downtown tampa

Two weeks ago.



We had our weekly photo meeting this morning. We were ready to leave and as usual, Doyle & I talked in the parking lot. Since I was half way downtown, I decided to finally cash in my groupon for the TMoPA. Doyle decided to come along.



I had never been to TMoPA and had only seen it from the street. I expected a bigger place. But the exhibit was probably a good size to go through during lunch. We were done quick enough and decided to walk around. I wish I had the forethought to bring my camera. Doyle had his film camera and I had my iPhone.



We walked to Curtis Hixson Park and up to the amphitheater. Then down to the Cass Street Bridge. We walked across Ashley to this public art piece. But then I could smell Five Guys so we stopped for lunch.



We walked to the Tampa Theatre. What a gorgeous building! Doyle wants to buy the fifth floor for only $300,000. We talked to the box office lady about tours. She said that they allowed cameras but didn't like continuous clicking. She gave us a name to contact someone about a private tour.



Tampa has changed some of the public art pieces. The new program is called ArtLoud and I think it might be a good idea for a photo walk.


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ArtLoud

Since some people think their families are more important than me, I had to do the walk alone. It was probably for the best because there were no cameras ready when I almost stumbled backwards into a moving car. Then again, if Doyle was here, he would have been the one to lie on the ground to get the shot. And he can get up much better than me.



I chose to follow the ArtLoud Sculpture walk. There were no good maps to download so I did my best. I found that some of the sculptures were not new but relocated ones like the harp fountain and the equilibrist. The harp fountain is now located on the grounds of the federal courthouse. I was really expected to be yelled at for taking pictures. A guard yelled at John when we shot Sacred Heart. But no one showed up this day.





A few of the sculptures are north in a quieter area of downtown. Some might even call it scary. Where else will you find wig shops and Soul Train Clothes? No one even bothered to give me funny looks because no one was around.





I was having trouble finding the last one because the map showed it around the block. Then I slapped my forehead when I realized it was the heart that Doyle & I shot on Tuesday. With the Downtown Market going on, it was impossible to get the whole thing.



I had margherita pizza from Pizzaiolo Bavaro. It is small and noisy and the service is slow. But the tea was fresh.

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downtown st petersburg

Friday morning was cold. But photo walks are not cancelled for cold. I made the trek across the bay hoping being near the water would make things warmer. But the wind was stronger bear the water so we ventured inland.



I have been a few times to St Pete. The drive is too long to venture over more often. There are still many places I have not scene.



This time we walked south along Beach Street. Although I live shooting the red chairs, I didn't want to follow Jeff and the rest of the group up Central Avenue. Sherry, Jessica and Derek walked with me. We soon lost Sherry as she tends to wander off.



I wanted to see the Dali Museum. I expected a more elaborate design. The front of the building is deceiving plain. Only the sign hints as what lies ahead. I will have to come back and go through the museum.



We walked back against the wind. Jeff was there first so of course he picked the Grayl's Hotel. The place is small, food just OK, and the service is slow. I am glad I put extra money in the meter.



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back to the butterflies

Allen wanted to go back to the Butterfly Rainforest. He was told the blue morpos will open their wings when the weather is cooler. I had intended on saying no but Norm asked and well, I said OK. I should have known he would ask me to drive.



We met at First Watch and I watched Norm and Dick eat breakfast while I tried to ignore the headache looming. The weather was gray and ready to rain. "My mood is very dependent on the weather. I was a bitch back in Michigan." It was one of my better lines.

We got up there first. There was a new art piece to greet us. What a welcome!



Norm paid for my admission, my lunch and filled up my tank when we got back.



I don't know why but I thought the place was kept at a constant temperature. It was not. It was cold! I saw a thermometer that read 49 degrees and I only had a turtleneck.



There were fewer butterflies and they were not active. At one point, a guide brought out more butterflies and put them on a tree. We got some great shots. I was glad I brought my flash.



The birds were more active and I tried to get some shots. They would not stand still.





After twice through we went to lunch. Allen and Mike went to Cracker Barrel. We went to the Camellia Cafe at the campus.



I drove home. Dick and I chatted while Larry and Norm dozed.

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sunken gardens

Sunken Gardens is one of the places I have known about and wanted to visit but never made the effort. It did fall into disrepair and the city of St. Petersburg took ownership. It is maintained but you can see the effects of budget cuts. The butterfly house was empty and there were only 3 flamingos. But it was still enjoyable and I got plenty of photos.



OP rsvp'd late so I doubt Mike realized he would be there. But everything seemed to go well enough. I think it helped that OP knew Mike was sensitive to his sarcasm and probably kept it in check. Also, OP chose to walk with Jeff and Gary and not with Mike and Allen.



The temperature was cool and breezy that morning but it was warmer in the park. Many of the trees and shrubs were old and tall which blocked most of the wind. I say most because the flowers tended to move every time I wanted to take a shot.



