43. Solitary

There is a place in Naples, Florida that is pretty special. It’s called the Kowiachobee Animal Preserve. Kowiachobee means “Big Cat” or “Screaming Cat” which refers to the Puma aka the Florida Panther.  I was fortunate enough recently to visit the preserve while attending the recent F3C conference in Fort Myers, Florida. I along with about 30 other photographers went on a hunt in search of a great photo.

This solitary Panther was one of my favorite shots of the day. I was sitting quietly with my camera and for a brief moment felt like the animal was looking right through me.

I chose to enter this photo in the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 35th annual juried photographic exhibition and was lucky enough to win second place in the Birds, Bugs and Critters category. I hope that in some way that recognition will help to raise awareness of all the good things that they are trying to do at the Preserve. To learn more click here.

Facing Extinction

15. Graveyard

Since the beginning of this years 52 Week Challenge, I knew which graveyard I wanted to photograph for this theme. It is located in Boquete, Panama. The graveyard contains several different types of graves, the traditional single plot, lawn crypts and private mausoleums. I find all the different types in the same area very interesting.

Luckily for me I was able to visit a few weeks ago. Along with fellow blogger, my friend Ida, we took a walk around town that included the graveyard. It was the week before Easter, schools and many business’ are closed beginning on Wednesday that week. There did seem to be many more decorations this time so I am going to assume that more people visit the graves of their family members during this holiday week.

I chose to edit these photos using Silver Effects Pro 2.

 

46. Still Life

I took this photo yesterday while visiting the South Florida Museum. Our group was allowed special behind the scenes access to the museums shell collection that totals over 20,000 pieces. One of the curators, Tiffany, placed the shells of our choice in a lighted box used by the museum to catalog their pieces. We were allowed to adjust the lighting as it suited us to create our own special photos.

In this photo I took 4 separate images each slightly different in focus. I then stacked them in photoshop to give me 1 sharp image. The tutorial I used can be seen by clicking here.  I also ran across this tutorial  that teaches how to use photo stacking for landscape photos. I’m looking forward to giving it a try as well!

29. On Two Wheels

I got such a chuckle out of these photos… I’m glad I had a fitting theme so I could share them in my photo challenge.

In the area of Panama that I used to live, they have completed a new road since I was last there. The original road was a two lane highway that could make the Pope swear. If you got behind a slow moving car or truck it could substantially slow your trip time.  Many times those vehicles were without tail lights which made driving at night, during the heavy rains or in the fog even more challenging. If that wasn’t bad enough there were regularly people walking along the poorly lit roads at night.

With the new safer road comes the problem of trying to slow down the drivers… Rather than pay for more ‘real’ police the government came up with this genius idea… Life size cut outs of motorcycle traffic police holding a radar gun that my friend Yamel thinks resembles a giant blow drier. I suppose the first time you see it you might tap your brakes and check your speed. After that I don’t think it would be very effective.

I took a photo on one of the first days I was there,with my iPhone, so I would be able to show people when I got back home. One the last day I had to grab a second photo. I guess someone was trying to send a message that the big mean plastic motorcycle traffic cop didn’t scare them anymore.

 

49. Two Of Us

I’m writing this post while visiting Panama. My husband and I lived here full time for awhile. We moved back to the United States almost 3 years ago. We try and come back to visit friends as often as possible.

A dear friend of ours had his wedding while we were here this time and I was able to take their wedding photos as a gift to them. Tonight we are meeting them for dinner and showing them the photos for the first time. I thought I’d share one here because it seems so appropriate for the theme.