January Cruise Vacation 2014

Bombardier Challenger 604 C-GFLU at Opa Locka [OPF/KOPF/OPF]. TZ30_P1010722C

Aserca Airlines (Venezuela) MD-87 N572SH at Opa Locka [OPF/KOPF/OPF]. TZ30_P1010728C1

Miami Air Lease Convair 440 N41527 at Opa Locka [OPF/KOPF/OPF]. TZ30_P1010730C

I am saying goodbye to the destinations on this cruise with this photograph of a beautiful Bahamas Bananaquit amongst the berries on Half Moon Cay (Little San Salvador Island), Bahamas. This picture is dedicated to John A King and Nigel Bond who photograph birds well and bring pleasure to the rest of us. 200_P1010010C Geotagging provides incorrect naming as Cat Island is the adjacent island

Eurocopter EC120B N120TX of Mountain Air Helicopters at Grand Turk [MBGT/GDT]. 200_P1000748

With the evening light making its countless containers look, I thought, like building blocks, the MSC Loretta prepares to leave Port Everglades. 200_P1000567

temporary contemporary - art in unexpected places Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach, Florida with (right) 'Blue Angel II' , (2013) by Michelle Lopez, steel and powder-coated aluminium. 200_P1000384C

temporary contemporary - art in unexpected places 'Bear' , (2012) by Tony Tasset, fibreglass and paint. Bass Museum of Art/Collins Park, Miami Beach. 200_P1000386

For all that it is the stuff of TV, movies and novels, I have never been especially enamoured of the 'black and white' and I am slightly relieved that there are variations around the US. The Ford Crown Victoria, frequently badged 'Police Interceptor', as here, must be one of the most successful cars of all time but is a little dull. This is a Miami Beach example. It was lucky to find a parking spot - it is not the easiest place to park. 200_P1000382

temporary contemporary - art in unexpected places 'Let Us Rejoice' , (2013) by Phil Wagner, mixed media. Bass Museum of Art/Collins Park, Miami Beach. 200_P1000396

temporary contemporary - art in unexpected places 'A Lifer' , (2013) by Matthew Monahan, bronze and steel. Bass Museum of Art/Collins Park, Miami Beach. 200_P1000398

temporary contemporary - art in unexpected places 'A Lifer' , (2013) by Matthew Monahan, bronze and steel. Bass Museum of Art/Collins Park, Miami Beach. 200_P1000400

temporary contemporary - art in unexpected places 'Real Fake' , (2013) by Scott Reeder, fibreglass and paint. Bass Museum of Art/Collins Park, Miami Beach. 200_P1000403

temporary contemporary - art in unexpected places 'Real Fake' , (2013) by Scott Reeder, fibreglass and paint. Bass Museum of Art/Collins Park, Miami Beach. 200_P1000402

Winter weekends are busy at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Saturday 25 January 2014 saw six cruise ships in port and their departures were accompanied by warm evening sun and a host of small craft as well as Sheriff's and Coast Guard vessels. In this busy view, Crown Princess, which was the second ship to depart, leaves for Princess Cay, Bahamas. It would be followed later by Celebrity Eclipse (left) en route to Orangestad and RCCL Oasis of the Seas (right) to Nassau. 200_P1000465

Cruise ships feature widely in my photos. My rather challenging ambition is to photograph every ship in each port it visits. I am unlikely to achieve that but it is helped by my own travels. Many of the pictures will be documentary but I hope too to bring a little variety of composition to the subject(s). In this weekend view at Port Everglades, Crown Princess is under way to Princess Cay, Bahamas and will soon be followed by Carnival Freedom which was destined for St. Thomas. 200_P1000468

temporary contemporary - art in unexpected places 'Real Fake' , (2013) by Scott Reeder, fibreglass and paint. Bass Museum of Art/Collins Park, Miami Beach. 200_P1000404

temporary contemporary - art in unexpected places 'Dreams' , (2012) by Olaf Bredning, steel. Bass Museum of Art/Collins Park, Miami Beach. 200_P1000409