Tampa Taxi Shots

Trouble with TypePad...sometimes

My connection is sometimes to weak at home to access my TypePad account. That is why you should visit this shadow blog of five years www.tampataxishots.info This is on Blogger and I have no problems with it. I  have kept this blog since 2007 and it has much of the material that this blog has. Blogger is constanly updating its features. Sadly, Typepad does not. 

Godaddy offered me the URL above of www.tampataxishots.info for only 69 cents with an email. How do you turn that down?

When I can't afford to pay for this blog and it is down for a week or two, go to the 'info' blog and you can keep up. Thanks for your understanding.

Tim Fasano

Winter Clouds Move Into Florida

There is an old saying about 'mackerel Sky's and ribbons and ties.' That means the high atmosphere clouds of winter have moved in.  The heat has been relentless, and many of us are ready for a break. 

     Autumn is our spring.  That is the time of year when you can open a window, do work in the yard, take your dog for a walk (he even has an extra spring in his step).  I have to admit, it is my favorite time of year. I am still not ready for the Christmas songs that we will soon hear on the radio about 'Frosty the Snowman' and 'Baby its cold outside', but I can get into the mood. 

     Thanksgiving is in a couple of weeks; hell, the Cowboys have a new coach and they are starting to play well again. The clouds I saw this morning had me thinking about the bird in the oven, mash potatoes, green beans and football.  Nobody to really share it with, but my cat does not seem to mind the scraps. 

     Tourist should be arriving soon, just behind the ducks who have their own GPS systems that never fail, and they never have a dispatcher wondering where they are at, and why it took them 20 minutes to cover six blocks. 

     We do have a new management system, or team, in place at United Cab. I guess the change of weather is a metaphor for their arrival.  Perhaps that was as inevitable as the shifting of the Earths axis. Nevertheless, there are many new things coming down the road.  The old ways are gone and some really good new ideas will be put into place which take advantage of the new technologies.  This has been a long time coming. 

The way I look at it, anything that can make me money fits just fine with the change of the season. I wonder what it will be like when things start to get warm again. 

I will be looking to the skies again and wondering what they portent for our future. 

Black Racer Snake In Withlacoochee State Park

Declared as one of the "10 Coolest Places You've Never Been In North America" by the World Wildlife Fund, Withlacoochee State Park in Florida.  It is the largest State forest in the State of Florida and is divided into several distinct tracts. I was in the Richloam Track today and video taped this Black Snake on a dirt road. They are seen during the summer because they like the heat. Richloam is known for wildlife. I also recorded coyotes and caught a glimpse of Bigfoot (Skunk Ape). Know how cool is that!

OIL On Florida Beaches - Come Down And Enjoy

Oil is now destroying the coastline of Florida on Pensacola Beach. I am really glad that we have people in charge that can take care of this. Maybe they can rescue the dead sea turtle that you can see in this video. The oil is still spewing out of the hole on the Gulf Of Mexico Sea Floor with no end in sight. We are screwed. Hope and Change baby.

Little Manatee River State Park

 I got a ride down south and took advantage of that to check out Little Manatee River State Park.  There is a network of hiking trails that span the entire park. Most of them are horse trails that you can spot form the main road that circles thru the park.  I found a nice one that traversed a sand pine and palmetto area. I parked the taxi on the side of the road and was on my way. 

It is very hot right now in Florida and the heat was getting to me. I'm glad some clouds rolled in that lowered the temperature somewhat. Many of these trails criss cross each other, and even with the trail map they give you, getting lost is easy. 

The trail I was on had a sign about a lake up ahead. I never found the lake, but I did get a nice view of the sand scrub and pine trees.  I was getting tired so I headed back...It is very hot with high humidity and you must bring lots of water or sports drink with you.  I always start cramping when I need water. Sometimes its just nice to feel and hear the solitude of the woods.  There is something very peaceful about doing this. It helps calm me down. 

 

The park is one of Florida's best kept secrets.  The Little Manatee River is one of the most scenic in the State. Canoe rentals are availbe and there is no better way to spend several hours than an easy canoe trip to the bay and back. The park also has some great camping areas.  What I liked about it was the privacy you have at each site.  The trees are thick enough that you cannot see the campers that are next to you. So you can chill out at your campfire at night and not have to look at RV's and strangers. 

