April 2023 - April showers? Not this year.

The Tampa Bay region is experiencing a drought. One of the driest springs since we moved here in 1997. Despite the dryness I did manage to spend a couple of days around water covering the Big 10 Invitational women’s rowing competition in Sarasota. Also got to see the Tampa Bay Rays celebrate their 13th consecutive game to start the season. Then finally, it rained.

Teamwork

Morning jog before morning paddle

All together now

Watching a dragon fly

Calling the strokes

Sharing the load

Let’s do this

Hard strokes from the start

Scratching the surface

looking up

Thirteen in a row, baby!

Watching it rain, one drop at a time

March 2023- Busy days continue

March is always a busy month. The MLB awakens from its winter-long hibernation, nesting birds are breeding and building nests all over the state, IndyCar kicks off another Grand Prix racing season in St Petersburg, snow-bird college athletes are playing games in the warmth of a Florida spring break, and rockets are continuing to launch humans into space.

SpaceX Crew 6 astronauts ready to launch to the ISS

Aptly named - Stick Marsh

Vvvvrrrroooooommmm down the stretch at the St. Pete Grand Prix

Victory Lane

Extra effort, Seton Hill on the mound against the Tampa Spartans

Ouch, hard slide at University of Tampa

Seton Hill taking it on the chin against St. Leo

Hook ‘em Horns. Texas softball at USF

Aged hands, young hands. Waiting for a MLB autograph

Here comes the Judge at TD Ballpark in Dunedin

Home run happy. Texas @ USF

February 2023 - A busy 28 days

Started the month with an assignment to cover President Biden in Tampa and ended it by watching Bald Eagles soar over the Orlando Wetlands. In between was busy. Until February I had never gotten a photo of an eagle. I just missed a nesting pair at Oscar Scherer State Park but finally got a few frames of a juvenile eagle in flight. On my way to the east coast to cover the SpaceX Crew 6 mission, I visited the Orlando Wetlands on several occasions. Lots of nesting birds, including a pair of adult eagles on the hunt for coots. Got watch a successful SpaceX Falcon9 launch with a payload of Starlink satellites.

President Biden at the University of Tampa

Eagle fly-by @ Oscar Scherer State Park

Sunrise @ the Orlando Wetlands

Run like an eagle is chasing you

Florida Today visual journalist Craig Bailey sets his remote cameras for the SpaceX Crew 6 launch

SpaceX launches another batch of Starlink satellites

Starlink satellites heading for orbit

Ruffled Pink

Nest building one stick at a time

On the hunt

January 2023 - Out with the old and in with the new

It’s the end of an era for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Quarterback Tom Brady is retiring for real (or is he?) Covering the Bucs since Brady joined the team has been exciting for fans and photographers. Meanwhile across the state, SpaceX continues to take us all into the future as it launches its Falcon Heavy on a mission from Cape Canaveral.

Life imitates art, or is it the other way around

Slowly getting back into art shows. Just completed PAVA’s COOL Art Show inside the air conditioned comfort of the St. Pete Coliseum. Can’t imagine an outdoor show in July in Florida. It was great to see familiar faces and show my latest artworks. Nice sales over the weekend, topped off by a visit from good friend Brittany Lott who displayed her latest tattoo which was inspired by my photo composite of the recent total lunar eclipse.

WooHoo SpaceX! WooHoo NASA!

What a week covering the first commercial crew flight with astronauts aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center. I was at the last shuttle mission in 2011 and fortunate to be back for this historic launch, both times for Reuters. Besides the rocket, a major difference this time was all the safety precautions in place because of the coronavirus pandemic. Social distancing was enforced and everyone was required to wear masks. A limit on the number of credentials that were issued. No wire vans, no buses. Remote camera set-up accomplished in personal vehicles with NASA escorts. Lots of rain. Weather scrub on the first launch attempt. On the second try, it was perfect, picture-perfect. It ended with a post-launch briefing with the president and vice-president. NASA Administrator Bridenstine was ecstatic and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk lept for the stars.

An empty nester

The Great Horned owlets are out of their nest but still hanging out in nearby trees. This morning momma was nearby at sunrise, keeping a watchful eye on her babies.

Their coloring blends perfectly with the branches - true camouflage.

Who are you? Who? Who? Who? Who?

I’ve been hearing owls in the neighborhood for years but never had a clear view as with these two owlets. They are still chicks and not yet ready to fly. They are just losing their down feathers, so kinda hard for me to tell what type of owls they are. Perhaps a Short-Eared Owl?

I love how the pupil in the eye that’s catching the light is dilated.

Sorrow & Happiness

Today began like most other days in quarantine. Washed my hands and face. Stepped outside to look toward the eastern sky.  No sunrise pics this morning, too overcast. I stood momentarily watching the wind blowing in the palms, the air heavy with humidity, before stepping back inside the air-conditioned comfort of our stay-at-home shelter.

