Steeples I Have Chased – St. Ann Catholic Church

August 14, 2016December 23, 2016 / Donna Robinson Photography / 1 Comment

It’s been a while since I wrote about one of my favorite subjects, Churches. My tendency is to wait until I have all of the right images, information, etc, to make these as complete of a post as possible. But, I find my heart being drawn to one particular church, lately. A desire to share a special place that has many, many ties to my extended family……. St. Ann Catholic Church (West Palm Beach, FL).

IMG_0501 042013 St Anns Catholic Church copyright

St. Ann is the oldest Catholic church and parish in the Diocese of Palm Beach. According to the historic marker, the original chapel (above left) was dedicated March 15, 1896 and located at the corner of Rosemary and Datura streets. In 1902, it was moved to its current location (North Olive Ave.) on land that was donated by Henry Flagler. The newer church (above right) was dedicated in 1913 and also serves the community as a Catholic School…….where my mother-in-law and her siblings went.

IMG_3571 St Ann's Catholic Church Janice Janik

IMG_2447 St Ann's Catholic Church Janice Janik

IMG_2463 St Ann's Catholic Church Janice Janik

The first time I visited St. Ann it was for a family reunion. It’s a small sanctuary with a detailed, but unassuming alter. The lighting is soft to allow the natural light to shine through the beautifully crafted stained glass windows.

IMG_2450 St Ann's Catholic Church Janice Janik

IMG_2466 St Ann's Catholic Church Janice Janik_edited-1

The alter (above) is a skillfully carved depiction of Davinci’s “The Last Supper.” It’s so detailed you can almost feel the movement of Jesus and the disciples feasting and talking about the impending crucifixion.

And then, there is the “candle room” a place of solitude and peace. A place to light a candle for a loved one or a special prayer request.

Although I grew up Baptist, I am always drawn to Catholic Churches because of their beauty, tradition and history. And, I’m especially drawn to St. Ann because it is the foundation and the beginning of a wonderful group of decendents of Anna L. and Hyman Butler. While they may not be famous beyond the family members, “Miss Anna” and “Hyman” left behind a legacy of family, love and tradition that will last for years to come: the Butlers, Nemeths, Meeks and Robinsons.

A special thanks goes out to fellow photographer, sister-in-law and friend Janice (Robinson) Janik, who was kind enough to provide the inside photos of the church for me.

For the Love of Photography – “Gone But Not Forgotten”

July 17, 2016December 23, 2016 / Donna Robinson Photography / 3 Comments

One of our favorite routes to SSI Casa de Playa is Hwy 341, or as its better known, the “Golden Isles Parkway.” A four (4) lane highway along the backroads of middle Georgia running Southwest between Perry (Macon) and Brunswick, Hwy 341 is like taking a step back in time where families made their living off the land. For miles and miles (168 miles to be exact) the roads are lined with the most beautiful pecan orchards, cotton fields and timber farms.

About an hour in to our first drive down Hwy 341 we noticed an old windmill and rusted water tower off in the distance. They stood just high enough over the tree line that we didn’t see them until we were about half a mile away.

As we approached closer, we noticed an old house at the base. Brush and trees had grown up all around it. It was obvious a front porch once framed the house, but had long ago deteriorated to the point where it was dismantled and hauled away.

The front door with its faded blue paint leaned against the door jam and dingy brown curtains still hung in the window. Collectively, the house, the windmill and the water tower were reminders of times gone with questions running through our minds…..who lived there? why did they leave this beautiful land behind? where did the family go?

While I was taking pictures a white pick-up truck drove up. The driver stepped out of the truck and I then noticed the “posted no trespassing signs.” Quickly, I complimented him on the property and asked if I could take a few more pictures. He smiled and obliged not seeming at all bothered with my request.

And then, as I pulled back on the lens for a wider shot of the property, I noticed that the times that appeared to be gone were not forgotten. A neatly built wooden fence and freshly cut grass carefully framed the house and its two (2) towers. To someone (perhaps the gentleman in the pick-up truck), this was still a part of their family and their history.

The Magic Lantern – “Let There Be Light”

July 10, 2016December 23, 2016 / Donna Robinson Photography / 2 Comments

For me, knowing how to use my flash has been the single most hardest technique to grasp. Yes, even more so than shooting in manual mode! It’s not that I avoid using it. No, common sense tells me when it’s needed. But, it’s knowing how to effectively use the settings (there’s that manual mode again) to recreate (and in some cases drastically improve) the lighting of an image.