 

Obama Is Getting Worked By Tony Hayward 'Ja Blow Me Of BP

 "The Ocean is just a barrier to getting the oil we need. Kill the oceans. Get the oil" - Tony Hayward - CEO of British Petroleum

Everyone that lives on the Gulf Coast of the United States will have their lives changed in ways that we can only imagine now.  I live on the west coat of Florida and work in the tourist industry - I drive a taxi cab. Tourism is very important to me. People come down for our beaches, golf courses, and great defense (Bucs).  If the white sugar sand of the gulf becomes black sludge, kiss it goodbye. What is sad is that this could of been over by now if we had a President that had actually had a job before he took the highest office in the land. Did you hear him last night?  This guy can hardly speak without a teleprompter in front of him. REALITY IS WHAT YOU WILL SEE BELOW.

This is the Deep-water Horizon explosion.  This should have gotten somebodies attention. 

Within days giant sea turtles were washing ashore dead. Very sad.

Shrimp boat were out in the Gulf Of Mexico trying to bring in a catch.  They had no choice. This is shrimp season and their families are depending on them.

These dolphin are trying to find flipper and wondering why their home is now full of oil

The Gulf is on fire.  You would think that it would have got the attention of the President while he was in San Francisco at a fund raiser for Barbara Boxer. 

Former Obama voters and supporters are directing their rage at Tony Haward of BP.  It won't be long before their boy starts to get the blame. 

If this don't make you sad, what would?

This looks like something out of the ANDROMEDA STRAIN with these guys in hazardous material suits running up to the beach while Nero played his fiddle.

There are NO WORDS for this photo

More Andromeda Strain Guys along the Gulf beaches

On day 10 Obama met with "God" himself Bono of U2 in the White House. I guess this man has all the answers.  I would have been meeting with engineers and scientist...but what do I know?  I am just a taxi cab driver.            

Many ships are now dumping at sea to save cost.  I was out at one of our local beaches Sunday and the stink was beyond belief.  They say there is no oil here, but where did this shit come from?  What is happening to our world right under our eyes?  See this video I put on YouTube.

In The Florida Jungle

Followers of this blog know that I like to hike in the remote areas of Central Florida and bring my video camera with me in case I encounter the Florida Skunkape or Bigfoot. I like the exercise and the fresh air. For over the last year it has been a hobby of mine.

It has been a good hobby. My YouTube Channel called fasanotampa has over 347 subscribers and a Blogger blog I started is getting steady traffic. However, it is getting difficult to try and make daily post for eight different blogs when Tampa Taxi Shots has been my longest running and most successful blog ever. I just need to consolidate and make this the Official Tim Fasano Blog or website. 

I don't know if you have a YouTube channel or not but you have to admit the flaming that goes on is beyond the pale. I have really lost my interest especially that someone has started a blog just to bash the videos I, and a few others, put up. Crazy if you ask me. 

Everyone has their own interest, and I have mine. This is a commercial site. Like I get paid to do this blog. I get a monthly check from advertisers and that pays for my blog. Simple, I got my reasons for this. 

We are going into the Memorial Day Weekend which is significant in Bigfoot History. Memorial day 1996 was the day of the famous bigfoot sighting in Washington State which was featured in the Hisotry Channel special Bigfoot Where Legend Meets Science with Dr. Jeff Meldrum.  Here this interview of him on Coast To Coast AM Radio.

Cypress Point Park Looking For The Oil Spill In the Gulf Of Mexico

     There is a massive oil spill in the Gulf Of Mexico that is right now the size of Pinellas and Hillsborough county combined, and growing. This needs to be put under control fast. Part of the tragedy in all of this is that we need this technology of offshore drilling for our economy and National security. Period. Anyone that says otherwise has a death wish. Lets not turn this into a Three Mile Island. Lets put it to bed now.
     I went to Cypress Point Park in Tampa today during the lunch hour. Many people use this place to picnic, fish, swim, read books in the shade, and just relax and take it easy. I often come here to just walk the shoreline and meditate. It helps relax me. I hope it does not become covered with oil. 