 I reheated a cup of yesterday’s coffee. Sat in front of the iMac and browsed the morning headlines. Opened FaceBook and soon read a post that New York Post photographer Anthony Causi died yesterday. Anthony, a photojournalism colleague, was one of 6,000 global victims of Covid-19 whose life ended on Easter Sunday. 

As I rode my bike to the post office later in the morning, I thought about how relatively safe we feel on Terra Ceia Island. The streets of many neighborhoods, shown in photos from around the world, apear empty, while we’re able to be outside and enjoy many of the things as we have in weeks past, but keeping a safe distance from each other.

 When I picked up the mail, there was a wedding invitation from our friend Molly and her fiancée, Andrew. “Save the Date. 4.3.21.” A possitive message from a happy couple, planning for the future, helped keep me optimistic for the days ahaed. In the invitation, Molly says, “Our great hope for the future is each other.” 

Anthony’s death is a personal reminder to forever appreciate each day and everyone we love.

Molly’s wedding invite is a personal reminder to forever appreciate the future we all want to share.

The Corona Diaries: Terra Ceia Island

Today it’s so different, but still looks the same. Today we are living in a world few, if any, have ever experienced.

As some of you may know, I’m a photojournalist. I cover news and sports for newspapers and the wire services. I also sell nature photography at art festivals. The coronavirus has shut down our towns and cities – and all my work.

While biking around Terra Ceia in recent days, seeing our neighbors walking along Bayshore Drive or working in their yards, I’ve been thinking of how I can use my skills to capture this historic global event from the perspective of our island community.

9:46 a.m. March 21, 2020. Ernie, keeping his social distance on a morning walk

I want to document our neighborhood life in a safe and responsible way and create images to tell our story as we navigate through these coming days. I’d like to photograph you outside your homes, on the porch, through a window, on a walk, or bike ride around our island.

I will use a telephoto lens to take a portrait or candid photo while at a safe distance.

This is strictly voluntary. If you’re interested to be part of this project, see the details below. If you’re not interested, I’ll still wave hello, but won’t take your photo if I see you in the neighborhood.

9:43 a.m. March 21, 2020. Father and son, Tom and Jack

This idea has been in my head for several days now. Especially since I photographed an assignment for Reuters this week showing massive amounts of people gathered on Clearwater Beach in stark contrast to how my family and neighbors were facing our reality back at home in Terra Ceia.

9:35 a.m. March 21, 2020. David and Susan

To join this project:

• Click on the contact link at the top of my web page and fill in the boxes. Add “Corona Diaries: TCI” in the subject line and provide contact information.

• I’ll send you a model release to be signed and returned before the start of any portrait session (approximately 5-10 minutes)

• When you return the model release to me, please answer these three questions:

  • What is the most challenging part of the coronavirus pandemic you’ve faced so far?

  • What is the most positive experience you’ve had since this started?

  • What do you want to remember most from this experience?

To view this project:

• Go to my web site: https://www.sjnphoto.com

• Click on “The Corona Diaries: Terra Ceia Island”

This will be an ongoing visual project with the images posted to my web site. I will only publish first names and not specific locations.

After I take your picture, I will email you a digital image of each photo I post.

Many of us are already staying in place as things close and tighten around us. We are all living in it. This is a historical event that will be talked about for generations.

Please let me know if you are interested in this project. Contact me with any questions.

Be smart and stay safe.

Steve

Hitting the reset button

Wow, life has changed in a matter of weeks and will even change more in the days ahead. Surviving a global pandemic was not in my thought process as I watched the mullet drop at Seabreeze Park on December 31st and made my New Year’s resolution.

I thought a month of no alcohol followed by social drinking only on weekends would be a challenge. Now, alcohol consumption will no longer be in the list of challenges in 2020. Art shows and assignment work are being canceled. Income will be a trickle at best in the weeks ahead. New challenges will continue to confront us daily.

I had a good show at the Gulfport Casino in February. A Reuters assignment covering a ULA launch at the Cape followed by a couple of weeks covering the Toronto Blue Jays spring training camp for The Canadian Press. Then a week of shooting college sports playing around the state in spring tournaments for several northern univeristies.

By that time we were aware of the coronavirus outbreak spreading throughout Asia, on cruise ships, and into the world. After several awkward attempts not to shake hands, I started to completely accept the concept of social distancing.

Of course, my hands are washed. While singing happy birthday. Twice.

I’m staying closer to home and will look for new images in my neighborhood. Terra Ceia Island will be a good place to reset as we wait for better days to come.

If you see me, say hi, but keep your distance.

Keep healthy. Cheers.

#sunshineskyway #nightlights #stayingclosetohome

Full moonrise @ KSC

I had hoped to see the full moon rise behind the Solar Orbiter on Pad 41-A on launch night, but it didn’t line up from my vantage point. Still enjoyed it rising from the clouds on the horizon.

