The Wandering Disciple

2020 has been a challenging year.  COVID-19 pandemic, active tropical season, a Presidential election that won't end.  It has been one for history.  But despite all the negative in the world this past year, we managed to find some comfort through photography.  While the travel restrictions and closures caused by the pandemic limited what we could do, we still found a way to get out their and enjoy ourselves through photography while keeping socially distanced and safe. So while 2020 goes out with a midnight fireworks show, let's see what 2021 has in store. (Photo: October 13, 2017)

The Seminole Indian Casino hot air balloon lights up the night sky during the 2018 Florida International Air Show at the Punta Gorda Airport. The annual air show event features a night show that includes aerial aerobatics, fireworks and more under the Florida night sky. (Photo: October 19, 2018)

Classic airplanes and warbirds are meant to be enjoyed in the skies not just in a museum. That is one of the main missions of air shows around the globe to show the power and engineering marvel of these aircraft from classic warbirds through the high tech fighters of today. One of these performers, Randy Ball, flies the Soviet MiG for Fighterjets Inc. Ball has flown over 1,00 shows in North America and is rated in over forty aircraft. He has showcased his flying in air shows and on film and is the only MiG-17 pilot to fly an aggressor flight for the US Air Force's F-4 Phantoms. (Photo: October 9, 2018)

Goyang looks out from under a blanket on a cool December day at ZooTampa at Lowry Park. At 21 years old, Goyang has developed the large cheek pads that are symbolic to male orangutans. He is the lone adult male in the group and father to the four young orangutans in the family. (Photo : December 28, 2020)

Tampa, Florida: Just one day after setting a single day record for passengers served, Tampa International Airport was busy once again during our visit to Tampa. There was a steady flow of traffic coming and going in the time we spent spotting from the garage. We were there for a little over an hour and were able to shoot over fifty movements. Runway 1 was in use, so we photographed from the eighth floor of the short-term parking garage.  Here is a look at what we saw today at TPA:  C-GJWN - Airbus A321 (Air Canada)  N194UW - Airbus A321 (American Airlines)  N285WN - Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines)  N348NW - Airbus A320 (Delta Air Lines)  N352DN - Airbus A321 (Delta Air Lines)  N354JB - Embraer 190 (JetBlue Airways)  N361DN - Airbus A321 (Delta Air Lines)  N365EG - Cessna Citation Excel  N370DN - Airbus A321 (Delta Air Lines)  N403RW - Embraer 130  N403SV - ATR 42-600 (Silver Airways)  N416UA - Airbus A320 (United A...

 A firefighter from the Englewood Fire Department demonstrates a high angle rescue during their open house event in 2018.  Firefighters possess a vast skill set that help them protect the citizens from their district.  At the sound of the alarm, firefighters can do anything from provide medical care, stop a gas leak, rescue a victim from the water, put out a house fire and so much more.  To stay proficient in these skills, they train regularly at their training center seen here during this public performance.  (Photo: October 6, 2018) 

Christmas 2020 brought an upgrade to the arsenal as we added a Canon T7i to the camera bag.  What better way to try it out than a trip through Myakka River State Park for some wildlife photography.  It was a blustery day for Florida and not too many animals were out playing but we did manage to see a bunch of deer, some wading birds and this red-shouldered hawk.  (Photo: December 25, 2020)

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas. Today's Christmas themed photo of the day comes from Busch Gardens Tampa's Christmas Town celebration. Every evening during the holidays, Busch Gardens transforms to a Christmas wonderland with thousands of twinkling lights and plenty of holiday shows to get you in the Christmas spirit. (Photo: November 24, 2019)

The largest lizard on Earth, the Komodo Dragon relies on its eyesight to track and kill its prey.  The Komodo can see objects over 980 feet away and are better at seeing movement than stationary items.  They track their prey while hiding camouflaged in the brush.  Once it gets near they attack with their serrated teeth and toxic venom.  While the hunted animal may be able to escape the initial bite, the Komodo will track the victim and await the toxins to kick in which causes death.  This tactic helps Komodo Dragons kill and eat up to 80% of its body weight in a single meal.  (Photo: October 1, 2018)

Fort Myers, Florida: The increased activity at Southwest Florida International Airport continues as the airport does its part to deliver packages and passengers to their Christmas destination. The airport has seen the most activity it has seen since the COVID-19 pandemic began and the terminal is back to life with passengers connecting to their destinations. The cargo ramp has also been busy as FedEx and UPS do their part to ensure that the presents find their way under the tree in time for Christmas morning.  Here is a look at what I saw around RSW this week:  1704 - HC-130 Hercules   C-GBHN - Airbus A319-114 (Air Canada Jetz)  C-GXCA - Beechcraft 1900  N127UW - Airbus A320 (American Airlines)  N316UP - Boeing 767-300 (UPS)  N320DN - Airbus A321 (Delta Air Lines)  N321CL - Cessna Citation Excel  N343DN - Airbus A321 (Delta Air Lines)  N348DN - Airbus A321 (Delta Air Lines)  N447UP - Boeing 757-200 (UPS)  N508AS - Boei...

