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Local Focus - June 5, 2009

In an effort to bring some amount (however small) of discipline to my writing here, I thought that I would try to venture down a path of recurring themes, wrapped around my photography. Two or three areas of "focus" (pun totally intended), that might produce two or three posts per week. So here's what I came up with: 1) Local Focus -- a look at the northeast Florida region (not what most people dream about when they dream about tropical Florida...), 2) Strangers -- photos and stories of people I have never met, and 3) Free For All -- whatever happens to come to mind through the lens of my camera.

So tonight we start this little effort locally...

...County Dock Road in Mandarin dead-ends at the Saint Johns River. An old boat ramp adjacent to the dock that extends a thousand feet or so into the brackish water. Here we found a fisherman casting for bait, in silhouette near sundown on a cloudy day. The river was calm - it had rained heavily earlier in the afternoon. A good evening to fish...

Fifty feet out on the dock a couple fished and smoked. There were at least ten people, men and women, fishing on the dock. They all smoked. I wonder if North Carolina Tobacco attracts Florida fish to the end of those lines. His white tee shirt and red shorts made an interesting reflection on the slick surface. We didn't stay long, what with the smoke and all.....

Disney, My Way

I have mixed opinions about Walt Disney World and Epcot and their associated resort developments in central Florida. The naturalist in me, which is clearly the stronger part, mourns for the disastrous destruction of central Florida wetlands habitat on land that was virtually stolen from its owners and politically maneuvered into a public policy exempt tax district allowing the entertainment megalith to do as it pleased (and pleases). On the other hand I really like to see kids smile.

I attended a conference there this week -- and without actually entering any of the theme parks, decided to photograph Disney my way. No mice. No rodents of any kind. I wanted to find the art in the sprawl of buildings, fake waterways, and contrived money-sucking entertainment venues. 

Here's for starters -- will add more to this post over the next few days...

Palms and balconies reflected in the water between the Disney Swan and Dolphin hotels

The Disney Dolphin, after dark

Real Bird, Fake Beach...

Riverwalk Reflections

Compulsion. It's not too strong a word in this case. Some days I simply feel compelled to shoot something. Anything. You never can tell what you might end up with when the simple, basic urge to create something strikes. 

So... it was a Friday evening after a long Monday to Friday grind and we decided to go somewhere that we usually might not for the sunset, and we ended up on Jacksonville's Southbank Riverwalk. The sun coming in from the west on the way down to the horizon, or MacClenny or Tallahassee or someplace. Too much sun, really. These days I prefer a little less light and a little more opportunity to open up the aperture or lengthen the exposure -- find the movement in the moment using a static medium.

Then we looked up. Then to the right. Then to the left, across to the north bank where there was live jazz drifting across from the landing. That big bright, sinking sun was reflecting off of the buildings, reflecting the buildings within the buildings, bouncing off of the river into a twentieth storey window on the southbank and sending it at the speed of light back across the river into the glass face of a tower over there. Even fully open at a thousandth of a second there was art to be found... A condominium tower reflected in the green glass of the Prudential Building...

Riverwalk Reflection I

The railroad bridge and the Acosta Bridge on-ramp reflected in the window of the Maritime Museum...

Riverwalk Reflection II

The Saint Johns River -- unquestionably the heart and soul of my creativity -- reflecting back the city that has grown up on its lowers banks...

Riverwalk Reflection III

I am drawn to this river, and the history and the living legacy it represents. Lured by its color and textures. Its exuberant energy dancing on a windy day. Its calm placid stillness on a spring dawn. Maybe something primal in  the attraction -- they say we are all drawn in one way or another to the water from which we, perhaps, arose. It certainly feels like home to me. Like something alive. Something worth protecting. A relationship that I cannot change or direct. Call it compulsion.