Categories
Personal Photography

The Dandy Lion

In mid 2019, our friend Erik was nearing the end of his lease in downtown Orlando and was scoping out houses closer to work north of the city. Meanwhile, we were sitting on a house we were kind of bored with, seeing that it had appreciated 40% in value while staring down an upcoming roof replacement. We hatched an idea: what if Erik bought a house big enough for the three of us? Then we could sell our house and use the opportunity to shake off the boredom and prepare to move permanently out of Florida. Sounds exciting!

This is a visual story of how we found that house, fought through the upgrades and moves, and made it something workable to ride out the pandemic in. And mostly because I just love a good before-and-after gallery. 🙂

Categories
Personal Photography Travel

Photo Book: Water Ways

It’s finally done! I’ve successfully turned my decade-long adventures discovering and exploring Florida’s freshwater springs into a photo book for friends, family and memories.

The Springs

As far back as I can remember, my family took the occasional trips into the Ocala National Forest to visit the springs. Sometimes just for the day (we were always there at 7:45am sharp to be the first ones in), sometimes for a weekend of pop-up camping. They were little microcosms of vacation, parks nestled in an expanse of forest without cell phones or news. Only swimming, snorkeling, biking, hiking, a Game Boy, and the occasional game of Clue or Skip-Bo. Alexander Springs, Salt Springs, Silver Glen Springs, and rarely Juniper Springs: the springs of Florida. Right?

Not quite. Fast forward to early college when, as I started to think about what I wanted to do with my life, I discovered that (actually) there are over 100 springs in Florida, all over the state. Residing in all forms: national parks, state parks, county parks, private parks and clubs, backyards, government research facilities, even undeveloped public land. A quick trip around the net opened my eyes to the possibilities of exploration and discovery and I was instantly bought in. Coupled with a background in high-school photography and the purchase of a used Nikon D50 (thanks Chris!), I set out to see and capture every spring I could.

Categories
Photography

#wwjd

“During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I took away heath insurance from the sick and poor and gave tax cuts to the healthy and rich.” #wwjd (at T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park)

Categories
Photography Work

My Office

The window fogged up and I was bored. (at UCF Research Pavilion)

Categories
Photography

Springs Photo

A photo in the contest at the Clay Co. Fair looked really familiar; realized it was the Santa Fe River Rise! Pulled up my own photo of it on Flickr and confirmed it with the tree formations. Awesome :)

Categories
Photography Travel

Alexander Springs, March 1961

Alexander Springs, 1961 on Flickr. Given to me by my grandma.