‘RELAXING DAY’

Alexa was taking a break from the Florida sunshine by swinging on a hammock. She was trying to blow the biggest bubble with her bubblegum. On this day it was just a relaxing summer day in our backyard. But on the weekends she loves to explore all the beauty and adventure Florida has to offer with her parents and three brothers. Amanda Warren of Orange Park, Florida, used a Sony Alpha 7C to snap her image.

The Capt CJ was my favorite shrimp boat to shoot while watching one of the worldfamous Matlacha (Pine Island, Florida) sunsets. The Capt CJ always added so much more to photographs. Very sad to say that Hurricane Ian destroyed The Capt CJ as well as most of SWFL. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting the captain and owner of The Capt CJ. Mike Bigler and family have owned and operated The Capt CJ for many years in SWFL. Matlacha was a little fishing village to the locals and a beautiful vacation spot for everyone else. Donald Hazlett of Cape Coral, Florida, used a Canon 70D for this image.

‘COWBOY UP!’

This is Leon. While shooting his oneyear session, we decided to use his dad’s boots to capture the boots he will fill one day! This was taken on his parent’s ranch, Diamond S Ranch in Grand Ridge. I’ve been capturing Leon since he was a newborn and I always enjoy his beautiful smile and personality. He’s the cutest little cowboy and absolutely loves horses and he even helps with all the ranch stuff, as he is going on 3 now! Amy Justice Buie of Cottondale, Florida, used a Nikon D60 for her portrait in Grand Ridge, Florida.

‘BEST VIEWS’

Charles Springs is perhaps one of the more historically significant springs in north Florida. Rumored to have been a river crossing point by Spanish conquistadors in the 1700s, there was also a Spanish mission and later a family ran a ferry and trading outpost in the area. Ruben and Rebecca Charles operated the trading post and were some of the first folks to trade with the native Indians in the area in the early 1800s. Today, Charles Springs is a bit off the beaten trail, but it provides a nice tree canopied setting, a concreted boat ramp and one of the best views from the spring run into the Suwannee River you’ll find. There are also various walking trails and a picnic table overlooking the bank of the Suwannee River as well. Yesaira Rivera of Haines City used a Sony camera for this image.

Taken during the summer months at a boat ramp that was public access, my friend and I used a few different methods to get enough water movement to activate the bioluminescence of the organisms in the water. Ashley Head of Live Oak, Florida, used a Canon

This photo shows how much passion and love my daughter Addison Roddenberry has for the livestock industry! This might not be a path that she chooses forever … and I’m okay with that! But in this moment — her being loving, kind and gentle with these creatures that God sends us to be shepherds for — is all a mother can ask for! Kayla Roddenberry of Hawthorne, Florida, used an iPhone 13 Pro Max for her portrait.