The University of Tampa

The spires at University of Tampa

I won an award with this image ten years ago. Everyone that shoots pictures just stands back and shoots the spires from a distance. The main thing you want to accomplish is to frame the spires. I had to get behind the bushes and bend way over to get the shot I wanted. It worked.

A photo shoot in Arizona

A few years ago I had the opportunity to attend a glamour photo shoot in Arizona called The Arizona Shootout. It took place in a very scenic canyon area north of Phoenix, with heroic surroundings. It allowed me to improve my "book" and I am looking forward to possibly attending again in the spring this year. This is me in action next to a large cactus.

Tim in action with his Nikon D50

You don't see this every day

The grave of a slave is a rare thing indeed. Tom and I went by the Oaklawn Cemetery in downtown recently and we saw all kinds of historical things. Everyone from slaves, pirates, homesteaders of Tampa and a Florida Governor are buried here. This is a real Gothic cemetery and when it rains and thunders on a Summer afternoon, it has that atmosphere you would see in a horror movie. The place does give me the creeps. I have to say there is much history here and more research is needed for all the graves we photogaphed with names seen around town. I swear something was watching us.

Adam never made it to the Civil War

This place creeps me out!

The grave of Ybor himself in the distance

Tom seemed to enjoy himself being from Virginia and all that

Tim Fasano on top of Myakka tower

Looking for Bigfoot or just a sightseeing tourist, you have got to check out the observatiib tower at Myakka River State Park. It is seven stories tall and affords a view of the entire park.

Kevin and his fancy camera

Kevin is a professional and he took some awesome images last summer of the Republican Convention. He concentrated on the night activity. The protest they predicted never really matrialized. Anyway, there were a lot if interesting people to shoot. This image was taken last August.

Clearwater Beach on Memorial Day weekend

I benefited from tourist who were going to Clearwater Beach for a nice weekend. Cab drivers dream about these type of runs. They are necessary to help cover our high expenses. Lease and gas are at all time highs and the economy is at an all time low.
They where going to sand key and I pointed out Sheppards Beach club because they were young guys and was were the bikini contest is at.
I picked them up at the airport. Rides like this are rare on the streets ($5 laundry runs) . I wonder if any delegates from the Republican National Convention will stay on the beach or will they use the scab transportation companies that are poaching our business.

Pasco county nude tourism capital of America

Pasco county nude resorts draw many tourist from around the world. The climate is mild in the winter and people can walk around naked all year round.

Years ago I made money providing unique content for websites but the tanking economic situation knocked me out of the game.

Anyway. This was a shoot I did recently at Paradise Lakes resort in Pasco county. Nude resorts are a great place for this type of photography because everyone else is naked too.

St. Petersburg pier

Things have been moving now and that is what you would expect this time of year. Now that I am working the airport I am seeing more of St Pete and Clearwater.

The Vinoy has been a common destination. Unfortunatly, that may not last long. The same for Clearwater Beach. The good news is working the ariport gives me an extra edge.

Taxi Stand Hyde Park is full of surprises

The Hyde Park taxi stand

We don't have taxi stands anymore but many of the drivers still sit on the old Hyde Park 21 stand. The stand is at a city park that is centrally located for getting calls. There is shade, a basketball court, a baseball diamond, and some cool wildlife. The retention pond behind the chain link fence is now the home of many migratory and wading birds. Richard says they eat frogs, which are plentafull in the lake.

A wading bird

This pond  has formed its own eco-system and I would not be surprised if there were now fish in it. Every time I stop by, I see different birds. They know there is food in there and they are patient enough to wait it out. There is something else that is going on out there as well.

You can see the "Obamaville" thru the fence line

A 'hobo camp' has been set up behind the pump house. These guys are not hurting anyone and they don't bother people for money. The camp is along the railroad line where it is open and provides them with some security. They have collected some mattresses and and a sofa. Hell, at least they don't have the rent I have. I guess you call this an 'Obamaville.'

You can see the discarded furniture that makes up this camp

Pam Callahan Nature Trail Is Closed because of toxic hazards

Pam Callahan Memorial park Town & Country

I have enjoyed the Pam Callahan nature trail for years. I never knew that it was once part of an old Army Corp. bombing range and that there were toxic chemical in the ground. That may explain why I got very sick the last time I went when I took these photographs. 


Between 1940 and 1947 it was part of the Drew Field bombing range. According to the Army corps of engineers the surface water and soil sediment now pose a "human health and ecological risk." In fact, test show there may be unexploded ordinance in the park! I never knew that while I was enjoying a very peaceful fall day on the hiking tail.


