Landscape: a photo challenge

It’s Saturday morning and like most Saturday mornings go, I find myself the only person awake in the family. That’ll change soon. O will be up before long, then B, and finally W. Once B wakes I’ll need to get busy and pack to go home.

Friday morning at Seven-Mile Bridge
Friday morning at Seven-Mile Bridge

We’ve been on vacation, spring break, in the Florida Keys. The break came at a perfect time for all of us especially B. She remembers coming down to the Keys on winter and spring vacations as a child with her family and the trip has helped her heal the wounds of her parent’s passing. The trip has given me time to slow down and catch my breath and think ahead. When we get home later tonight we’ll unpack our bags and memories, then get ready for the week ahead, but until then I can continue to breathe at a different pace.

Wednesday morning at sea - going diving
Wednesday morning at sea – going diving

This week, my landscape has been a seascape, the only time I’ve had a different perspective was when we took a dive trip to Sombrero Reef. W scuba dived, B and O snuba dived – snuba is a hybrid of snorkeling and scuba but without the tanks, and I snorkeled. As the dive boat pushed out into the Atlantic, I looked back and saw the islands, but everything else was a seascape at five feet above sea level. We had a great time diving. W has been diving three times this trip for a total of six dives, on our last trip to the Keys W earned his scuba certification and came back that summer with the Boy Scouts and dove some more. O snuba dived again Friday, she’ll need to get certified to scuba next time we are down here.

I’ve enjoyed looking out over the Atlantic Ocean and listening to the waves gently pounding the beach. I’ve laid out in the sun, watched the boats pass, I’ve eaten some wonderful fresh seafood, I’ve enjoyed the company of my family and had a wonderful break from normal, whatever that is. I know B has, too.

the beach - we shared it with several iguanas
the beach – we shared it with several iguanas

We’ve taken photos and I printed a few and framed them for our space. I keep thing of the song, Picture book by the Kinks.

Picture book, pictures of your mama
Taken by your papa, a long time ago
Long time ago, long time ago
Long time ago
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Song by The Kinks – “Picture book” lyrics by Michael James Hucknall and Fritz Mcintyre

We take more pictures than ever, I snapped almost a hundred shots on our first trip to the Keys in 2002, on this trip I snapped many more this trip – 203 on my phone alone and most of them seascapes of the sea and a bridge from the old Overseas Railway.

I’ve enjoyed looking out over the sea, it’s been a wonderful vacation, but it’s time to go,

I’m leavin’ on a jet plane
I don’t know when I’ll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Song by Peter, Paul & Mary – “Leaving On a Jet Plane” lyrics by John Denver

Today is gonna be a great day, even if it means packing, cleaning, and going home. I know it and can feel it, so I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. But first, I gotta get down to the beach one last time. Making the Days Count, gazing out over the ocean or looking at the horizon back home.  

What’s on your landscape (horizon) today?

This post is in response the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Landscape. For this week’s challenge, share a photo of a landscape: a wide establishing shot of a scene in nature or an urban setting. Landscape photography is typically displayed in a horizontal orientation; before getting started, read photographer Jeff Sinon’s tips on composition and finding the best shot.

Saturday morning's sunrise
Saturday morning’s sunrise

5 thoughts on “Landscape: a photo challenge

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