SWFlorida – Life, Love & Passion Through the Lens

Holiday Wedding

On December 30, 2016 My son Tommy and I photographed a wedding at one of the prettiest venues here in our Fort Myers area, The White Orchid.

This venue consists of a beautiful old Florida style home, with a courtyard full of native plants and flowers a beautiful fountain, and an expansive lawn which reaches to the Caloosahatchee River and a dock perfect for formal photos.

Due to unforeseen circumstances the wedding party was unable to utilize the beautiful building, however the owner of the venue set up a tent and it was impeccably decorated, and the DJs up-lighting added to the ambiance of the day.

wedding-to-87 — Photo take by Tommy Owen

Our couple were from the cold north and enjoyed the comfort of a Florida winter day. However as the sun dipped into the horizon, so did the temperature, but the wedding party didn’t allow the cold to keep their party from heating up.

As the formal photos were winding down, the sun was just beginning it’s show of magnificent colors.

wedding-to-80 — Photo take by Tommy Owen

This was the perfect ending to a perfect wedding and we wish Kaylynne & Ryan all the best for their future.

October Madness

Personal, Photography Meanderings

October is the month where my photographic life starts to pick up. With the cooler temperatures come more outdoor events here in the beautiful state of Florida, specifically South West Florida. I shoot more concerts, festivals and portraits during the fall & winter months than any other time of the year, and some weeks it’s totally crazy. I don’t mind the crazy because October is what I call my “sad” month; it’s the month my father passed away thirty-three years ago on October 17. I have written before that he too was a photographer and I know if he could see what I have done with a camera he would be incredibly proud of me, but I miss him. This is also the month my oldest son Jimmy turns 33; where has the time gone? I was just a young girl of twenty-four when this all took place, truly a lifetime ago.

I have a lot of wonderful events on the books and I’m sure I’ll be writing more as they unfold, but for now………daddy, this one’s for you.

2013 09 05_Dad and Camera_6057_edited-2 — My father Azle Marteney and my first real camera

Paradise Found

Nature, Photography Meanderings, Wildlife

I am so fortunate that I get to live in paradise. I sometimes forget how beautiful our area here in South West Florida is. No matter what direction I travel I can find the natural environment I crave. From beaches to swamplands it’s all here. Today my travels took me to Sanibel Island and the J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

While driving slowly down the scenic drive and stopping when something caught my interest, I felt so blessed to be able to have the day off and enjoy such natural beauty. From birds to butterflies the day was full of surprises. A lone Roseate Spoonbill and White Ibis looking for their breakfast and finding it.

A curious Little Blue Heron signaling a warning of the alligator who was lurking close by.

A lovely Common Buckeye butterfly unknowingly pollinating the flowers as it gathered life giving nectar.

Even the pungent smell of fermenting palm berries carried in the warm breeze was refreshing in it’s erthereal own way.

The nutrient rich tannin stained waters were bringing forth life to the White Ibis as it was searching for a quick meal.

As I watched nature doing her thing, I was reminded that I am just a very small part of all of this, yet just as important. Each of us have our place in this world, the birds, butterflies, the water, the land, all celebrating our creator.