Moving Pictures

I remember finding this cemetery way back around 1980 when I bought my motorcycle. I was practicing my shifting and taking all the back roads.   It was decades before I found it again. I drove by over and over with a friend who always talked about doing a photoshoot there. We never did. Always going somewhere else and too busy to stop.  Never really made a plan to come back. A long time ago I was passing by with camera in hand but didn't stop. I made a bad turn on the way to somewhere. I was running late and made a mental note to return soon. I never did. Now that I've moved away and it's quite far to go, I decided to make a plan to stop in. I was expecting a very old cemetery well past the point of being active. I was very surprised to see the dates on the stones were far newer than I expected. I was hard pressed to find any really old markers. There was also someone being laid rest on the very day I was there. I'm sure I'll leave little more than a handful...

The Day of the Dead celebration in Fort Lauderdale is the story of a dream come to life. Which is sort of amusing as the theme is overwhelmingly death. In five short years it has grown from a handful of artists with a vision to do something notable to a mob scene of people that I was swept up into and carried along the streets of Fort Lauderdale. Honestly I could not give this event the full attention it deserved. I wanted to participate in all the events and the huge street party after the parade. Sadly I only had time for the parade. I had a lot of friends participating. Unfortunately I did not recognize many of them till I got home and started sorting my photos. I am used to seeing many of them made up but the costuming and energy were at running full throttle. Normally I'm pretty easy to find but there were nearly as many photographers as there were people in the parade. I will most certainly attend next year, get there earlier, stay later, and I think maybe just leave t...

Every once in a great while I like taking in the sights of the town I live in (part time now) and do a little tourist thing. Today's adventure, the Duck Boat Tour at Beach Place . Beach place is a destination all it's own and since I spent about 7 hours, you could say I certainly made a day of it. I think the sun tan lotion isle at the local drug store pretty much tells the story here. Lots of skin baking in the beach sand right across the street. I was not there for my usual umbrella and beach towel day so I started off with lunch at Lu Lu's Bait Shack . The Duck Boat is a little pricey but our tour guide very likely was a professional stand up comedian. Even though I've been here since 1978, and think I know everything, there is always more to learn. The tour starts on the streets but then suddenly takes a detour off a boat ramp and right into mansion row. If the houses of the rich and famous don't appeal to you, then some of the locals may. This g...

Normally I enjoy the Suntrust Jazz Brunch at the main stage. A lot more sunny, a lot more people. Seldom do I venture back to the other two stages but on this visit I decided to see if there was anything happening. Considering I could hardly navigate the paver brick walkway, I have concluded there is a lot more going on than I realized. Being more tree lined, there were less umbrellas to block the view but as far as head count there were a lot of jazz enthusiasts. This was the first cool day (South Florida speak for under 90 degrees) in a very long time and the crowds showed that. Generally speaking though this event seems to grow year after year. And a lot of folks headed to the shops and eateries right after the shows. I left just ahead of the masses and found a nice, quiet table way down on Las Olas. The last one actually. Right after that every place seemed full. Fort Lauderdale - Doing it right the first Sunday of every month for over 20 years. For more photos [click...

In one of my very rare appearances in front of the camera, here I am performing in the MeduSirena Marina Swimshow ....... as bait. I very rarely as in never hand off my camera to someone. In this case, it only seemed fitting to pass the shutter button to the mermaid who introduced me to this fabulous retro show right here in my own backyard. After all, I have been constantly taking her photo along with the rest of the mermaids for a few years now. Not only do the performers revive a retro vibe, they interact with the audience as only a live show can. Marina (the thumb biter) and her mermaids put on an hour long show at the Wreck Bar on Fort Lauderdale Beach every Friday night, starting at 6:30. An obscure show I never heard of until recently that has been running continuously for seven years. After two recent television appearances, I think the "Aquaticat" is out of the bag. Get to the show early as the place can fill up pretty quickly and be sure to po...