So, not being one to actually read an owner’s manual (they don’t make sense anyway) I finally decided it was time to take a few courses. After three (3) very short and quick classes, I’m once again reminded of the “magic” you can create with your camera.

So what did I learn? Here are my top five (5) tips from the course:

Ignore your internal camera settings – Our instructor said it would be hard to do……and it was! But, once I determined the “base camera settings” I was able to compliment the photo with the Flash settings.
Bounce – Instead of shooting directly on your subject, turn the flash head and bounce it off a wall, ceiling, curtain, anything to help highlight your subject versus blowing it out.
ETTL and Manual – Both are great tools and have their own purpose when it comes to complimenting your subject. ETTL works great when shooting events (especially indoor) and when you don’t have much time to continually adjust your settings. Manual is great for outdoor settings (both bright and dark) because you can control the power of the flash.
Fill Flash is a great tool for outside – I’ve heard this before, but I’m the photographer who is prone to using natural light.
A higher ISO is your friend – This is probably my favorite lessen learned. I’m hesitant with increasing the ISO because of that grainy coverage you get the higher you go. But, what I learned was that with Flash, it will add light to the ISO and will help to eliminate some if not most of the grain.

So how did my photos turn out? Here are a few practice shots:

“Moss Covered Trees”

Moss Covered Trees – No Flash

Moss Covered Trees – Flash

The Photo on the left is without a flash. While I do like the warmth when I added the flash (photo on the right) the colors of the landscape and the depth of the road seem to pop more.

“This and That”

Practice makes perfect (or near perfect) and your home can lend some really good subjects to practice with. Click on the images below to see how each imaged was captured with the flash.

Manual Flash, Bounced with diffuser, Reduced Flash Power

Manual Flash – Straight on with Diffuser at Half Power

Fill Flah – ETTL – ISO Adjustment

The last thing my instructor told us was to “read our owner’s manual.” I took it with me on a trip to Canada last week thinking I would find some time on the airplane to read it. I picked it up a couple of times, but for the life of me, I just can’t get into it……. I think I’ll just sign-up for the next Flash Photography course!

Life in Black & White: “Rain”

June 6, 2016December 23, 2016 / Donna Robinson Photography / Leave a comment

No words needed to describe a Sunday afternoon rain shower.

Thoughts: “Drunk Drivers Don’t Scare Me Anymore”

May 30, 2016December 23, 2016 / Donna Robinson Photography / 6 Comments

Hold your horses! Before anyone goes off the deep end on me and M.A.D.D. pops a vein….. hear me out. By no means am I condoning driving under the influence, I’m just saying, statistically “smart phones” have made us stupid and “drunk drivers don’t scare me anymore.”

Think about it…..how many times have you been driving down the road, and had to go around another driver just because they were going 20 miles under the speed limit and they were on the phone talking……oblivious to everything else going on around them? Or, the thousands of times you were sitting behind someone at a traffic light and noticed their head down in their laps, the light turns green and they just sit there……….typing away on their e-mails while cars behind them honk away until the light turns red again and they are still sitting there?!?

But, these aren’t the drivers that really hurt anyone. It’s the ones who drive down a two-lane road, swerving and crossing the center line with their heads down in their laps…….again! At least drunk drivers try a little harder to be safe about their driving. Seriously, they keep both hands on the wheel and both eyes on the road.

I’m not saying I’m perfect, but when you research the facts it’s pretty startling and scary. Here are just a few that were eye openers: (source: Stoptextsstopwrecks.org)

Texting While Driving Causes:

1. 1,600,000 accidents per year – National Safety Council
2. 330,000 injuries per year – Harvard Center for Risk Analysis Study
3. 11 teen deaths EVERY DAY – Ins. Institute for Hwy Safety Fatality Facts
4. Nearly 25% of ALL car accidents

Texting While Driving Is:

1. About 6 times more likely to cause an accident than driving intoxicated
2. The same as driving after 4 beers – National Hwy Transportation Safety Admin.
3. The number one driving distraction reported by teen drivers

Texting While Driving:

1. Makes you 23X more likely to crash – National Hwy Transportation Safety Admin.
2. Is the same as driving blind for 5 seconds at a time – VA. Tech Transportation Institute
3. Takes place by 800,000 drivers at any given time across the country
4. Slows your brake reaction speed by 18% – HumanFactors & Ergonomics Society
5. Leads to a 400% increase with eyes off the road

Think about it……for years it has been pounded into our heads that drunk driving is the number one cause of death on the roads. But, I’m not convinced this is the case anymore especially when you know that every car you pass on the road has at least one (1) cell phone (if not more depending on the number of passengers). And, this is why “drunk drivers don’t scare me anymore.”