I brought my tripod but forgot my plate so I let Doyle tote it around in his cart. There wasn't much I needed a tripod for. There were so very small fountains with falls over rocks. After being up north, it didn't seem worth the effort to set up to smooth the water.



The flamingos were cool. It was nice to get so close. There were some beautiful parrots but the mesh on the cages was to tight to try to get any shots.



I had forgotten to get a new woodling to replace Chip and his missing foot so I had to use the small one. Because of the rod I cannot remove, he is harder to pose. Doyle suggested to flower between his legs.



The place was smaller than I expected but it was noon when we had finished. OP, Allen and Mike were gone by then. We talked about lunch. Panera was across the street but Jeff suggested Ted's Montana Grille. He gave us the address and we all left to drive only to find that Ted's was not there. We ended up back at a crowded Panera.

sykes chapel

We had a by-week for the Friday photo walk. Norm suggested University of Tampa and I said the chapel. He called and got permission for us to take photos. It is a good thing he said indoors since the morning was very gray and misty.



Doyle & I met Norm at UT and Jim let us into the chapel. This place is just so beautiful. It makes me proud to be an architect and almost miss the work. Almost.



We played around for a while. Doyle and Norm ended up lying on the floor to get the shot.

I didn't realize they have a mini labyrinth in one of the meditation rooms. One day I will take the time to walk through it. I wish I could have gotten a better shot of this one.



We met up again and went into Plant Hall. We went into Fletcher Hall. I was happy to finally have my tripod. We should have asked to get into the loge.

We had lunch at the Rathskeller. It is a lunch place run by the campus and they serve Starbucks.
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american victory ship

Someone suggested the American Victory Ship for a photo walk. It didn't interest me much but I scheduled one. I was a bit disappointed that the people who seemed interesting in the walk did not show up. We ended up with 5 people including myself.

Jeff had suggested we bring tripods. I didn't want to have to carry mine but I am glad that I did. From the beginning, I was shooting at 1600 iso and then that wasn't even enough. So I pulled out my tripod. Then we went on top of the ship and I put away my tripod.

The weather was good for being outside the ship. It was sunny & breezy. There were lots of cool things to shoot. Lots of stairs to climb too.

The cabins are in the middle of the ship. You could see in but not enter. With the light streaming through the portholes, shooting was difficult. I tried some HDR but am not sure it was worth the effort. Being inside was hot.

I had done enough shooting and setting up the tripod. I was on my way back to the beginning and I saw the mess and kitchen. I didn't feel like getting my tripod out again so I didn't get many shots. I plan on doing this walk again and will spend my effort on the interiors next time. Maybe I will bring my flash too.

We had lunch at the Greek Taverna in Channelside.

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tampa downtown market

Our Friday morning photo walk yesterday was at the Tampa Downtown Market. I drove down and found some cheaper parking right across from Sacred Heart Church. The morning was chilly but the sun was shining and warmed every thing up nicely.

The first vendor I saw was the hydroponic farmer with fresh strawberries. I did not wait and bought 3 pints right away. I carried my backpack just for this purpose.

Soon the rest of the group showed up and we started our walk. We broke up into many small groups and individuals and checked out the other vendors. Many were cooking and it smelled so good. It was going to be hard to wait for two hours for lunch. Actually I didn't make it, I got some caramel corn and ate some while people watching.

We had lunch at Jimmie Johns and we leaving before 1 pm. That must be a new record!

(check it out! I actually clicked on gallery and up popped all the pics. Cool! You can click on them to see them larger.)
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[photo walk] tampa bay history museum

We rode the street cars to Channelside and walked to the Tampa Bay History Museum. The building is more interesting than the contents. The lighting was poor inside and I did not have my tripod. I didn't feel like carrying it about. I did take Chip out and shot him in some of the exhibits. Patty was enjoying posing him.




























We had lunch at the Columbia Café in the museum. The food was good and rich (I paid for it the next day.) and expensive. I am glad I didn't buy anything at the market. As it was, I spent $43.
















Patti, her husband Richard and I took the street car back to Ybor and went home.

Gulfport

We went back to Gulfport for another Friday photo walk. The weather was much better this time with clear blue skies and a warm breeze.



Jeff also posted this walk in the NPPF forums but did not show up to lead the walk. He had car trouble and I had to call him to find that out.



There were about 15 photographers and we split up in several groups. Doyle, Bridget and I started walking up Beach street. Neither one of them had been there before so I had to let them shoot the places I shot in June. Doyle was smart to bring along his flash as we were invited to take photos inside the hotel and spa. I took a few shots but deleted them as I didn't want to deal with the noise.



There was an area formed by two older homes and their garages turned into a small shopping/artist area with a paved courtyard. I would love to have something like this close to us for our photography meet-ups.



We met Nung and he seemed to fit into our group pretty well. In other words, he is sarcastic.



Bridget started getting hungry so we went to The Village Pub. We ate outside and the birds left us alone. Only 12 of us for lunch and we basically had the restaurant to ourselves.