This little bright bird looks like a gymnast as it hangs from its nest project. Taveta Golden Weaver are a species of weavers that can be found on the African savannah. About the size of a common finch, don't let its small size fool you. It uses its strong bill and claws to build intricate nests, sometimes as large as the whole tree. The golden weaver are just one of the many African bird species that can be seen in the aviary along the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail at Disney's Animal Kingdom. (Photo: September 23, 2018)

Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho it's off to work we go. Well not exactly but its off for a journey with the seven dwarfs as they head to work in the mine. Hop aboard a mine car and follow the dwarfs on their daily routine aboard the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train coaster at Disney's Magic Kingdom. Opened in 2014, the interactive family coaster was the centerpiece of the park's Fantasyland expansion. Riders hit speeds of 34 miles per hour on cars that can sway bringing the 1937 film come to life. (Photo: September 23, 2018)

  A Roseate Spoonbill feeds in a marsh habitat at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa's Channelside District.  The spoonbill eats by filter feeding.  Their beak acts live a giant filter, as they sweep their beak back and forth in the water, it filters the food and nutrients from the water.  Roseate Spoonbills can be found filter feeding in marshes along coastal Florida, Louisiana and Texas.  (Photo: September 22, 2018)

  A Great Blue Heron catches a catfish along the Myakka River at Myakka River State Park.  The river is filled will many differed species of freshwater fish and as a result is a lifeline for the animals living along the river.  Wading birds, raptors, mammals and many more can be seen looking for lunch on the river's banks.  (Photo: September 19, 2018)

A spotted jellyfish is seen swimming in an exhibit at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, Florida. This spotted jellyfish is known by many names from its formal name Phyllorhiza punctata or by many other nicknames such as the floating bell, Australian spotted jellyfish, brown jellyfish or the white-spotted jellyfish. It is found primarily in the western Pacific Ocean but has been found in waters worldwide. In areas outside their native region, they are considered an invasive species as they local shrimp and fish. (Photo: September 15, 2018)

Punta Gorda, Florida: I did not have an official spotting trip to Punta Gorda Airport, I was able to snap a couple pics of aircraft on approach to PGD while I was traveling through the area.  Here is a look at what I saw at PGD:  N248NV - Airbus A320 (Allegiant Air)  N254NV - Airbus A320 (Allegiant Air)  Click on the photo above to view these and the entire Punta Gorda Airport gallery .

Fort Myers, Florida: As we get closer to Christmas, the activity at the airport has gotten busier. We have seen an increase in flights and an increase in sizes of aircraft with Delta bringing in the 767 a couple times a day to help with the load. Between the increases in the flight and the impacts of winter storms up north, the ramp has been quite busy.  Here is a look at what I saw this week in and around RSW:  C-FIAS - Cessna Citation II  C-GITY - Airbus A321 (Air Canada)  N105UW - Airbus A320 (American Airlines)  N121UW - Airbus A320 (American Airlines)  N135HQ - Embraer 175 (Republic Airways/American Eagle)  N191UW - Airbus A321 (American Airlines)  N211JQ - Embraer 175 (Republic Airways/Delta Connection)  N229WN - Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines)  N232JQ - Embraer 175 (Republic Airways/Delta Connection)  N270NN - Embraer 175 (Envoy Air/Delta Connection)  N284WN - Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines)  N321DH - Air...

A loveable raccoon climbs a tree at Myakka State Park in eastern Sarasota County. The raccoon has earned the nickname trash pandas due to their scavenging through trash cans and dumpsters. Found throughout North America, raccoons are easily identifiable by their masked faces and ringed tail.  (Photo: September 7, 2018)

With rows of sharp teeth, a sand tiger shark patrols the reef of the Florida Aquarium. Sharks are considered predators of the sea, but don't let this mean mouth fool you. Sand tiger sharks are one of the more docile, non-aggressive species of sharks in the sea, choosing to attack only when provoked. In the wild, sand tiger sharks are found along the surf line in warm oceans across the globe. The sand tiger is one of the many species of marine life on display at the Florida Aquarium. (Photo: September 5, 2018)

Fort Myers, Florida: The activity at Southwest Florida International Airport has kept me away from Page Field for most of the week. However I did get by for a quick visit and here is what I saw while I was there:  N91GL - Learjet 35  N312FU - Raytheon Hawker 800  N383CH - Embraer Phenom 300  N906CD - Cirrus SR-22 Click on the photo above to view the Page Field photo gallery .