Maybe it’s time to start a new movement …….how about “D.A.D.” (Disconnect And Drive)? Or, “P.D.A.D.” (Phones Down And Drive)? With summer officially kicking off, I urge you to think twice before reading or answering that text when you drive……..is it really worth the risk?

NOTE: This post was written by my husband, Michael. It’s something he is very passionate about and he asked me to help get his message across through my blog.

Life in Black & White – “Another Stadium?!?”

April 29, 2016December 23, 2016 / Donna Robinson Photography / 4 Comments

My husband will tell you that in the 20 plus years he has lived in Atlanta there have been five (5) stadiums for our baseball team (The Atlanta Braves) and our football team (The Atlanta Falcons).

First, there was the Atlanta Fulton County Stadium. An open air arena home to both teams. When baseball and football season overlapped, it wasn’t unusual to see the baseball diamond outlined in the middle of the football field.

Atlanta Fulton County Stadium – Google Images

Then, along came the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games and the first transformation took place. The Braves went one way to a new home at Turner (aka The Ted) Field which was built for the Olympics next to Atlanta Fulton County Stadium. After the Olympics were over, Turner Field was closed in and officially made “The Home of the Braves” and the Atlanta Fulton County Stadium was soon demolished, leaving only the back wall which marked the famous home run of “Hank Aaron.”

Turner Field – Google Images

And, while the Braves were settling into their new home, the Atlanta Falcons made their way up I-75 to the Georgia Dome (the 3rd stadium if you’re counting). Which, at the time it was built was a state of the art indoor arena. When it opened I remember working on a sweepstakes with the local Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottler called “Roam the Dome.” If you won, then you would be one of the first to tour the Georgia Dome before they officially opened the doors to the public.

The Georgia Dome

But, alas just as the Braves are in the midst of building a new home at SunTrust Park (stadium number 4) so are the Falcons building their new home at Mercedes stadium…….right….next door to their current home.

Curious to see what is so special about having a new football stadium (#5) I took a drive around it the other day. Of course, like other areas of the city there are cranes everywhere hovering over the construction zones like giant erector sets.

The old can be seen reflecting off the side of the new building. An eerie reminder that it will soon fall to the hands of a wrecking ball.

I will say, though, that the new architecture is quite impressive with various shapes and angles.

Despite the fact that so many stadiums have come and gone in the past 20+ years, it’s still great to see the growth and progress this city continues to make. And, if you can navigate your way around the multiple construction zones and road closures it’s still a wonderful place to live and call “home.”

Thoughts – “Awaken”

April 10, 2016December 23, 2016 / Donna Robinson Photography / 2 Comments

For as many sunrise photos I have taken from our balcony in Atlanta, but for some reason the sunrises over the ocean inspire me the most.

It could be the effort it takes to pull myself out of bed on our weekend-cations and (although short) the drive to the other side of the island which make the sunrises more meaningful.

Or, it could be the promise of adventures planned for the day…….

Most likely, though it’s the simple pleasure of watching Mother Nature “Awaken.”

Two in One…….

March 31, 2016December 23, 2016 / Donna Robinson Photography / 5 Comments

It seems as though life in general has taken control over my “free time” causing the timing of my weekly blogs to be a little off this month. And, now that it’s the end of the month I’ve found myself in a little bit of a quandary…….which theme do I leave out to get me back on track? Then, it occurred to me what better way to accomplish everything I wanted to share than by combining two (2) themes into one (1) blog……..or, two in one!

So, here it goes……….I hope you enjoy both!

“THE MAGIC LANTERN – MULTI-EXPOSURE”

This month’s photo tip is multi-exposure photography. It’s not the kind that you do in post production, but in the camera. I stumbled on this when I was catching up on my DPS (Digital Photography School) weekly updates this weekend. Not all DSLR cameras have this function, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover that my Canon 6D does.

Multi-exposure is a fun way of composing two (2) photos into one (1). Basically, your first shot will be your background and your second shot will be your foreground or focal image. Here are a few shots I took last weekend:

Fire in Glass Vase

Chardonnay in Glass Vase

Yellow Daisy Floating in Bird Bath

The yellow daisy in the bird bath is my favorite.

This was a fun technique and one I plan to work with it more often. If you would like to learn more, here is the link to the Digital Photography School article: Digital Photography School – In Camera Double Exposure

“For the Love of Photography”

Spring is one of my favorite times of the year, and there certainly have been several signs that it has arrived:

Colorful flowers are in bloom……………………..