"Shoppers Take Warning"

"Red Sky's at night...sailors delight...Red Sky's in the morning..shoppers take warning" or as the old saying goes. The Red Sky in the morning means a front is moving thru and there may be rain. We were supposed to get rain today but it stayed a little north of us.

This shot was on Bayshore as the sun was trying to come out. It never really made it and "Black Friday" was a gloomy one in deed. Except for the retailers...I bet they did record biz.

People were, of course, camped outside of the Best Buy and Circuit City to save a few bucks on junk. If they read the specs on the stuff that is discounted, they would realize it was not all that and maybe not even what they need.

A Lunar Eclipse

I took this image of today's Lunar Eclipse leaning against the door jam of my cab to stay still. With a telephoto lens that is hard to do. Not to bad under the circumstances.

When the moon is in full eclipse it takes on a red magenta glow.

This is the Taxi with the eclipse above it. The long shutter time caused a glow from my cab dome. Cool

Honeymoon Island Was once Florida's only Nude Beach

The North shore of Honeymoon Island in Pasco County was once Florida's only nude beach. The reason I mention this is many tourist ask me where the "Clothing Optional" beaches are. It seems Europeans believe that Florida would be full of these places.

How do you explain to them that because of the backwards politicians such as Rhonda Storms (I bet she's hot in bed), there is only one in the entire state. Florida is missing a tremendous opportunity.

Our west coast Beach's are the best in the world and with all the Euros that love this state, why not have these things. I remember when I moved to Fla in the late '70S, Lido beach in Sarasota was at least topless. But the powers that be said no we do not want people to have any fun on their vacation to the most popular tourist destination in the world.

I know the supreme court said that it is up to the locals to decide these things based on the standards of the community. I believe the community wants these things.

The only nude beach in Florida is Haulover Beach in North Miami. I have been there. It is mostly gay, of course. Gays are much more tolerant of other peoples lifestyles than straights. I thought it was an interesting experience and would do it again (if I lost some weight).

What got the beach started was when people challenged the local politicians by going topless and then going nude. Check out the link.

Life Gets In The Way

Sorry folks. I have not posted for a few days. In my business we get real busy this time of year and I have a lot on the plate.

I am planning a trip to Arizona in 2 weeks to take photos of the wicked scenery. I will let you know more about it as the time comes near.

In the mean time, I hope you enjoy this photo of the 3 butterflies on one leaf. How about that! These guys don't exactly stand still for you. These were taken at the world famous Sunken Gardens in St. Pete.

NIce Veiws At Ft. Desoto Beach

With this fantastic weather we have been having, I have noticed on my trips to the coast, many people out on the beaches.

I wish I could but right now we are way to busy to take any time off.  I was out at Ft. Desoto and saw these tourist trying to get a tan. I hope they don't burn.

I also saw this dragonfly buzzing a flower.  I had to use a macro setting and use as much tele-photo as possible to blur the background.

Oh well. I will try to take some downtime in the next few weeks. Lodging is all sold out. NO-Vacancy signs are everywhere. After season will be good

St. Pete Pier, Great Views And I Got A New Job!

I got another ride across the bay again. I have not actually been to the Pier since Julianne and I used to go(She was thrown out of Cha Cha's not me). I parked my car by a place called Pioneer Park. I read some of the plaques. Apparently St. Pete has a pioneer history. That might make a good post some day.

It was an unbelievable nice day. The bay was spectacular! Sailboats everywhere. No Wonder people migrate to this state.

I walked to the pier, past the hot dog vendor at the entrance to the boardwalk. Told her I'd buy one when I came out. It was a nice walk. People everywhere. It was about 80 degrees. Fantastic.

Up ahead there where people fishing and boats hanging out. What amazes me are these Pelicans that hang out here. They are the most efficient fisherman in the world but they behave like skid row bums begging for food.

I continued my walk around to the back and I saw this really cool looking sailing vessel. It had the sails and mast of an Eighteenth Century Clipper ship. Wow! I had no idea there was such a thing here in St. Pete. The name of the vessel was "THE BOUNTY." Is that like mutiny and the Bounty? I don't know.

I tried to go up the gang plank but they said there was a $5 cover charge. Oh well, I can still take photos. Check this out. There was a sign posted stating EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.  Cool. I need a change of pace. Just click the sign "Deck Hands Needed." It says "long hours." "low Pay," but "The opportunity of a Lifetime." Cool. That's all me baby. I always wanted to be in the Navy!

