Black and White, Florida, Photography, Portrait, Travel

The Paradise Garden of Kissimmee

Paradise Garden

Kissimmee, Florida is not as well known as it’s largest employer, Walt Disney World. Here Mickey watches over all. To attract attention local merchants resort to Googie architecture. That is a design where the shape of the building mimics an item for sale, and is often otherwise impractical. The two kids running at full speed on an elevated boardwalk are relatives and was shot at Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve. It invokes some of the magic of the iconic “A Walk to the Garden of Paradise” by W. Eugene Smith. Several of the photos were captured at Disney Animal Kingdom, a deluxe accredited zoo that it is part of the Disney World complex.

: Paradise Garden

: Spanish Moss Double Slash

: Souvenir Shop

: Orange World

: Everest Roller Coaster

: Grazing the Ridge

: Ersatz Asian Landscape

: Submerged Temple

: Performer Pushing

Out of the Sea (Print Bikini)

All of these were taken the first weekend of December 2010. It was Art Basel week in Miami and the place was hopping. Art dealers reported that business was brisk, especially at the high end. Miami has miles of gleaming beaches dotted with girls in bikinis. These were taken in the fabulous South Beach area of Miami mostly between the Atlantic Ocean and Collins Avenue. It’s a great place to take candid street shots. There are many Latinas with rich olive or light brown complexions. The weather is always sunny and warm. The girls compete for attention and to see who is the hottest. You can’t call it anything else. It is a classic beach scene on steroids. If you get bored with that, you can always look at the art deco architecture. I did shoot some art deco, but did not like the way they came out.