Birds are migrating South…………………….

Cedar Wax Wing feeding on Laquat Fruit

And, the number one sign that Spring is in the air………..POLLEN! Yes, that yellow, thin haze floating through the Atlanta skyline is pollen!

While I enjoy the warmer weather and how nature has come back to life, the pollen can be challenging at times. Oh well, I guess it’s the price you pay for living in such a beautiful area of the country!

Life in Black And White – “The 7 Mile Bridge”

March 23, 2016December 23, 2016 / Donna Robinson Photography / 2 Comments

I remember the first time my husband took me to the Florida Keys. It was in the middle of July 1996 just before the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. We landed in West Palm Beach late in the evening, waking early the next morning to begin our drive to the Keys. It was our first “no map, no plans, no place to be” trip.

The Keys were everything I had expected and then some. I expected, beautiful waters. I expected a place of adventure. I expected palm trees and white sand. What I didn’t expect was getting sea sick the first time I went deep sea fishing (that’s a story in and of itself)!

But, for me one of the most amazing elements of the Keys was the 7 Mile Bridge. It’s a massive work of architecture which begins in Marathon, Florida (the middle) and ends in the lower keys at Little Duck Key. Architecturally curved to follow the earth’s surface and tall enough for vessels to pass through.

But, more impressive than the current bridge, are the remaining sections of the original bridge built by Henry Flagler as part of the Florida East Coast Railway (1909 – 1912).

Some sections are now used for running, walking and fishing. Others, are simply reminders of the early days of the industrial revolution. Days, when our country was young and the railroad was vital to connecting each corner together.

In many sections of the bridge, both old and new run parallel with each other. A constant reminder of the importance of the past and the present.

The original bridge was damaged by a hurricane on Labor Day in 1935. Eventually sold to the U.S. Government it was later transformed for automobile use. The remaining track rails were recycled and made into the guard rails. It’s also my understanding that some sections were “widened” to allow cars to pass each other. Although, from the stories I’ve heard it was a VERY narrow passage and not for the faint of heart.

If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend making the entire length of the drive through the Keys. Stretching 113 miles, spanning across 42 bridges and leap frogging from Key to Key, it’s and incredible journey which ends at the Southernmost point of the United States……..“90 miles to Cuba.”

Google Images — 90 Miles to Cuba

And, if you’re interested in learning more about the history of this beautiful area, check out my source links:

Friends of Old Seven – Bridge

7 Mile Bridge Run

Henry Flagler Museum

Thoughts – “Get in! Sit Down! Shut Up! Hold On!”

March 13, 2016December 23, 2016 / Donna Robinson Photography / 2 Comments

She was a basket case when we found her. A piece of gray fiberglass, loosely mounted on a car frame. Parts and pieces were stacked throughout the garage. We were assured by the seller (a retired airline mechanic) that everything was there……..as he handed us the plastic Rubbermaid container with mirrors, dials and other miscellaneous parts and pieces.

Her engine, came from a 1993 Ford Mustang donor car. All of the paperwork was there including the dusty instruction manual from the kit car manufacturer (who by the way was no longer in business).

But, my husband had a dream and a vision. A dream that was formed from the influence of his brother who would take him out to the drag strip every weekend. A vision formed from his dream car, a 1969 Camaro Z28, black with gold racing stripes down the middle. And so, as he loaded her into the car hauler another journey began.

It was a labor of love……….and patience. Looking back our expectation was that in a few months we would be zooming around town in our sporty convertible. We soon learned otherwise. Car restorers are artists and you don’t rush them. And so, the process began.

Three (3) years later we finally brought her home after winning a “Top 10 Best of Show.” We had a blast and enjoyed all of the looks we would get. It was amazing to watch kids hanging out of their car windows, snapping photos as we zoomed by. Once, we even had a woman stop us in the grocery store parking lot and ask if she could have her picture taken next to the car!

She was sleek and fast! Our motto (taken from a Toby Keith song) became “get in, sit down, shut up and hold on!”

We made some great memories with her and even managed to fulfill a dream of taking her on a road trip to SSI……a special celebration for my husband’s birthday.

But, as all good chapters in our journey of life must come to an end, we said “goodbye” to her last weekend. It was bittersweet watching my husband run through the car controls and settings with her new owner. But, he had fulfilled his dream, had his fun and was ready to move on.

And so, as he unlatched the hitch and the new owner backed his pick-up to the car hauler, we closed the chapter of “The Cobra.”