The trial head in on Memorial Highway but it is not easy to see. Many people live and commute for years and never know it is there. I have never seen anyone else out there. 


You have to park on the side of the road and there is a gate that is locked but you can easily go around it. This seemed to be a maintained trail. It looked freshly mowed. The trail goes strait into the wet lands that are along the bay. One thing you notice is after only a few hundred feet off the main road, you think you are in the middle of nowhere. There is an apartment complex to the right and a major airport nearby, but you still have that isolated feel.degrees, a very nice day. I took a lot of pictures on the 0.7 mile hike out to a plaque the memorializes the lady that the trail is named after. It is posted on a large granite rock and points out that she spearheaded a grass roots efforts to save this part of Tampa from the land developers. She was able to "Fight city hall." Unfortunately she passed away in 1993 and did not live to see this trail named in her honor. I could look around from the end of the trail and still could not believe how close I was to civilization.

Taxi parked at the trail head

I noticed fiddler crabs on the path (I am glad I had on hiking boots). I also saw a hawk swoop down, but I did not have my camera ready to take his photo.  There are several side trails that expose hardwood pine areas. I got some photos of some interesting flora. I have no real idea what it is. I am sure there is poison ivy out there. so be careful.

If you are driving by and have some time. This is a real peaceful hike. Just watch out for the fiddler crabs!

I have made a new photo album of this shoot. You can go below and see the images of the trail.

Heavy Rain Before The Atlanta vs Tampa Bay Game

This road is under water. My fare was one block away. I cold not get them

This was bad. The rain came down in buckets two hours before the Atlanta game. This is the time when we count on to make money. I was getting calls but I could not get down many of the streets because the water was up in peoples yards. There was no way I was going to flood out my car. If you do, you just bought yourself a car as far as the taxi company is concerned.

The company uses Ford Crown Victoria's. They are a model that takes on water because the air intake is down low. I would not take the risk and went home.

I am still waiting for next Monday Night. We just may have a sell out so the game will be broadcast on local TV. That is the best time to drive a taxi.

Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'sullivan Nude In Florida During Tarzan Movies

Most people don't know that the outdoor scenes in the Tarzan movies were filmed in Florida. North of Tampa is the Silver River where in 1932 the first Tarzan movie starring Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'sullivan as Tarzan and Jane was filmed. Florida was a natural setting because the jungle terrain is similar to that found in Africa. Plus, the nice climate allows the actors to wear skimpy outfits.

The weather was great and the watter was warm (at the time of filming alligators were an endangered species - today those waters are infested with gators) and in one scene they both swam naked in the Silver River. Unfortunately, the year this move was filmed was when they came out with the motion picture rating code and the nude scenes had to be cut. The current DVD release has the scenes added in.

Believe me, if I had Johnny's body, I would go naked too. I'm straight; don't worry. I was his age once.

Pasco County Florida to this day is the nudist capital of the United States. Many naturalist come to the Tampa area to enjoy the lifestyle you can experience here. In fact, Florida is the tourist capital of the world. It is not just Micky Mouse.

Taxi Repair Job

The taxi I am driving has over 300,000 miles on it. The shop changes the oil every month as specified by the the owners manual. These cars will run for almost eternity. They do, however, start to use oil. That is what is happening with my cab.

The fare I picked up said they could smell oil burning. After I dropped them off, I checked the oil and I could see I needed at least one quart. Considering the oil had been changed last week, that meant I was burning oil. In the sixteen years I have been with United Cab of Tampa, I have never had a new car.

I see other drivers get a new car every year and I wonder why they treat me any kind of way. I need to ask Paul Hinton That. I would like to have a new taxi by the Fall time of the year.

You can see a taxi with its hood up at an Advance Auto Parts store on Dale Mabry is not good advertising for the cab company. We need to build up riders who have confidence in the ability of us to get them to where they are going.

Samson In Washington DC (Former United Cab Driver)

Samson was one of my best taxi buddies for about ten years. He was getting involved in video productions as a way to make money. He always encouraged me to pursue my passion for photography. He believed it was a direction that could lead away from taxi cab driving. I found this photo of Samson on his Facebook account when I accepted him as a friend. It seems things are going well for Samson. He left United Cab on September 1, 2009 and he has never come back. Good for him. He is having more fun now then sitting on stand 21 all day!

I am still pursuing my photography and now have a very successful YouTube channel with Google adds on them. I am working hard on alternative forms of income. Taxi driving now requires too many hours and pays very little.