An American Airlines heritage aircraft smiles for the camera as it sits overnight at Southwest Florida International Airport. This aircraft is painted in the PSA heritage livery to pay tribute to Pacific Southwest Airlines, an airline based in California that operated from 1949 to 1988 before merging with USAir which would later become today's American Airlines. PSA was known as "The World's Friendliest Airline" and featured a fleet of Grinningbirds, smiling aircraft depicted in the heritage livery. American Airlines pays tribute to the roots of its airline though its heritage livery collection, a flying tribute to the airlines that make up today's American Airlines. (Photo: December 15, 2020)

The bright purple berries of the American Beautyberry bush provides a splash of color against the green foliage in the forest.  Native to the Southern United States the American Beautyberry is a food source for wildlife including deer and many species of birds.  The bush even has uses for humans as the berries can be used in jellies and wines while the roots can be used for herbal teas. But eating the berries raw should be minimal or avoided as the raw berries have astringent properties and may cause digestive issues. (Photo: August 25, 2018)

Railroad pioneer Henry Plant had a vision for his rail line.  A luxury travel destination in a tropical paradise that would rival anything his competition might come up with.  To make this vision come to life, he built a luxurious hotel on Tampa Bay called the Tampa Bay Hotel.  He constructed the crown jewel of his hotels, over a quarter mile long with all the luxury amenities one could want in the late 1800's including the first elevator installed in Florida.  The hotel was in operation from 1890 to 1930 and housed tons of celebrities, athletes, wealthy people and even served as a military base.  Today the building is preserved on the National Register of Historic Places and houses the Henry Plant Museum and administrative offices for the University of Tampa.  (Photo: August 19, 2018) 

This week the patch collection took on a new look as I added military flight suit patches into the collection.  With a visit to Lakeland last weekend for their holiday air show, I decided it would be a pretty cool addition to the collection to had the patch for military aircraft/demo teams I have photographed.  I start the collection by picking up the patches for the F-16 Viper Demo Team and the F-35 Lighting II Demo Team.  I hope to grab more as I add more military aircraft to the website. In addition to the flight suit patches, here are the rest of the patches added to the collection this week: Astatula (FL) Police Department  Atlantis (FL) Police Department  Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office  F-16 Viper Demo Team (USAF) F-35A Lightning II Demo Team (USAF) Hillsborough County (FL) Sheriff’s Office  Islamorada (FL) Fire Rescue  Martin County (FL) Sheriff’s Office  Miami-Dade (FL) Police Department  Pace (FL) Fire Rescue District...

  A young male Key Deer catches a nap in the foliage of his home at ZooTampa at Lowry Park.  Male deer are known as bucks and they grow their antlers as they age.  The antlers typically begin to grow in the spring of age one and grow larger as they age.  This is a Key Deer, a subspecies of the White-tail Deer only found in the Florida Keys.  (Photo: August 5, 2018)

Thanks to a horrible decision by Major League Baseball to destroy the culture of Minor League Baseball, small towns across the country saw professional baseball in their communities disappear almost overnight.  At the direction of MLB, over forty teams were eliminated from the minors.  This restructure hit home as the Charlotte Stone Crabs were one of the teams effected by the restructuring.  A Tampa Bay Rays affiliate since 2009, the four time division champion and 2015 league champion will no longer be affiliated with Tampa Bay as the Rays moved their Advanced-A affiliate to Charleston for the 2021 season.  (Photo: September 9, 2015)

Fort Myers, Florida:  Air traffic continues to increase as we get closed to the Christmas holidays and Southwest Florida International Airport has been alive with traffic.  Even with a good chunk of the week spent off airport at Page Field, I still was able to catch some good traffic when I was around RSW including a Star Alliance livery for United and JetBlue's Brooklyn Nets livery. Here's a look at what I saw this week at RSW: C-FNVV – Airbus A320 (Air Canada)  N114UW - Airbus A320 (American Airlines)  N121UW – Airbus A320 (American Airlines)  N219WN - Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines)  N334DN - Airbus A321 (Delta Air Lines)  N386DN – Airbus A321 (Delta Air Lines)  N429YX - Embraer 175 (Republic Airways/American Eagle)  N461WN - Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines)  N508AS - Boeing 737-800 (Alaska Airlines) N527JL - Airbus A320 (JetBlue Airways)  N559WN - Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines)  N560VM - Cessna Citation Excel...

