Fountain of Youth, a magic place

Visiting Saint Augustine is like stepping back in time to an old Spanish city, and don’t be surprised if you encounter a few pirates along the way, mock-shooting at you.

Weapon demonstration at Fountain of Youth.

 

The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park in St. Augustine, established in 1904, commemorates the legendary spring said to restore youth. It highlights the early Spanish settlement founded in 1565, the oldest continuously occupied European-established city in the U.S. Visitors can explore exhibits on Native American and Spanish history, see reconstructed 16th-century settlements, and stroll through gardens where peacocks roam freely. 

Ponce de León statue. 

 Juan Ponce de León was a Spanish explorer and conquistador, best known for leading the first European expedition to Florida in 1513 and for his legendary search for the Fountain of Youth.

 

Cannon shooting demonstration.

At the Fountain of Youth, history and nature intertwine. Stroll among ancient ruins, wandering peacocks, and lush gardens, and let the past come alive around you—an experience that lingers long after you leave.

 

Introduction to photography

 We got our grandsons some old Fujifilm cameras and they loved them!

Even the 5-year-old mastered the art of switching between shooting photos and videos, pretending to be vlogging—which was funny to watch.

I explained to the 8-year-old the concept of switching the camera’s orientation to better fit vertically oriented objects or figures. He quickly understood the reasoning behind it and immediately began applying the newly learned information.

Liam and Leo taking pictures of their parents!

They quickly picked up how to half-press the shutter button to focus before taking a picture—something I honestly thought would be the hardest part for them to grasp. Of course, they were shooting in Auto Mode, but here’s the interesting part: many adults I know never switch their camera out of Auto, either!

The 10-year-old’s and the 8-year-old’s pictures were all in focus, and they quickly deleted any that were blurred or that they simply didn’t like. All three of them ran around looking for interesting things to photograph—and, of course, kept an eye on me to see what I was shooting, often taking pictures of the same subjects.

They’re kids, and of course the cameras felt like new toys to them, but I’m sure they’ll never forget the joy those old cameras gave them. I believe they’ll continue taking photos and videos for the rest of their lives.

One thing is certain: watching them capture moments by my side is a memory I will forever carry in my heart.

 

 

During the last busy weekend

Oh yes, last weekend was a busy one, and I’m still post-editing pictures. We traveled to Saint Augustine to cover our grandson’s karate competition and also took the opportunity to explore the city—and of course, take thousands of pictures. I’ll be sharing some of them here. Peacocks are something you don’t commonly see in the U.S., but there are a few places in Florida where they can be spotted.

 Peafowl—the correct term encompassing both the flamboyant male peacock and the more modest peahen—are originally native to the Indian subcontinent, including parts of India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka 
Everglades Holiday Park. Their vibrant presence in Florida, however, is purely thanks to human introduction.

At St. Augustine’s famous Fountain of Youth Park, the first breeding pair was introduced in the late 1960s. Today, dozens of peafowl—some of them striking white leucitic variants—roam and roost among the oak trees and historic ruins of the park. 

Today, peacocks in Florida have stepped off exotic bird posters and into everyday life. From roadside sightings to community mascots, they represent both nature's unpredictability and the whimsical side of human–wildlife interactions.

Whether you see them as beautiful relics of the past or charming neighbors in feathers, these birds have made Florida their home—and given us quite the story to tell.

 

 

 

 

Sometimes what you see is not what it is

I thought that I was seeing a hummingbird flying around some flowers, and it was not until I checked the picture using the zoom feature that I noticed that it was not a bird; it was a Banded Sphinx Moth. It is usually a night flyer, but every now and then, you can spot one early in the morning feeding on flowers. With its powerful wings and bird-like hovering, it’s easy to mistake it for a tiny hummingbird. 

A rare and magical sight to start the day! 

Another one...

 Another of my favorite pictures from last weekend is this one.

This photo is a panorama composed of pictures taken along the vertical axis. By doing so, I was able to capture the beautiful cloud and its reflection in the lake. 

What was the best photo of the last weekend

 This last weekend started with a rainy Saturday with little photos taken, but Sunday was a nice day at least in the morning hours when I was shooting. 

I took a few pictures of hummingbirds, and of course, one of them won the prize for the best weekend pictures.

Do you charge for photography sessions?

Short answer: Photography is both a hobby and a part-time job for me. I love nature photography and capturing events, especially those of our grandsons. While I often share photos for free, I also offer my services to those who want something more private or tailored to their needs.

Photography is more than just clicking a button — it’s an investment of time, skill, and professional equipment. The cameras and lenses I use cost thousands of dollars, and I continually upgrade, maintain, and insure this gear to deliver the best possible results. Along with editing software, storage, and the hours spent preparing and perfecting each session, these costs ensure you receive high-quality photos that truly capture your moments.

This is why I charge for photo sessions — so I can keep creating professional images while covering the real costs behind the art.

You can find the list price and FAQs here.