Anna Maria Island
Professionally, it’s hard to beat being able to legitimately combine pleasure with doing business. Definitely one of the coolest things about being a photographer is combining work and play is actually quite natural. This is part of the reason why people are drawn to the art of photography and why there are so many amateur and even semi-pro photographers out there making great photographs of their travels. An extension of this is being able to integrate photography with family life. Photographers who travel, including me, are challenged with also participating in their family. When I brought my family to Anna Maria Island for a short weekend vacation, I was more than excited to be able to also capture some amazing moments of light and beauty in addition to being able to wet a line or play in the sand with my kids. The photographs here are some of my favorites from our trip. I’ll add some of them to my online offering of licensable stock photos and write off part of the trip as a business expense. It doesn’t get much better than that!
Storm. Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach, Bradenton, Florida.
Ruth and Marvin Brice have been married for 62 years and live retired on Anna Maria, Florida, the same place where they honeymooned 62 years earlier. They watch the sunset on Holmes Beach a few blocks from their house every day.
An eerie and surreal sunset through falling rain. Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach, Bradenton, Florida.
Exactly the same as the previous photo only without clouds covering the sun, the light is much stronger resulting in dramatic backlight and a silhouette. Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach, Bradenton, Florida.
A pelican is the perfect compliment to a beautiful sunset, adding that sense of fleeting moment to the scene. Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach, Bradenton, Florida.
One of my favorite photos from Anna Maria Island, this is of city pier visitors enjoying the first light of the day. It’s a made-for-panorama format with the long, horizontal pier stretching into the waters of Tampa Bay. Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach, Bradenton, Florida.
A building storm doesn’t deter beach-goers. The cool breeze actually seemed to make for a more pleasant stroll. Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach, Bradenton, Florida.