You Can Teach a New Dog Old Tricks.

Film Camera?
Originally uploaded by tryzatt7.

I was just browsing through some recent photos uploaded to my G5 within the last couple weeks and saw this picture of myself. The first thing that made me take a close look at this photo is that, well, its me. When someone takes as many pictures as I do there is one thing you notice within the first couple hundred shots...you aren't in any pictures. That being said I decided to process the RAW image for quality and save it to JPEG to save some harddrive space. When I took a closer look at the photo it started to make me think. And the more I thought about the photo, where I was, and what I was doing the more I realized this is one of those photos that is worth a thousand words (no I won't write all 1,000 words in this post).
I was at the beach just messing around taking pictures wasting time and had my sister come along with me cause she likes these unplanned "do somelthing new" adventures so I told her I would teach her my digital camera a bit which also give me some company. When I was leaving the house I saw her 35mm camera just sitting there on the file cabinet and grabbed it just for comparison. We got to the beach, I showed my sister the basics of digital photography and she went off shooting with no worry of wasting anything but some time a battery power.
Then there was me. I'm new school. I read almost thirty minutes a day just on digital photography. I look at equipment, software, and am constantly preaching the benifits of taking digital pictures. But this picture of me made me think back to the day I had. I was sitting on the bench looking over this camera. I was looking for about 30 different settings that weren't there. I had taken about 10 photos that I couldn't review. I had used over a third of the roll that I couldn't erase or edit. And none the less the roll I was shooting with was Black and White.
I used the camera in Aperature Priority which is usually what I use and started thinking about my shots. About framing, not white balance. About the subject, not the image quality. The neat thing is the camera actually made me think about taking a real picture and only having one shot. Not just shooting away and reviewing/erasing seconds after.
When I went to the store to get my devoloped pictures there was a suspence that I had never had before. I didn't have a clue what the shots would look like. I didn't get the see them seconds after the shot. And the black and white was something I had never experienced. The pictures came out great.
Most of the photography uproar is about the new digital age. Changing to more advanced cameras. For me it was going back. I learned the technical before the basic. Completely opposite of the evolution taking over photography. Old dogs stubbornly learning new tricks and new dogs learning old ones.

Wilma Blows

Wilma Blows
Originally uploaded by tryzatt7.

This is Hurrican Wilma from the inside of my apartment. The gusts in my area were reported over 110mph which explains why the only thing in focus is the enormous tree that went down. The Cat. 3 put me out of electricity for 3 days and as a result had to wait in 3 hour lines for gas. All that being said and minor damages aside, everyone I know is safe and sound.

Opposites Attract

Opposites Attract
Originally uploaded by tryzatt7.

As the sun sets the moon rises. Night and day simultaneously. Since i've started taking pictures this is one opportunity that has alluded me till now. The picture was more of a moral victory than a trophy shot. Obviously this is not what it looked like. This is NOT a representation of what I saw but just a little drop of creativity to give my prize a few ripples of interest. Enjoy. JP

Natural Mockery.

Waterpainted Sunset
Originally uploaded by tryzatt7.

Nothing special. No foreground. Not enigmatic. Yet somehow simply amazing. This photo was only adjusted for sharpness. It looked like the clouds were a mirror image of the ocean painted with watercolors. JP

Melting Sun

Melting Sun
Originally uploaded by tryzatt7.

As intriguing as the sunset is from Key West nothing compares to the sun setting on the flats. We actually had a 120lb. Tarpon on the line while I snapped this photo from Calda Channel while the sun melted slowly out of site.

Permit Me

Permit Me
Originally uploaded by tryzatt7.

No trip to home is complete without a flats trip. This was the first and biggest of the day. It took us less than 30 minutes to hook up and about 15 minutes to land this 18 pounder. Aaron and I were 2-4 on the day. I am the masked man behind the fish.

Paulie, Happy 50th

3 breath Paulie
Originally uploaded by tryzatt7.

Today is Paulie Fraga's 50th birthday. Being involved in yet another pig roast at the Fraga's this weekend I would like to thank the whole family for all the memories they make possible for all of us. We know that the party was for you but all the boys will tell you we enjoyed the party and getting back together just as much. For all the parties, pigs, kegs, and times we just can't seem to remember, thanks to the Fraga's. Happy Birthday Paulie.

On A More Serious Note...

Gas Prices
Originally uploaded by tryzatt7.

If you haven't been under a rock you have noticed how much it is to fill up a tank of gas. Its only getting worse. Effective this week gas is going to really hurt. I find it especially painful for rich men who drive luxury vehicles that recommend 97 octane. Ouch.

World Champion, Grammy Winning, Grandstand Pointing Thank you!

My Family.
Originally uploaded by tryzatt7.

As I played sports throughout college I wondered, like most athletes, if I would ever make it to the top. I wondered if I would ever make it to the stage. As I follow sports, music, and movies there is always a certain aspect of the winner that I will forever be jealous. There is one thing I have always wanted to do. I am a very competitive person but the winners circle is not why aspire the mic on the big stage. I don't' want the World Series or Super Bowl Ring. I don't want a Grammy or a VMA. I don't want MVP's, U.S. Opens, or even fame for that matter. I, like the elite of the elite, would like to run into the crowd and give my family a hug. I would like to stand at the podium and with everything thank my family and most of all my parents and sister for everything they have done for me.
I would be absolutely nowhere today if it weren't for my parents. They have given me more than I could ever ask for. They have supported me through thick and thin. They have been there for every single moment that has meant anything to me. They are more selfless than any people I have ever met.
And to my sister, you keep me going. I consider you my best friend in the world. You talk to me through about anything and your the most inspiring person I have ever met, period.
I don't believe you should have to wait for people to die to get to make a speech about them. I don't think something catastrophic should have to happen for you to let the ones around you know that you appreciate them. I don't think you should have to be on TV to tell the world how much you love your family.
To my family, Mom, Dad, and Sister this is my World Champion, Grammy Winning, Grandstand Pointing thank you speech for everything you do!

Jet Split Sky

Jet Split Sky
Originally uploaded by tryzatt7.

I went down to Key West for a doctors appointment, that to say the least, ruined my day not to mention I had to drive from Miami to the southern most point and back in the same day. But there is one thing that always gets my attention and somehow makes the whole world seem non-existant and that is photography. On my way out of the keys I made it my mission to take some photos no matter how long it took me to get back. As the sun melted into the gulf I got a chance to pull over and the clouds arranged themselves above me almost perfectly. Its like the sky was letting me know that no matter how bad things can seem if you look in the right place and be patient the future can be picture perfect..