The weather is getting colder in Florida and that can only mean one thing, its hockey time in the Sunshine State. As the temps drop, the action gets hotter as the Florida Everblades begin their 2020-2021 season tonight with a home opener against Jacksonville. After last year's season came to an abrupt end due to COVID-19, this season begins with new measures to keep players and fans safe during the pandemic. (Photo: February 3, 2018)

Fort Myers, Florida: Spent a few days this week working around Page Field and got some good variety during downtime. There was the usual flight school traffic with a bit of variety mixed in. One of my favorites of the week was a brightly colored Cirrus SR-22 Turbo that was on the base ops ramp during the second half of the week.  Here is a look at what I saw this week at Page Field: N63DU - Rockwell Aero Commander   N234AS – Bakeng Duce  N250AG – Bombardier Challenger 350  N326BW - Lake Renegade  N347RL – Cessna Citation X  N356TT - Cirrus SR-22 Turbo  N592K – Piper Cherokee  N684A – Piper Cherokee  N725XL – Cessna Citation Excel  N729WL – Learjet 31  N750HG – Cessna Citation X  N820JH – Piper Navajo  N884B - Cessna Citation Excel  N1330N – Cessna Skyhawk  N2145G - Cessna Skylane Click on the photo above to view these and the rest of the Page Field photo gallery .

The F-16 Fighting Falcon buzzes the flight line on its take-off roll during a performance by the US Air Force F-16 Viper Demon Team at the 2020 Holiday Flying Festival at Lakeland Linder International Airport. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multi-role fighter built by General Dynamics and entered into service for the US Air Force in the late 70's. The aircraft is more commonly known as the viper due to its snake like appearance. In addition to active service by the US Air Force, Air Force Reserves and National Guard, the F-16 also serves as an aggressor aircraft for the US Navy. Its power is showcased as part of two Air Combat Command demo teams, performing a solo act with the F-16 Viper Demo Team and as the team aircraft of the Air Force's premier demonstration team The US Air Force Thunderbirds. (Photo: December 5, 2020)

Many decades of air superiority fly in formation over the skies of Lakeland as part of the US Air Force Heritage Flight demo. This heritage flight featured three generations of air power with the P-51 Mustang, F-16 Fighting Falcon and the F-35 Lightning II. Formed in 1997 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the US Air Force, the heritage flight travels the country and showcases current generation fighters alongside their warbird counterparts in a flying history display of the Air Forces evolution through the years. (Photo: December 5, 2020)

Captain Kristin "Beo" Wolfe shows off the internal payload compartment of the F-35 Lightning II during a performance at the 2020 Holiday Flying Festival and Car Show at Lakeland Linder Airport. The F-35 is a fight generation fighter developed Lockheed Martin for the US Air Force, US Navy and US Marine Corps to replace aging fighter aircraft. The F-35 carries its weapons and payload internally, reducing drag and helping the aircraft reach Mach 1.6 of 1220 miles per hour. The capabilities of the F-35 are demonstrated at air shows across the country by the F-35A Lightning II Demo Team based at Hill Air Force Base. (Photo: December 5, 2020)

When Gene McNeely retired from the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team in 2017 following a 20 plus year career with the team, most thought he would fade off into the retirement life. Nope not Gene, he is still out there dazzling crowds with his amazing performances in the T-6 Texan. But unlike his time with the Aeroshells where he was performing over 30 shows a year and constantly travelling, Gene can be more selective with his shows to make more time for family and relaxation. One of the shows where Gene performed this year was the 2020 Holiday Flying Festival last weekend at Lakeland Linder International Airport. (Photo: December 5, 2020)

A member of the Black Daggers carries the unit's flag into show center of the 2020 Holiday Flying Festival and Car Show at Lakeland Linder International Airport. The Black Daggers are a volunteer unit from the US Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg. The team travels the country to demonstrate the precision needed to drop soldiers in behind enemy lines in the theater of combat. (Photo: December 5, 2020)

The patch collection grew a bit slower this week due to the holidays but I was still able to add a few new ones to the collection.  This weeks new patches were heavy on the law enforcement side with a few new sheriff's offices added to the collection.   Here is a look at what was added to the patch wall this week: Pinellas County (FL) Sheriff’s Office  Okeechobee County (FL) Sheriff’s Office  Osceola County (FL) Sheriff’s Office  Oviedo (FL) Fire Rescue  Sumter County (FL) Sheriff’s Office  Wakulla County (FL) Sheriff’s Office Click on the patch above to view the digital patch wall .

