Setting Sun over Cape Coral (Cape Coral, Florida)

We are over in Africa for a couple of weeks and hopefully we’ve made it to Cape Town at this point. When we left Chicago it was snowing and around freezing – the weather in Cape Town looks much more promising.

Last year when we were in Cape Coral I went down on the Gulf of Mexico and took some pictures of the sunset over the waterfront. It was a windy night so I wasn’t able to do any sort of HDR processing to bring out the detail in the trees but I do like the silhouette of them against the back lit sunset.

Brown Pelican (Cape Coral, Florida)

I don’t take a lot of wildlife pictures and I’m sure more often than not there are birds, elk, other animals right in front of my face when I’m out roaming around throughout the year. However, every now and then an opportunity presents itself and you have to take a few pictures. We were walking around in Cape Coral, Florida when several brown pelicans started diving for fish. It isn’t the most glorious animal but I think I got a nice shot of him in flight as he sought out his prey beneath the surface.

If you weren’t aware all US National Parks are free starting tomorrow and through President’s Day on Monday (February 16th) so if there is a park near your house that you’ve thought about trying out but didn’t want to pay the entrance fee now is your chance! Get out there and take in the beauty of America – we live in such a beautiful place and are fortunate to do so. I wish I was closer to the western half of the country though – the midwest in Chicago is so flat :(. Fortunately, my work brings me out that way a few times a year and I get to leverage that into weekends in the mountains. It is what keeps me sane!

“Stuff your eyes with wonder, live as if you’d drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.”

– Ray Bradbury

Bamboo Forest (Cape Coral, Florida)

We aren’t who we want to be. We are what society demands…We don’t want to disappoint anyone; we have a great need to be loved. So we smoother the best in us. Gradually, the light of our dreams turns into the monster of our nightmares. They become things not done, possibilities not lived.

— Paulo Coelho, Adultery

Disorganized Chaos – Bamboo Forest (Cape Coral, Florida)

As we close out 2014 and head into 2015 we all must continue to live the lives we envision for ourselves; overcoming all hardships or heartache that arises and tries to impede our path. Life is a hell of ride and one that we don’t get a chance to repeat so live everyday trying to be better and accomplish those dreams we all have. Look back on your one trip with no regrets – that is all we can do and what we all must do. Otherwise what was the point?

Sunset over the Mangroves (Cape Coral, Florida)

We are spending the Christmas holiday down in Cape Coral, Florida and thus far the weather has been amazing. Sunsets like this each and every day (makes me wish I could get this lucky when I’m in the mountains) – 2014 has been a rough year but I’m hoping with the change to 2015 things will improve. Not sure how much more I’ll post this year because I’ll be sitting by the pool sipping tropical drinks of some sort.

Punching In

A long and exhausting weekend filled with good friends, unhealthy food and a little too much of the adult beverages…it was a really good time and was happy to see everyone but also happy to get back to ‘normal’ tomorrow and get back into a routine.

Photo of the Day – Time to go to Work

In Destin, Florida I was out shooting the sunrise overlooking the bay and right next to me was an industrial park – I think it had something to do with granite. It was a Saturday so nothing was going on at the the actual worksite so I climbed through a hole in the fence and took some pictures of the work site with the sun coming up behind it. I thought it was appropriate image for Labor Day….now that summer is over it’s time to get back in the swing of things at work.

95 Straight Days

Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay – watching the tide roll away….

The Choctawhatchee Bay to be exact. I scouted this location out the evening before and knew I wanted to get back to watch the sunrise here. My wife’s friend got married on this dock later that day – it was a great wedding and a wonderful setting to have a reception. Could you get a more beautiful place?

Photo of the Day – Otis Redding would be proud

Unfortunately, it wasn’t the most epic sunrise I’d ever seen. The trials and tribulations of being an amateur photographer trying to capture travel photos. Unfortunately, you sometimes don’t hit the perfect shot. However, you need to get up each and every morning and just pray you nail the shot.

Work is getting busy and I am trying to keep up with a 365 project – today is post number 95 – 3 straight months! It really has become somewhat of an addiction. I try to find new and interesting things to post. I go through pictures each night and try to work on one and post it. A quarter of the way there and we will see if I make the full year – it’s a goal so hopefully I can keep it going. Thanks again to all that have followed thus far.

Justin – TheRoamingLama.com

Justin Time

The sun was setting in Destin and I really wanted to take some pictures down on the waterfront with some of the yachts in the picture. Unfortunately, the sky didn’t really cooperate and the colors were a bit bland. However, I did find a boat that fit me perfectly – ever since I was a kid I heard the ‘Justin Time’ joke each and every time I was late (or early) since my first name is Justin….it didn’t get old at all.

Photo of the Day

Destin-Y

We spent a few days down in Destin, Florida for my wife’s friends wedding. This is where they got married – how freakin’ beautiful is that? Where I took this picture was a small little beach where they stood and took their vows. We did the rehearsal dinner there the day before and as we were standing there and my wife (she was in the wedding) was doing her thing I was walking around trying to figure out what would make a nice picture. I woke up at sunrise the morning of the wedding and went out and took a picture of the dock – it seems to me that Destin could really stand for Destiny. I mean isn’t this what we are all working for? A nice place right on the water where we can walk out each and every morning and take this view in?

Photo of the Day