DugJax's photostream  

The 29th Monorail Monday - Volume 2 - shot is of the tail of Express Monorail Black on approach to the Magic Kingdom Transportation and Ticket Center. The deep blue of the sky was achieved with a circular polarizing filter. This shot was captured a year ago today!

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Magic Kingdom | Transportation and Ticket Center | Monorail Black | Express Monorail

It was another nice day today so I ventured out on a short hike in the Julington-Durbin Preserve which is within walking distance of where I live. This picture is of Durbin Creek reflecting the landscape of Winter.

Julington-Durbin Preserve is a 2,031 acre (822 hectares) property located in portions of both Duval and St. Johns counties. The Preserve protects approximately 9 miles of shore line along Julington and Durbin Creeks, both of which are tributaries to the St. Johns River.

The Preserve provides significant water quality and floodplain protection for both creeks and the river. The peninsula is a long sandy ridge that grades into floodplain swamp and marsh along the creeks’ shores. The uplands are dominated by sandhill along the crest of the peninsula, grading to mesic flatwoods along the flanks of the ridge. The preserve provides a significant habitat for a variety of plant and animal species, including several listed species. The property offers several opportunities for nature-based recreation, including hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, photography and wildlife viewing. A canoe and kayak launch is in the planning stages.

For nature and wildlife enthusiasts, observations indicate that Julington-Durbin Preserve supports white-tailed deer, turkey and several species of migratory songbirds. The preserve is home to several state listed rare plants and animals, including Bartram’s ixia (endangered), the gopher tortoise (threatened), and the Sherman’s fox squirrel (species of special concern). Bald eagles are known to exist at the site and many types of wildflowers, grasses and trees can be enjoyed throughout the Preserve.

Jacksonville | Mandarin | Florida | Julington-Durbin Preserve

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It was a real nice day out today so I decided to get out and do some winter photography at Alpine Groves Park in Switzerland, FL. While we have had some cool snaps here in North Florida, this winter has been unbelievably mild with temperatures in the 70s to around 80F (~21 - ~27C). No complaints from me!

I found these delicate little flowers while roaming the park and couldn't resist the lighting. I opened up the aperture to f/2.8 to maximize the bokeh.

Switzerland | Florida | Alpine Groves Park

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Yet to be completed artwork at Downtown Disney during the 2010 Festival of the Masters Art Show. This artwork was being painted by one of the very few officially sanctioned Disney artists.

Downtown Disney | Pleasure Island | Festival of the Masters

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Architectural and shadow details outside of Creature Comforts at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The circular polarizing filter really helped to deepen the colors and strengthen the shadow detail.

Disney's Animal Kingdom | Discovery Island | Creature Comforts

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