Dancing in the Square

It is not often you see people dancing in downtown Bradenton.

But last Wednesday, in the shadow the Professional Building, Bob and Barbara Hammond kicked up their heels dance to the Dixieland music of the Sea Notes Jazz Band during the Bradenton Courthouse Square Concert series at the Manatee County Historic Courthouse.

The couple revived a moment from the past, opening a brief time capsule of sorts -- the Professional Building dates back to 1926, an era when the sounds of Dixieland and jazz filled the air from old phonograph records and radios.

The old building is still standing and the music is still enjoyed by many some 86 years later.

The concerts are sponsored by Realize Bradenton, and will take place every Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. through April 25 at Bradenton’s historic Courthouse Square.

-Grant Jefferies

Fiddling around

Sometimes, while shooting an assignment like this one at the Manatee Players for their production of "Ring of Fire," I'll see something that intrigues me.
A detail, or several details, that may go together in an interesting way.
That's what happened when I saw the fiddle, cowgirl boots and lacy dress worn by Patricia Rogers.
"Hey, do you guys mind if I shoot something before we go on?" I asked of director Preston Boyd.
It just took a moment for Patricia to sit on the step and position her fiddle before we were moving on.
Hmm. I like it.

Tiffany Tompkins-Condie

Do the Ducky!

It's been said that with the arrival of Spring comes a time of manifold possibility. Like these plastic baby ducks floating down a miniature river - a sideshow within a sideshow at the recent Cortez Fishing Festival -- the wide world is full of color and opportunity. Whether its pastel peeps wrapped in plastic at the grocery store or a pair of sandhill crane chicks stumbling behind their doting parents at a pond near you, here's a hearty welcome to Springtime and all that it brings! In the meantime, as the long hot summer dials in its approach course and the jumbled traffic of snowbird season starts to (thankfully) dwindle, may we all find our number in the jumble and win our own little slice of happiness - even if its just a few gobbled up peeps that don't survive the long trip home from the store! -- Paul Gonzalez Videla

The Birds and the Beaks

For several years now, around the start of spring, I have ventured out into the “wilderness” near Creekwood in East Manatee County to photograph sandhill chicks.

Each year the little fuzz-ball chicks have provided cute opportunities. Last year I photographed the chicks peeking out from their mother’s wing. It was a nice moment. Now, how do you top that with something different this year?

This year the chicks surprised even me. While laying on the ground holding a 300mm 2.8 lens, I was watching the little innocent chicks waddle through a patch of flowers, a nice touch I thought, a moment of sibling rivalry erupted and a sword fight ensued. Little beaks were clicking. One chick got a shot to the eye and the other retaliated with a poke in the face.

In my mind, this is cool…work through the itchy grass, focus, exposure, there is something crawling on me… Quickly the hostilities ceased and off they went, another bug meal from mom.

Grant Jefferies

Darling Duo

While cruisin' in my pollen-encrusted Toyota to meet with a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich for lunch, I came upon a girl driving a way-cooler ride, and she had a cute sidekick, too.

Ashlyn McClellan, 6, and, Ally, a terrier mix, were rolling sedately home after picking up a newspaper (ours, of course!) with her father, Brinton.

Ashlyn, on her spring break, told me she was enjoying her great-grandparents' visit. "They've been here a month," said Ashlyn, and then went on to describe all the various visitors they were expecting in the future.

Though the future house guests sound like they won't fit in Ashlyn's cool ride, they'll probably have fun just watching this darling duo.

--Tiffany Tompkins-Condie

Every bird needs a break, and so does the photographer.

After a stress-filled morning of sinking putts at great distances, skillfully driving a speeding golf cart over a vast tundra of fairways and instructing fellow golfers on the proper etiquette of play, the Pirate Parrot settled in a massage chair to have his feathers ruffled by licensed massage therapist Jan Thorsen of Elements Therapeutic Massage.

The photograph of the relaxed parrot was taken at the Pirates Charities’ Spring Training Golf Classic at Bradenton Country Club. I only shot a few frames and was distracted by someone and got sidetracked.

I forgot about the photo until I needed a gallery feature for last Monday. After tracking down the ID’s and writing the text, the picture lives again.

Well, at least my mom liked it.

--Grant Jefferies

Thank You

At spot news events we walk a fine line between where we want to be and where we are told to go.

Conversations with firefighters and law enforcement personnel are usually short; after all, they are busy doing their jobs.

So when I asked a tired, hot, dirty, Southern Manatee Fire Rescue firefighter for his name, I did not expect a “thank you.”

Jason Weissman had just moved a heavy supply hose after working a structure fire.

“Thank you for coming out and seeing what we do,” said Weissman, much to my surprise.

Thank you, Jason, and the rest of the firefighters along your side, for all you do to keep us safe.

Woodpecker's Relentless Pecking Offers Insight

During the past few weeks my neighborhood has played host to a busybodied male Pileated Woodpecker. He seems to be spending an inordinate amount of time hammering away on the oak tree in front of my house, and is presumably after the tasty black ants that reside within. This process causes quite a racket, but I guess I'll take the bird over the ants, who will surely hasten this poor old tree's demise. Now back to the story: Right after I snapped this photo, the branch the woodpecker was perched on fell to the ground, startling both me and this apparently dimwitted carpenter, who flew away hastily in a confused panic. I think there's a lesson to be gleaned here: If you happen to find yourself perched high up in a tree, before you do any serious pruning, check to make sure you're on the right side of the branch, or you may just wind up with the short end of the stick! -- Paul Videla

How fun is my job?

How fun is my job?
Sometimes, you can't top it.
When education reporter Christine Hawes told me there was going to be a pep rally for EdVantage Educator of the Year, Palm View Elementary school teacher Dameon Headings, I wasn't having high hopes of a great photo. I was thinking echoing, loud, dark gymnasium with teeth-rattling cheers of students.
Instead, I got adorable kids seated quietly, dancing to pop music and all excited about surprising their teacher.
The teachers were just as happy, dancing in a conga line and getting into the spirit of celebration.
"He's coming!" yelled a teacher on lookout duty.
After the room hushed to silence, principal Frank Pistella opened the door for Dameon Headings, who timidly leaned into the darkened room as the light from outside lit his face which gradually transitioned into a joyful smile.
Headings was led to the stage where he was positioned in an easy chair as children sang and danced around him.
How fun is my job?
Sometimes, it's the best.
--Tiffany Tompkins-Condie

Play Ball!

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jeff Locke rolls a baseball over the back of his hand during a recent workout at Pirate City.

Yes, baseball season, the Great American Sport. For me it’s one of the most difficult sporting events to photograph. Not knowing when, or if, the batter is actually going to hit the ball, much less where.

The tendency to have long periods of boredom, followed by brief moments of action, leaves my brain fighting to return from drifting around in another universe. Keeping my attention on the game can be a life-saving activity, for I know there are laser guided foul baseballs that have me as their target.

But that is one of the great challenges of the game -- keeping the eye on the ball is good for the batter and photographer.