One of the best kept secrets in the Central Florida / Orlando area has been here since 1949. Deemed the "Alligator capital of the world"; Gatorland is a theme park and wild life preserve that takes you back to the early days of Florida attractions, when they were kind of campy. Today Gatorland is one of my very favorite parks in the area. It is all about a genuine natural Florida experience for the visitor, with wildlife, exotic plants, flowers and trees that are indigenous to the area. Don't forget the Gators and the Crocs as you will be closer than you want to be in many cases. Many different species of birds migrate south to the sanctuary that sits right in the middle of the park. Photographers are welcome and a special pass is offered, allowing one to come very early at certain times of the year to capture the various creatures before the too many visitors enter the park. Gatorland is actively involved in rescue and preservation of animal life here in Central Florida. There is an admission to the park, discounts to seniors and children. All in all, one of the best values compared to The Disney and Universal Theme Park prices. Over the years I continue to go back again and again, and as a result have acquired quite the catalog of photographs. I wanted to share a few from my visit this week.

Each year in November, usually the second week of the month, (and picture perfect weather) a plethora of artists gather to show their best! . . Paintings, Sculpture, Watercolor, Glass, Wood, Chalk Art, Jewelry and Photography. They are deemed Masters of what they do best. The three day show converges on Downtown Disney just south of Orlando, Florida and can be enjoyed by all for free. Meet the artists, buy their work, stroll around a large outdoor exhibit. It is always marked on my calendar and I have been going for several years in a row. I wanted to blog about it so that others may know and appreciate that it is indeed a Festival of The Masters.

DeLand, Florida is a quaint, demure Florida River-town founded in 1876 by Henry Addison DeLand, a business man from New York. It is home to Stetson University and  is Florida's oldest private school and located right in the center of DeLand. The University has several buildings that date back to the 1870's that have been restored through the years and represent some of Florida's best examples of Stucco Mediterranean Revival Architecture. Recently restored is the Athens Theatre built in 1921 used to show silent films of the century. I had the opportunity to stroll through the campus and downtown area filled with shops and enjoyed photographing the scenes and sights of the day. DeLand is located approximately 34 miles north of Orlando and is well worth a road trip. By the way you will be very close to De Leon Springs State Park and New Smyrna Beach - two wonderful places for capturing pictures.

The Saint Johns River winds it's way from south of Central Florida all the way up to Jacksonville some 310 miles, making it Florida's longest river. It is one of few rivers that flows north in the country. Very Scenic with gorgeous natural beauty, plentiful wildlife, half immersed cypress trees, pine trees,wetlands with lilies and reeds. It is a blackwater river- a shallow river that runs through swamps and wetlands.. A day on the river is one of the most relaxing and therapeutic times in your life. My good friend; Captain Vince calls it an "Adventure" every time we head out in his boat on the river or offshore. This last weekend was no different. The weather was perfect as we put in just north of Lake Monroe in Sanford Florida. As usual, I had my trusty Nikon with me and recorded our adventure for all. Come along with us!

The great state of Florida offers a warm climate year round, beautiful sandy beaches, blue skies, sumptuous seafood and inter coastal waterways with a large variety of wildlife. One thing that it does not offer is the change of season. Having grown up in the Midwest, Autumn, or Fall was a part of life. Football season, bonfires, a chill in the air, hayrides and walk in the woods during peek time for a firsthand look of the beautiful colors of the leaves. If there is anything that I miss, it is just that. Florida is tropical, locals say we have one season - Hot. So if I get the urge to experience the wind of change, I must venture up a few states, and that I do every once in a while, with camera in tow to capture the exhilarating ambiance of Autumn in all its splendor. It is through photography that I can truly appreciate the wind of change,perhaps through these photographs you can also.