I hope I don't have to work to hard. Maybe they will just let me lay back smoke a cigar and let someone else do the work. That would be great.

Out back there where just outstanding views of Tampa Bay. They had a band that was getting a lot of attention.

I went to the elevator. There was an aquarium on the second floor. Not to bad. I've seen better.

Now the main attraction was the top floor. Cha Cha Coconuts! Now get me a cold beer! I then saw what had to be one of the ultimate shots of St. Pete. Maybe this has been done before. But not like was about to do it. Even while drinking a beer. I did put it down though. I could not help but notice I was not alone. the area was crowded. Every table taken. The help staff looked stressed. Oh well.

When I left, I did see the hot dog lady again and it was sauerkraut with mustard  and a coke for 3 bucks. A square deal.

Over all I wish I had more time, but I wanted to get home and see the championship games on TV. Next year the bucs will be in it for sure.

Sulphur Springs Tower Looms Over Tampa

Have you ever driven by that big water tower you can see from 275 in north Tampa? I have a billion times and I always have wondered what it was all about. Other then being a former pump station for the Sulphur Springs area, Why is it still around?

I believe it must have historical importance. I mean, after all, there are supposedly only 5 signature photo shots of Tampa 1) the spires at UT. 2) The Hillsborough River Rapids. 3) The Gasbarilla festival 4) the street cars of Channel side and 5) THE SULPHUR SPRINGS WATER TOWER.

I’ll be honest with you; I have tried to shoot it before but always found the vantage point I wanted lacking. The thing is surrounded by a fence. The interstate is right up against it. I have ended up far away just to avoid clutter and got a small image of the tower way off in the distance. Not good.

Today, however, I was motivated. I earlier had seen a painting of the Tower on a mural in downtown Tampa. Either the artist was taking liberties with logistics or there had to be a way.

I pulled into the K-mart parking lot at Bird and Florida and headed off on foot. Today I’m going to follow the 3 B’s my grandfather taught about field photography. Be Brief…Be Brilliant…Be Gone! I was soon up against the fence along Bird starring straight at my nemesis. A tree on the inside of the property had hanging palms which made for a great framing device. Bam!! One Shot!! A publishable image!! I could have headed back to the car with something that could have gone into National Geographic. But, I was not done.

I drove over to an old closed down no-tell motel and headed again on foot across Florida to the base of the bridge. The bridge actually has a name…Check it out. It's the James L. Holmes Bridge era 1926. Before long I saw this clearing that lead down the embankment where there it was…THE MONEY SHOT! I climbed down the side with all the litter and mud and empty beer cans (This is not the best neighborhood) before I started shooting I noticed shopping carts on the bottom of the Hillsborough River. It was low tide and there where many of them. I don’t even know what I’m supposed to say about that.

The angle of the sun provided perfect side lighting! This was turning out to be a great day! Side lighting works best with a polarizing filter. The sky came out a deep blue. I was happy.

Before I left I could not help but notice how run down this part of town is. The tropical birds where out flying over the river just like they did 100,000 years ago. This was long before man created this urban scar tissue.

John Ringling Art Museum - Florida's Crown Jewel

I had a trip over the weekend down to Sarasota County. I rarely, if ever, get trips that far.

I used to live in Sarasota. In fact, I worked for the Sarasota Herald Tribune as a staff photographer from 1982-87. This is a fact I have held back from readers of my blog. I will update my about page to explain all this. But it was becoming obvious (even though I had not held a camera in 15 years!) That the quality of my work was professional.

The John Ringling Museum of Art Is a spectacular place. The architecture set on this sprawling landscape is magnificent. Unlike anything else you will see in North America. Hard to believe this was going to be a home! After the circus magnate's untimely death just months after building it in the 1920's his will specified that it would become a museum.

Contained within are priceless works of Art from Monet to Rembrandt. Today, I did not get to go inside. It is now $15 bucks to do so. I only had time to explore the grounds. There are certain photographic techniques that you should use when shooting such a grand place.

Take advantage of scale and use converging lines. Use Rule of thirds, and foreground interest to created scale and beauty. Even though I am shooting in one dimension note how all the images take you through and off into a vanishing point. That is what will separate a "snapshot" from a "winning image."

