...I think I can call this trip successful even if it did rain a lot and I didn't get to shoot but one sunset. I left here on Sunday afternoon, only to get to Clearwater and find a nice thunderstorm in progress, so no images until Monday. This first image here is going to set the tone for this trip. You will see what I mean! This image is of the lighthouse on Anclote Key, just off of Tarpon Springs, well the catch is, you need a friggin boat to go see the thing... ;)

We made a stop in Tarpon Springs across from the sponge docks. I thought this shrimp boat was rather interesting...

Found this neat little banana spider and of course some birds when we stopped at one of the many state parks/nature reserves.

Batting a thousand here, two lighthouses, two total washes. This lighthouse located on Eggmont Key, is only accessible by boat also... OK I am upset now, two lighthouses only accessible by boat, this is not looking good, rain sunday night and more rain monday night, I think I am gonna cry...

Well just before the storm I caught a few reflections on the bay at sunset...*sniff* *sniff*

Tuesday morning took Austin to Clearwater Beach... A beutiful beach I think, white sand and blue water...

Got in the car and headed south Tuesday afternoon. Destination Gasparilla Island. This lighthouse is supposedly haunted... A pirate brought his captured female companion here from nearby Captiva Island, he begged her to marry him and she refused and spat on him, in a fit of rage he beheaded her and buried her body at the base of this lighthouse and kept her head in a jar on his ship. Her headless ghost reportedly haunts this beach searching...

Boca Grande Lighthouse on Gasparilla Island...

Saw a lot of this Tuesday...

Decided that Sanibel Island wasn't that far south and seeing as the southern sky looked blue, I was hoping for a sunset. This image is Sanibel Lighthouse...

Finally got my wish and got a nice sunset! :)

980 miles later I am now home and a little on the tired side, hopefully I will catch up with you all after I catch up with some sleep. Have a great night all, and a better day tomorrow! Brenda Zzzzzzzzzzzz

welcome back nilla :] not a total washout at all... looks like you got quite a few good ones in there! too bad about some of the lighthouses... sure makes me want to go to the beach... sand, sun, surf, seafood :d

One thing I can say is you sure can pick a great sun scene to take. More though... that supposedly haunted lighthouse is exceptional.You know the angle you got and the lighting is perfect.

"The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions."

She's back ... she's back!! What'dja bring me? Huh huh? I know, I hate when I have a road trip all planned out and Mother Nature decides to show you who's reall in charge. I look at it this way, if for nothing else, your trip was worth it for the ghost story. Knowing me, I would have stayed to get some creeep night shots. :) I really like the beach shot. Color corrected and adjusted; maybe a soft saturation and it'd look like one of those poster or postcard shots. :) -=>Donald

Pity about the weather.... :~( But you did manage to capture some fine shots!! My favs..... thread #6 and #7... I won't be far from ClearWater... wanted to go the last time we were in Florida last August...

I am, therefore I create.......
--- michelleamarante.com

Nice shots, Nilla. [Beaches on bright sunny days are only good for people watching. Clouds and rain make better photos!]

beautiful shots!!

Beautiful shots! I love the Boca Grande Lighthouse shot (very moody) and the windshield shot! LOL Heck...I could write something great about each one. Looks like a great vacation. Hubby and I went to the Bahamas a few years ago and it rained the entire week we were there. ;o)

Treat people as if they were what they ought to be...
And you help them to become what they are capable of being.
                                                                ~Goethe~
R.I.G.H.T.S.

Wow Breda thats some series of shots a great success I would say!!

Danny O'Byrne  http://www.digitalartzone.co.uk/

"All the technique in the world doesn't compensate for the inability to notice" Eliott Erwitt

How do you guys get these pictures where there are NO people to mess up the scenery!!! I'm so jealous. Bsteph

I agree with Michelle, posts #6 and #7 are overall favorites. The beach chairs one looks like one straight out of a magazine ad! Aside from the rain looks like a great time! TMG

Makes me want to go on a vacation trip too sigh Beautiful shots you've brought to us. #6 is definitely the winner for me. Hugz, Monika

Beautiful shots of a trip you won't forget soon.... Especially that stormy sunset shot and the beach chairs are fine pictures. The one with the rain on the water and the text 'No swimming' is a wonderful combination of this drowning weather and a warning plate. Jan-Carel

wow looks like a great trip to me! take care, Ann