Kissimmee

Let the Music Pay

“There are people who can never forgive a beggar for their not having given him anything.” —Karl Kraus

For quite a while now, I’ve enjoyed listening to this man sing and play his guitar on my trips to the grocery store. His weathered, sun-baked skin tells of the many, many hours he has sat here on an upside-down plastic pail, entertaining shoppers and collecting the coins and singles tossed in his guitar case. I had a camera with me on this day, so after tossing my gift into his case, I asked if I could take his photo. He smiled, told me I could then acknowledged two other contributors without missing a beat in his song.

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“Let the Music Pay”, Fujifilm X-T1, ISO 400, f/16 at 1/250th sec., 19 mm

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earl harris photography
Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings
throughout Central Florida.

Magical Curves

“I think that cars today are almost the exact equivalent of the great Gothic cathedrals; I mean the supreme creation of an era, conceived with passion by unknown artists, and consumed in image if not in usage by a whole population which appropriates them as a purely magical object.”
― Roland Barthes, Mythologies

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“Magical Curves”, Fujifilm X-T1, ISO 400, f/10 at 1/125th sec., 30.9 mm

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Private appointments available

earl harris photography
Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings
throughout Central Florida.

Little Cowboy

“I said I wanted to be a cowboy when I grew up… Mom said I would have to choose.”
—Unknown

During my photo-wandering at the Osceola County Fair in Kissimmee this past weekend, I noticed this young cowboy, whose parents so graciously permitted me to photograph him. Perhaps I got a little over-zealous in processing the image, but the fact is, I rather like the result. I’m hopeful you will like it, too.

“Little Cowboy”, Nikon D700, ISO 160, f/2.8 at 1/1600th sec.,116mm

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Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings throughout Central Florida.

Triangle in Temple

“We become what we behold. We shape our tools, and thereafter our tools shape us.”
― Marshall McLuhan

“Triangle in Temple”, Nikon D800, ISO 250, f/5.3 at 1/200 sec., 92 mm

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Revising History

“Half of writing history is hiding the truth.”
― Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy

“Revising History”, Nikon D800, ISO 250, f/16 at 1/125 sec., 300 mm

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Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings™
throughout Central Florida.

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Today I am sharing the video of my favorite Sarah McLachlan song, which also happens to be one of her oldest. You know; back when she wasn’t quite so depressing to listen to! (Love ya, Sarah!)

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Nostalgia

“Remembrance of things past is not necessarily the remembrance of things as they were.”
― Marcel Proust

“Nostalgia”, Nikon D800, ISO 250, f/16 at 1/125 sec., 300 mm

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Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings™
throughout Central Florida.

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Buddha Reflecting

“…for you know that soft is stronger than hard, water stronger than rock, love stronger than force.”
― Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha

Here is the final photo — and the only one not in B&W — I will be sharing this week from my walk around the Wat Florida Dhammaram monastery in Kissimmee. This Buddha figure is one of two that are positioned in front of the Uposoth (“Observance Day Hall”), the main temple structure on the property. I hope you have enjoyed this series of photos as much as I enjoyed making them.

“Buddha”, Nikon D800, ISO 250, f/11 at 1/80 sec., 135mm

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Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings
throughout Central Florida.

Many of the photos on my blog are now offered on Etsy.

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Yaksha

Yaksha: What is the most wonderful thing?
Yudhisthira: The most wonderful thing is that even though every day one sees countless living entities dying, he still acts and thinks as if he will live forever.
—Mahabharata

Today’s photo continues the series I initiated yesterday from my visit to the local Buddhist monastery. This Thai yaksha, or yak, is one of two such figures standing in front of the Buddhist Theravada Temple on the grounds of Kissimmee’s Wat Florida Dhammaram. The yaksha are giant mythological guardians whose job is to keep away evil spirits.

“Yaksha”, Nikon D800, ISO 250, f/8 at 1/160 sec., 210mm

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Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings
throughout Central Florida.

Many of the photos on my blog are now offered on Etsy.

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Clarity

“Be obscure clearly.”
— Elwyn Brooks “E.B.” White

Just a few miles from my home is Wat Florida Dhammaram — a Buddhist monastic compound replete with statues and altars and flowers and clouds of sinus-triggering incense. There are several monks who live and work on the premises, too. It’s a very interesting place to visit and photograph, and I found myself there the other night after dinner with friends who were unaware of its existence. I didn’t have my camera at the time, but decided to go back yesterday morning to capture a few shots. I will share a few of those images this week, beginning with this one, which is a view of the 22-foot tall Buddhalila (Walking Buddha) statue on the southeast end of the property.

“Buddhalila”, Nikon D800, ISO 250, f/11 at 1/125 sec., 180mm

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Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings
throughout Central Florida.

Many of the photos on my blog are now offered on Etsy.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider sharing it.

Kissimmee Celebrates the 4th of July

I’m hoping that invoking the “better late than never” theory will excuse the tardiness of getting these photos posted. They were taken this past Friday at the Kissimmee 4th of July festivities downtown on the lakefront. I had to leave before the fireworks, but while there I enjoyed photographing the crowd and sampling the food trucks. My favorite food truck find was the super friendly service and vegan black bean and plantain empanadas from La Empanada Food Truck.

There were lots of activities for the kids — young and old. It was fun to see people displaying their patriotism and participating in all there was to see and do. I hope you enjoy the photos.