Back when I was doing this for a living. There were no PC's or photo-shop. We pretty much had to nail the image in the field. Please don't think that the modern stuff can save your ass.l It won't!

Without a good image you still have crap. NOW just colorful crap.

One the things you can do is take advantage of filters. I highly recommend a POLARIZING FILTER. Note how blue the sky is in these shots. If you use your camera, the sky will be washed out. Do not buy those "sky filters" they will try to sell you in the photo store. All it is is glass. They tell you it's good at the beach. Repeat after me. Never go to the beach without a polarizing filter on your lens .

They have a replica of the statue of David by Michelangelo. Unfortunate on the day I was there the angle of the sun was all wrong. All I could get was this silhouette.

If you have the time. I highly reccomend this place to spend most of your day with someone you love. It is very rewarding and to "strong" an experience to just go alone. If I can indulge. This is a blog. Not a gallery site. Just want to show one more image.   

There is Beauty In Tampa

This may not compare to CJ's beautiful naked body. But it's real and it was produced by nature. I still don't believe we have to spend millions for eccentric artist living on trust funds to shine spot lights on buildings to have art.

This little guy was at the world famous SUNKEN GARDENS in downtown St. Pete! They have a cool butterfly garden.

I've always tried to explore my own world and see what the Mother of the this world is trying to show us.

Yes you can even find art when you are driving a taxi cab.

Dawn On A New Year

I could bore you with the tales of drunks, load mouths, a-holes, and the 3 chicks who believed their entire lives were being controled by their mothers. "Don't tell a girl she reminds you of her mother." they said, or you'll never have sex with her again(I toned down the words they actually used).

Let's just say many people must be following my advice because I'd never seen so many floggers I mean flaggers before. Good job folks.

Unfortunately the fog was so thick today I could not get the shot I wanted. This is from my collection but it is Representative of Tampa at sunrise. This view is from Ballast Point Pier.

I did receive many comments from many people. Some of them still think that this is an unregulated industry in which drivers can do what ever they want. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I will respond to this tomorrow when I am not so tired.

Thanks again folks. The new year got off to a great start. It's steak tonight!

Curtain Falls On 2005

Night falls over Tampa for the last time in 2005. It has been a tremendous year. Many new Condo projects are underway and the skyline you see will be very different 2 or 3 years from now. If I'm still doing this blog I'll post the photos to show the difference.

I hope you had a good year. If it was lukewarm, the next one can be much better.

If you were wondering. This is the classic skyline location for Tampa. You can find it behind the rehab center at Tampa General across from the ER. Set up your tripod and bracket every 3 minutes around sunset.

Ballast Point Pier

One of the things I like about South Tampa and being out at this hour, are the sunrises at Ballast Point Pier. I just happened to have a tripod with me the other morning.

The right combination of mist was in the air to obscure the factories across the way. The rocks in the water would be unique to Florida if they were natural. They are not. They where dropped by ships to "ballast" their boats as they entered the bay. At least that is how it was explained to me.

The Great Blue Heron is always there. This day he was willing to be my foreground subject to ad interest and scale to the image.

I little further down on Bayshore these columns should be familiar to anyone who jogs or exercises in this area. I was trying to catch the angle of the sun from the side.

Hillsborough River State Park

I took some time off this afternoon and went to one of my favorite places-the river rapids at hillsborough River State Park. I used one of the cypress trees as a framing device. Kind of makes it look like a redwood. Maybee?

New Day In Tampa Bay

I had a run sunday morning before sunrise up to new Tampa. I noticed a pond with the sun coming up so I grabed my camera.

Many people think you have to have airline tickets to the Congo to take good pictures. This was taked behind the dumpster behind the Winn-Dixie.

Florida Sunsine Skyway Bridge

I took a trip over to the Fort Desoto State  Park last June(I hate to keep bringing up old shit but what the hell; I just started this blog) and because of the red tide I was totally alone on the east end where there is a tremendous view of the Skyway Bridge. Did you know that they have now renamed the bridge to the "Bob Graham never gave a sgtraight answer in his life bridge." Gee, do you know how many people jump off this thing every year!

See a lot more Ft Desoto images at Tim Fasano.com