Lakeland, Florida:  After seeing the annual Sun 'n Fun Fly-in cancelled because of COVID-19, the skies over Lakeland Linder International Airport came to life with the sound of radial and jet engines as they hosted the Holiday Flying Festival and Car Show.  The show featured all things aviation from hot air balloons to the US Air Force's latest jet fighter and everything in between. The two day event kicked off on Friday with qualifying for the Central Florida Classic Short Takeoff/Landing competition which tested pilots on how little runway they can use to takeoff and land. The car show then kicked off with a parade and display of cars from all classes.  The show then went airborne with an evening show featuring the F-16 Viper Demo Team, the F-35A Lightning II Demo Team, the US Army Black Daggers and Paradigm. Once the show was over, the hot air balloons took center stage with a nighttime balloon glow. Day one of the show ended with a classic holiday movie under the sta...

Sarasota, Florida:   These week I was on the way up to Lakeland for their holiday air show when I saw the Republic Airways painted Embraer was making a stop at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.  So I made a quick pit stop in Sarasota to get a photo of it.  Runway 32 was active so I spotted these two from the parking lot of the kennel club.   Here is a look at what I saw today. N306MF – Bombardier Challenger 300  N401YX – Embraer 175 (Republic Airways) Click on the photo to view these and the rest of the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport photo gallery .

Braves minor league outfielder Izzy Wilson rounds second and digs for more during a 2018 Florida State League game. Wilson was a part of the Florida Fire Frogs during the 2018 season, the Braves Advanced-A affiliate in the Florida State League. Signed as an international free agent from Saint Maarten in December 2014 by the Braves, he has spent his career in the minor league farm system of the Braves, Rays and now the Angels organizations. (Photo: July 31, 2018)

Fort Myers, Florida: This week saw quite a few special livery flights into Southwest Florida International Airport.  Several of Southwest's state livery aircraft made stops at the airport as well as a few other special visitors. Here is a look at what I saw this week at RSW: 163558 – UC-12 Huron (US Marine Corps)  C-GAQX – Airbus A319 (Air Canada)  N10HC – Embraer Legacy 650  N68RF – Beechcraft Super King Air 350 (NOAA)  N125UW – Airbus A320 (American Airlines)  N155NN – Airbus A321 (American Airlines)  N204JQ – Embraer 175 (Republic Airways/Delta Connection)  N209JQ – Embraer 175 (Republic Airways/Delta Connection)  N214WN – Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines/Maryland One)  N324DX – Airbus A321 (Delta Air Lines)  N387DN – Airbus A321 (Delta Air Lines)  N577AS – Boeing 737-800 (Alaska Airlines)  N615JB – Airbus A320 (JetBlue Airways/FDNY)  N630JB – Airbus A320 (JetBlue Airways)  N722FR – Airbus A321 (Frontier Air...

  Since 1782, the bald eagle has served as a symbol of the United States of America.  When the nation was founded in 1776, the founding fathers sought to create a symbol for the fledgling nation.  The original design created by Pennsylvania lawyer William Barton featured a white bird as the centerpiece of the symbol but Secretary of Congress Charles Thomson made the recommendation to use the American bald eagle as the centerpiece.  The new symbol was adopted by Congress on June 20, 1782 and has represented the United States of America ever since.  (Photo: July 21, 2018)

An American Alligator can be seen just lurking beneath the surface of the Myakka River at Myakka River State Park in Eastern Sarasota County. The Myakka River is home to thousands of these prehistoric reptiles. Alligators are cold-blooded and rely on the river and its banks to regulate their temperature. (Photo: July 4, 2018)

A powerboat passes through the New Pass inlet on the way to the Gulf of Mexico for the 2018 Sarasota Power Boat Grand Prix. The annual offshore race takes place off Lido Key during the July 4th holiday weekend and brings hundreds of competitors and thousands of spectators to the islands for some exciting racing just feet from the beaches. While the races are a good time for all, they also are for a good cause as they benefit local children's charities. (Photo: June 30, 2018)

When you think of white water rapids, Florida is probably one of the last places you would think of. The Hillsborough River is home to a set of Class II rapids located within the Hillsborough River State Park. The 60 mile river starts at the Green Swamp and flows into the Tampa Bay. The section of rapids is accessible via the Rapids Trail, a hiking trail within the state park. (Photo: June 23, 2018)