is a different optical phenomenon caused by water droplets rather than ice crystals, and which has the appearance of a multicolored disk rather than a ring.

You can find out more about Sun Halo’s here

Sunset

No post on warmth would be complete without a sunset. Here's one I have taken at the famous Mallory Square sunset celebrations in Key West.
No post on warmth would be complete without a sunset picture. Here’s one I have taken at the famous Mallory Square sunset celebrations in Key West.

Bliss and Solitude Revisited

by

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
_MG_2080
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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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.

 

Home

by

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

by

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.

Read more

Why Travelling Banana?

by

Are you curious about the name Travelling Banana?

Did you know there are ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs that depict people with bananas?
Did you know there are ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs that depict people with bananas?

There was a time if I went on a journey I would pop a banana in my bag in case I needed an energy boost. However, sometimes I would forget it was there – so the banana would come with me on my adventures and invariably end up back home uneaten and a little worse for wear.

Each time I would take a banana with me it would become known as the Travelling Banana, an expression my husband came up with.

My tagline, Creative Exploring, covers the diverse range of topics that I am interested in and the creative pursuits that I am exploring such as drawing, photography, art, writing, knitting and technology. I also cover my cycling adventures and throw in a recipe or two along the way.

Enjoy!

 

My Purple Electra Townie Bicycle

by
It's so much fun exploring by bicycle especially when it's purple!
It’s so much fun exploring by bicycle especially when it’s purple!

My main form of transport these days is no longer horse-power but foot power. Last year we purchased a couple of Electra Townie bicycles – one in purple and one in green. They incorporate Electra’s patented flat-foot technology and an upright seated position which redefines how you cycle. It’s more comfortable to ride and the leg and pedal placing seems to be in a natural position for your leg to rest as you cycle.

On a normal bike your feet are angled backwards but on my Electra Purple Townie 7D Bicycle I don’t feel like my knees or hips are strained or forced into the incorrect position and it helps keep my back straight. The seat position allows me to keep my feet flat on the floor when stationary.

Electra Townie 7D Specifications

LIGHTWEIGHT 6061-T6 ALUMINUM FRAME / SHIMANO TX-35 7-SPEED W/MEGA RANGE GEARING / SHIMANO REVO TWIST SHIFTER / FORGED ALLOY CRANKSET W/44T CHAIN RING & DUAL GUARDS / ALLOY LINEAR-PULL BRAKES / DOUBLE-WALL ALLOY RIMS / 26”X 2.0” SEMI-SLICK STREET TIRES

Miami is a fabulous place to cycle and has it’s own CitiBike/DecoBike program where you can hire bikes from stations dotted around the county. I won’t go into detail here but you can find out about that scheme and other interesting things you can do in Miami in my article Miami Beach on a Budget. It’s a wonderful program for both locals and visitors alike. If you don’t own a bike or are short on storage space you can still participate in a healthier way to travel. All you have to do is find a docking station so you don’t need to worry about carrying locks or finding somewhere to leave your bike.

Stay Active Sightseeing
Stay Active Sightseeing

However, there are some limitations. Sometimes, at peak or busy times of the year, you may struggle to find a station with enough bikes. The second problem is they may not be working and then finding a docking station that is conveniently located to where you wish to go can become frustrating. Even with some of these problems, it is a great initiative and a step in the right direction which is more than can be said for other parts of the U.S. I don’t mean that in a detrimental way – but we all know the U.S is a big car loving country and walking and cycling is not high up on the list of cool ways to get around. Maybe I can bring you over to the wild side so you can start to think of this as an alternative to get around. It’s cheaper, it’s fun, you can stop anywhere you want without having to pay expensive parking fees, you get fresh air and may even lose some weight along the way.

Read more