The Wandering Disciple

A mother tiger plays with her cub in the water at Lowry Park Zoo.  Born on September 11, 2016 Berisi is the first endangered Malayan Tiger to be born at Lowry Park Zoo.  The Malayan is the newest species of tiger, only recognized in 2004, and is the smallest in size of the tiger species with adults ranging in size from 220-260 pounds.  (Photo: February 25, 2017)

The prehistoric life comes to life as Dinos Alive invades Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo.  Ranging from the speedy Velociraptor to the might T-Rex, the temporary exhibit brings a full selection of 65 million year old prehistoric beasts back from extinction. Dinos Alive opened today and runs for a limited time. (Photo: February 25, 2017)

Drop a nickel in the slot and watch the pictures come to life at the sound of music.  The Stereophone invented by Thomas Edison helped combine silent films and sound of music.  This advancement of technology is one of the many inventions on display at the Ford and Edison Winter Estate in Fort Myers.  (Photo: June 26, 2011)

Tampa Bay Rays minor league pitcher Shawn Smith awaits the pitch sign from his catcher during a minor league exhibition game at Twin Lake Park.  (Photo: June 3, 2011)

At 555 feet tall, the Washington Monument stands tall over the nation's capital in honor of our country's first president George Washington.  Today the country celebrates our founding father and all of the presidents during the President's Day federal holiday.  (Photo: February 16, 2009)

A turtle climbs out of the water to take a break on a rock in its habitat at the Calusa Nature Center.  The nature center is a sanctuary for all types of animals including reptiles like this turtle through birds of prey like the bald eagle.  (Photo: February 19, 2017)

During World War II, the ally bomber fleets were suffering heavy losses due to the German Luftwaffe. To counter these losses, the US Army Air Forces introduced the P-51 Mustang. The faster, more maneuverable Mustangs were able to help protect the slow moving bombers resulting in more effective raid and leading to the ally air superiority which helped to win the war. This Mustang photographed here is a new addition to the Collings Foundation fleet and can be seen during the Wings of Freedom tour. (Photo: February 16, 2017)

When it was initially developed, the B-25 Mitchell was designed to be a land-based bomber.  That was until the Pearl Harbor invasion and a vision by Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle who envisioned a carrier based bombing mission that would strike the heart of Japan using modified B-25's.  On April 18, 1942 the sixteen modifed B-25's departed the deck of the USS Hornet on a bombing mission that struck Tokyo.  Although all but one of the B-25's launched were lost, the mission improved the morale of the American troops.  This B-25 is one of the remaining airworthy B-25's and is under the operation of the Collings Foundation.  It travels the country during the Wings of Freedom Tour, a flying memorial to World War II aviation.  (Photo: February 16, 2017)

The Florida State League has a saying;  "Where the Stars of Tomorrow Play Today" which could be no farther than the truth.  At this stage of the minor league ladder, this is where they begin to separate the contenders for major league roster spots.  Pictured here is Phil Irwin while pitching for the Bradenton Marauders.  Irwin would eventually make his major league debut for the Pirates in April 2013.  (Photo: June 1, 2011)

Before a baseball player can make the big time, they have to pay their dues on the backfields of ballparks in Florida and Arizona.  Each spring while the big league clubs play in front of thousands of screaming fans, hopeful big leaguers get their work in with the hopes of one day fulfilling their dreams of making the majors.  Pictured here is the Red Sox Xander Bogaerts taking swings in extended spring training in 2011, two years before he would make his MLB debut with Boston in August of 2013.  (Photo: May 30, 2011)

A hawk sits look atop a tree branch waiting for its next meal to come into view.  A hiking trip through Myakka River State Park will reveal an abundance of hawks and other Floridian wildlife.  (Photo: May 29, 2011)

An animal peers over the fence in the petting zoo at a travelling circus that visited the Charlotte County Fairgrounds.  Circus Hollywood made a stop in in town, bringing a petting zoo and an entertaining circus that dazzled the crowds.  (Photo: May 29, 2011)

With pitchers and catchers reporting this week, today marks the final weekend without baseball until Fall.  Practice fields like this one at Twin Lakes Park will roar to life in Florida and Arizona with the sounds of spring training in full effect.  (Photo: May 20, 2011)

A Gulfstream testing aircraft makes a landing at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport after making testing runs over the Gulf of Mexico.  Each newly designed aircraft goes through rigorous testing before becoming available for sale to the public.  (Photo: February 10, 2017)

Each year the city of Sarasota rings in the new year with a pineapple drop ceremony in the heart of downtown.  Here is a bird's eye view of Pineapple Avenue in downtown Sarasota as seen from the roof of a high-rise condo.  (Photo: September 21, 2011)

Tony Plagman of the Lakeland Flying Tigers receives congratulations after hitting a home run during a Florida State League Minor League baseball game at Charlotte Sports Park.  (Photo: May 15, 2011)

A prop of a World War II fighter from the blockbuster movie Pearl Harbor sits on the Backlot Tour at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park at Walt Disney World.  (Photo: May 11, 2011)

A statue of a young man holding a cross sits in the plaza of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church to pay tribute to an annual ceremony that dates back over 100 years. Each year on January 6 to celebrate the Epiphany, the Metropolitan of Atlanta tosses a wooden cross into Spring Bayou and boys aged 16 for 18 dive into the waters in an attempt to retrieve the cross which comes with a years worth of good blessings. The festivities date back to 1903 and closely follow authentic Greek traditions from Greece. (Photo: February 4, 2017)

In what looks like a trip down memory lane, a sponge diver readies to dive into the waters of Tarpon Springs to demonstrate the technique perfected by the Greeks over 150 years ago.  Today, this technique can be seen on board the St. Nicholas VI, a historic sponge diving ship that operates from the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks.  (Photo: February 4, 2017)

Tropicana Field sprung to life as thousands of fans packed the Trop for the 2017 Rays Fan Fest.  Here fans could get hyped up for the upcoming season by taking part in interactive games, meet with players, buy items at the Rays charity sale and much more.  (Photo: February 4, 2017)

Hundreds of sponges line the decks of the Anastasi while it sits at the historic Sponge Docks in Tarpons Springs, Florida.  The sponge industry dates back to the 1880's and has grown over the years.  In 1905, the region had an influx of Greek sponge divers who revolutionized the industry and really left a cultural mark on the seaside town.  (Photo: February 4, 2017)

The sun rises over the Main Street USA Train Station at the Magic Kingdom signaling the start of another magical day at Walt Disney World.  (Photo: May 10, 2011)

A large bucket of slime spills over the pool area the the Nickelodeon Suites Resort.  Several times daily, guest of the hotel gather under the giant bucket and countdown to the release of hundreds of gallons of green slime colored water.  (Photo: May 9, 2011)

Stone Crabs catcher Mark Thomas takes a trip to the mound to talk things over with pitcher Frank De Los Santos during a minor league game in 2011.  (Photo: April 17, 2011)