ArtistsNetwork.com 59Just a short walk from the downtown business district,
in the El Cid historic neighborhood, sits an urban sanctu-
ary know as the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens. With its
jungle-like air, these palm gardens house works by Ann
Weaver Norton (American, 1905–1982). Norton intended
her sculptures to be discovered by visitors as “surprises.”
Here, amid more than 250 rare palm species, cycads and
exotic tropicals, you can unplug for hours.
Surround Yourself With Art
Midday, when the thermometer soars, is the perfect time to
take an agenda-less visit to any of the area’s many museums
and art galleries to drink in inspiration. Georgia O’Keeffe’s
stunning Red Flower is just one of the masterpieces at the
redesigned Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach.
The museum’s permanent collection consists of more than
7,600 works in five curatorial departments: European,
American, Chinese, Contemporary and Photography.
PHOTOS THAT
TELL A STORY
As a photographer, I’m always looking for magical
lighting. Beyond that, what I look for in my
subjects, hands-down, is story. I try to steer clear
of the smart phone camera clusters, shoot slowly,
breathe and really wait for a tale to emerge. It
might be a subtle shift in the clouds or a person
whose expression leaves room for some mystery.
Here are a few additional pointers for getting
a great shot:
To achieve poetic angles, embrace less-than-
perfect weather, shoot through glass, and adjust
shooting levels and camera tilts.
Color is vibrant in southern Florida. Between
the aqua of the ocean and the green vegetation,
there’s an irresistible rainbow with which to play.
Wherever you are, yield to the native colorscape
and allow it to surprise you creatively.
Try to light your pictures naturally. An indis-
pensable tool for me is a portable/collapsible
light reflector. Positioned properly, it adds quality
to any composition. A 12- or 24-inch reflector
(with a diffuser) is perfect for travel.
In addition to my Nikon DSLR and its gear,
I also take photos on my iPhone X, and I especially
appreciate these iPhone apps: Camera+, Pocket
Light Meter, TinType by Hipstamatic and—for
post-process work—Exposure by Alien Skin.It’s often said that the clouds are Florida’s
“mountains.” Their shifting hues and
shapes are perfect companions when
toning the imagination.