On Assignment - Solar Orbiter launch @ KSC

I spent 4 days at the Kennedy Space Center covering the launch of the joint NASA and ESA mission Solar Orbiter on assignment for Reuters.

The Solar Orbiter capsule aboard an Atlas V rocket rolls out of the VIB at launch pad 41

The Solar Orbiter capsule aboard an Atlas V rocket rolls onto launch pad 41

The Solar Orbiter capsule aboard an Atlas V rocket stands at launch pad 41

The Solar Orbiter capsule aboard an Atlas V rocket stands at launch pad 41

The Solar Orbiter capsule aboard an Atlas V rocket stands at launch pad 41

The Solar Orbiter capsule aboard an Atlas V rocket launches from pad 41

The Solar Orbiter capsule aboard an Atlas V rocket launches from pad 41

2020 art show season is on

Our second art show of the year is in the books. Both successful shows. Here is a time lapse I shot during setup for the 2Cool Art Show inside the Gulfport Casino.

Summer baseball at the Trop

I’ve always been a baseball fan and treasure the opportunity to photograph MLB teams @ the Trop. I enjoy the indoor stadium and can only imagine how uncomfortable it would to cover or attend games outside in the Florida summer. Love the Rays and hope the team figures out a way to stay in Tampa Bay. It would suck to see them go.

Ji-Man looks for the call

Gotta admire this guy. Judge is fun to watch

Well Ozzie, it was like this…

KK makes another stellar catch

Covering home on a wild pitch

Lowe reacts after taking a foul tip off his shin. Yes that hurt.

Givens make a diving tag

At his point in the Rays tenure in St. Pete anything could happen. But doubtful a shared season in Montreal will bring fans to the ballpark

Good morning Terra Ceia

Sunrise Sunday, Aug 18th at the end of Liles Street

Back to the beach...

My wife Janet and I started to re-visit our awesome Gulf Coast beaches . Our new routine is to leave our house before sunrise on Sunday and drive to Longboat Key. We both love walking along the shoreline in the early morning, looking for shells.. There’s usually a gathering of terns, gulls, sandpipers, and skimmers resting on the beach. It’s been a treat just to sit down as close to the flock as we can get and just watch. As it starts to get hot we head to the Longboat Key Cafe for breakfast and maybe stop at O’Bricks in Bradenton for a Bloody Mary.

Terns, sandpipers and willets @ Longboat Key

A mother tern does its best to ignore this full-sized juvenile tern chirping for a meal, as it chased its parent around the shoreline.

Terns on the wing @ Longboat Key

Road trip

We just finished our spring art festival season in Florida, attending a few less shows from previous years. We enjoyed the ones we attended and continue to share our artworks with some wonderful people. A week after our final show on Siesta Key we hit the road to look for new photos at places I learned of during conversations with visitors to our booth throughout the season. We visited Blue Cypress Lake, Stick Marsh and Viera Wetlands on the east coast of Florida.

I was able to photograph an osprey feeding her fledglings @ Siesta Key after meeting a couple @ the Siesta Fiesta who told me about this nest near Midnight Pass.

A pair of ospreys take flight from a nest in a cypress tree @ Blue Cypress Lake.

Cypress trees ring the edge of Blue Cypress Lake

Although the spoonbill nests were buried deeper into the bushes, the Roseatte’s still made an appearance as they flew in and out of their rookery at Stick Marsh. These two birds were squawking over who was had the rights to this patch of greenery.

A Roseatte Spoonbill takes flight above the Stick Marsh rookery

Found an egret lots off from the marsh @ Viera Wetlands

Favorites of the Week

After an awesome long weekend in Wisconsin to visit with good friends and attend a wedding I got home to cover a couple of more Tampa Bay Rays baseball games and a Tampa Bay Buccaneers preseason game. The Rays are on a roll and The Bucs looked pretty good as well.

We attended a wedding in Blanchardville, Wisc., and there was old wood everywhere. Red barns galore and lots of old sheds falling apart in the summer sun.

The Buccaneers played the Lions in a lightning and rain-delayed start. Cooled off nicely and was a fun game to shoot

The splash of victory after the Rays won their eighth straight game, sweeping both the Royals and the Red Sox during a home stand at the Trop.

Favorites of the Week

Birds and baseball. Close to home. Summertime entertainment. Also covered the red tide explosion in southwest Florida for Greenpeace. Too close to home, Summertime epidemic.

Ibis in the late afternoon sun. Liles Street, Terra Ceia Island.

A Roseatte Spoonbill struts in Terra Ceia Bay. Bayshore Drive. Terra Ceia Island.

One of thousands. A dead fish rolls with the incoming tide. Gasparilla State Park. Boca Grande.

Making faces. Swing and a miss. Tropicana Field. St. Petersburg