July 4th was a busy day for us.  We were up at 5:30 am to head to the beach to watch the sunrise.  I was going to photograph the sunrise and Richard was going to take his paddle board out on a very flat east side ocean.  Kind of made me think of the gulf.

After that Amy and Richard decided to go kayak.  I went along on the understanding that I was going to be able to walk some nature trails.  That did not happen. They went kayaking and I walked around a very short walk around a park,  took a few photographs watched a group of older men playing baseball, and then found myself on a blanket in the shade reading my book until the eventually came back.

The afternoon brought rain and of course, when the rain stops I head out with my camera to capture water drops.

Last shoot of the day 4th of July and nobody wanted to go.  Richard had been saying all day that he was not interested in going to the fireworks.  Amy decided she was tired and did not really want to go.  I was undecided whether I would go on my own to the park and just stop off somewhere and take my photographs or alternatively just go outside and take photographs.  The rain ultimately helped me make my decision.  I was going to go out back.

So I set up my camera settings, pulled out and attached my tripod and I went outside to do my best to get some fireworks shots.  I live on the edge of the Everglades.  It is the slowest moving river aka a swamp lol.  Obviously in summer we have a mosquito problem.  Our mosquito’s remind me of the ancient of birds a “pterodactyl”.  These mosquito’s are huge and they are mean.  I think I spent more time swatting mosquito’s than I did taking photo’s.  I lasted all of 10-15 minutes and came inside, along with a colony of mosquito’s, before the fireworks finale.

I was not sure what I would get but since this is only the second time I have tried to take fireworks, I was quite happy with what I got.

I hope that you all had a good and safe 4th of July.  This is the 17th year we have had the opportunity to celebrate Independence Day, and we are thankful that we have been able to.

Thank you for joining me for this month’s 10 on 10.  This is a circle blog.  Please take time to visit my good friend Ceri of Ceri Herd Photography and see what she has for you this month. Keep following the circle to see what the other photographers have shared this month. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their pages.

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