DESTINATION :: Fishing South Florida Style

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Chip Bunnell PhotographyTo many, a day fishing means finding a quiet lake or stream and enjoy the competition between man and fish.  A simple pole is all that stands between them.  Okay, there’s obviously more to it than that, but you get the feel. In South Florida, a day fishing requires just a bit more equipment. For starters, how about a 35’ offshore boat with inboard diesel engines and a “Tuna Tour” 20 feet above the waterline. Add to it a well-trained captain or very experienced owner, a wide selection of bait and lures and, of course, plenty of beverages to keep you well hydrated. It’s still the competition between man and fish, just with a whole lot more stuff and a little bigger price tag.

One of my favorite places is a marina. I enjoy seeing the various vessels as we prepare for a day on the ocean. The anticipation builds, fueled by the wonder of what we will find. On a recent dive trip I found myself able to simply take in the mood as we got underway for our journey to the Atlantic. The water in the marina was calm and filled with reflections from the boats still at dock. Passing clouds painted an interesting sky with the palm trees flowing high overhead. It was the perfect start to a wonderful day and a reminder of why we call our home paradise. This image was made to capture that moment and feeling.

Single Frame, Processed in LR and Topaz Clarity

www.ChipBunnell.com

LOCATION :: Pritzker by Night

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Chip Bunnell Photography Destination Architectural Florida

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My recent trip to the Midwest allowed me a day in one of my favorite cities – Chicago. The rich history of architecture seems to cover every street in a virtual competition to decide which structure will have the greatest visual impact. Buildings from well over a 100 years ago play on the same corner as their much younger siblings. A central location of gathering and community enjoyment is Millennium Park. On the vast acreage is located the centerpiece and work of modern art, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

Designed by Frank Gehry, his plans for this ultra-modern orchestral center were unveiled in November, 1999. The Pritzker family, for whom it is named, donated $15M towards the project. Unique curving stainless steel plates frame the stage opening. 4,000 fixed seats are positioned for a clear field of view. Large curving beams fly high overhead the lawn to support lights and a speaker system for the up to 7,000 additional attendees below. This open air venue is a wonderful destination to enjoy your favorite music under the warm summer sun or a clear starry night. While we enjoy this structure today, it was not without challenges to build. Most notably, a local historical zoning law forced the city to appropriately consider the structure art, rather than a building. Given its appearance, this seems be an accurate classification.

To me, the challenge when photographing such an iconic structure is to find a slightly different way to portray the mood. I tried to capture the sweeping feel of the high arches by positioning the camera slightly off axis. The exposure was slightly dark to negate the sky and bring the pavilion out as the main subject. The colorful lights in the background buildings add interest without removing focus. Seemingly tiny chairs on the stage add to the perspective of its truly massive size. My timing was fortunate as I was able to make this image just minutes before they closed the stage doors for the night.

Single Frame, Processed in LR and Topaz Clarity

www.ChipBunnell.com