There are times when a still photograph just does not capture the feeling of what is in front of me. This sunset video is a good example. Not a lot is happening, but the waves, birds and people moving through the frame along with the sounds, capture the glory of a Siesta Key sunset.
Tag Archives: Siesta Key
Siesta Key Drum Circle
Here is another video slide show of photographs I made from a few trips to the Siesta Drum Circle at Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota (also included are a couple of photographs from Nokomis Drum Circle in Nokomis). Mari and I met sixteen years ago at a weekly event called Dance Freedom in Cambridge, MA and the drum circles down here have a similar flavor to them where anything goes dance wise. Although in the case of the drum circles here there are more watchers than participants. This drum circle according to their web page (www.siestadrumcircle.com) began twelve years ago.
I have seen a number of videos on the web (mostly through YouTube) of the drum circle. My hope is that the photos I made give people a different persecutive of the event and capture some of the energy. The sound was captured with my Canon G10 and edited and enhanced with Apple’s GarageBand.
Bird Land
Play Video
I never thought I would be photographing birds. In my thirty plus years of photography, I never had photographed birds before. Just now I went outside for a break and there was an Egret fishing in the canal behind the house not more than ten yards away. So the birds are hard to avoid here in Sarasota. I have put together another video slideshow of birds I have met.
This is the second slideshow/video I have created and any feedback would be appreciated. Enjoy!
A Different Way
Well….it has been some time since I have made an entry in this blog. A few weeks ago I got a great deal on a used Mac G5 computer which has opened up many more possibilities for editing and presenting my photographs. I had an old G4 computer that was 10 years old and whenever I tried to work with video, the computer would groan and than go into major slow down mode. So I have been spending the last few weeks learning programs that enabled me to create what I am showing you here.
Three Moons
In response to my friend Bob Ballou’s comment of asking me to provide more information on my process of discovery, here goes: Mari and I have been in Sarasota for 3 moons now. We left Waltham Massachusetts during the full moon and last night (July 7th), we were atop the canopy walkway at Myakka State Park (with Mari’s sister Debbie) to watch the sunset and the moon rise. On the canopy we met a very interesting man, Michael, who was there for the same reasons as us, to view the full moon and too charge his magical stones.
Birds on the Beach
Terns, Gulls, Egrets, Herons, Pelicans, Pipers, Osprey, etc..etc..etc. And I can see why from all the schools of small fish in the water. One time the water was so dense with small fish that I thought there was a deep impression in the bottom creating a shadow. It was hundreds of thousands of small fish.
The Egrets are very bold, walking right by me intent of catching it’s next bit. That’s all these little fish could be, and so the birds keep hunting after swallowing their last catch.
When I am swimming, the Pelicans will dive right next to me and then take off right over my head. Usually I am at the beach early or late in the day and the light on their feathers as they pass over me is stunning.
Why Sarasota Sam?
Let’s say, I meet someone on the beach and take their photo. If they would like me to email them the photo I realized that telling them to email me at sam@samlaundon.com was very forgettable.
Before Mari and I moved down here I registered sarasotasam.com, because every time I mentioned Sarasota Sam to a friend or acquaintance they would smile or laugh, so I knew I had something memorable.
On the Beach
Siesta Key Beach is a beautiful very white sand beach on the Gulf. It is just 15 minutes from Debbie’s house, so it is a place I go often after my normal work day. Mari, after looking at my photos, said that most people are looking for beautiful vistas to capture, while I am looking down at details on the beach. I am fascinated by the changes that each wave brings to compositions on the beach. I can stay in one spot and the continual motion of the waves brings new surprises and delights.