...Straight To The Moon Alice!
by yakatme

Comment by CNovack:
My first reactions to viewing this image where "Wow" and "with all the crazy drivers down here in S. Florida this photog has got to be a brave & crazy man":-) This is a very stunning image! Within your 'widescreen' composition I absolutely love how you included the railings on the bridge that along with the centered yellow dividing line just leads the eye directly up to the full moon seen off in the distance. The road, the railings and the yellow dividing line act like a runway that we travel down at high speed to then launch onwards and upwards off the ramp to that far distant moon. Love the title which is a direct reference to the Honeymooners. The show was before my time, but I have seen some of the famous snippets so I truly hear Gleason's character sputtering "Straight to the moon, Alice! Straight to the moon!":-)

Boca Chita Sunset
by yakatme

Comment by CNovack:
Going back and forth from this one and the other picture Sunset on Boca Chita Harbor, I find this one more visually appealing. Why? Reason one is that the composition choice of a vertical focuses the attention more on the lighthouse & sunset. The viewer gets to see all the lovely details more closely - from the interesting roof on the lighthouse to the more well-defined ball shape of the sun that rests just above the water. Reason two, is that the vertical subtly compliments the lighthouse which one of the main focal points of the shot. The vertical orientation of the photo 'mimics' that of the vertical orientation of the lighthouse. Reason three is that there is a tighter focus/ concentration of those wonderfully rich warm hues of oranges and golds in this photo. Because the composition is a tighter focus the eye is treated to observing more of those lovely and vibrant colors of the sunset.

To The Sea
by yakatme

Comment by CNovack:
Love the lighting on this beach scene - the sunset really brings out some nice soft hues in the foreground. I like the composition of the path to the beach being lined with sea oats on one side and the yellow 'daisies' on the other. The composition gives the eye many interesting elements to look upon and it especially adds to invoking a calm and relaxed mood in the viewer. A nice little bonus to the composition is the lucky capture of the seagull just beyond the pathway we 'visually' walk. You have captured a visually pleasing scene that invokes the idea in the viewer the calm & relaxed feel of taking a stroll on the beach.

Anhinga
by yakatme

Comment by ursula:
Wow, what a catch, what a pose! Love the little blue feathers, and that eye.

Gator Eye
by yakatme

Comment by yakatme:

Originally posted by ShutterPug: was this a regular gator or a small camun? Nice texture study

This was a seven foot alligator. I now know that it 'lives' where I was taking pictures of it and I've been back twice more to get more shots.

Gator Eye
by yakatme

Comment by ShutterPug:
was this a regular gator or a small camun? Nice texture study

Beauty and the Beast
by yakatme

Comment by twm122:
Oh nice capture. Maybe a little tighter crop to bring more attention to your little insect friend

Beauty and the Beast
by yakatme

Comment by littlegett:
Nice, really like the little critter on top of him. Needs something to POP! just a touch but a very nice capture.

Stormy Waters
by yakatme

Comment by graphicfunk:
What a reflection! Congratulations on your top 5 finish.

Beauty and the Beast
by yakatme

Comment by Pug-H:
That's a very short tail on the dragonfly. Are the wings really opaque yellow?