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Thank you, thank you, thank you. A day very well spent!

Kurt

Admin

Nice pics. :clap_1: 

 
What camera did you end up getting?

Nice pics. :clap_1: 
 
 
What camera did you end up getting?

Ocean Lover

bean

[COLOR=Navy]Those are great! Looks like you had a wonderful day. I especially liked tye dye girl at sunset, the water looked so sparkly! And Baily's nose. Testing out macro mode I see.[/COLOR] ;-)

Those are great! Looks like you had a wonderful day. I especially liked tye dye girl at sunset, the water looked so sparkly! And Baily&#039;s nose. Testing out macro mode I see. ;-)

Gypsea

Beach Fanatic

Beautiful shots.  Keep them coming.   :clap_1:

skippertoo

Jdarg

SoWal Expert

Teresa

SoWal Guide

Katie:  

these photos are very nice, and looks like a wonderful day.  the hairy one was scarey (your dog's nose?).  very bizarre photo!!!

Katie: 
 
these photos are very nice, and looks like a wonderful day. the hairy one was scarey (your dog&#039;s nose?). very bizarre photo!!!

[QUOTE=Tootsie]Katie: 
 
these photos are very nice, and looks like a wonderful day. the hairy one was scarey (your dog's nose?). very bizarre photo!!![/QUOTE]
 
I thought it was a porcupine!

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Tootsie">Katie: 
 
these photos are very nice, and looks like a wonderful day. the hairy one was scarey (your dog&#039;s nose?). very bizarre photo!!!</blockquote> 
I thought it was a porcupine!

Miss Kitty

Meow

Congratulations...you are in the big league now!!!!
 
I loved the water study...looks like The Grayton Laundromat!!!

Congratulations...you are in the big league now!!!! 
 
I loved the water study...looks like The Grayton Laundromat!!!

Sea Star

Beach Lover

Katie Blue!  I am very impressed by your photos.  Congratulations on a job well done! :clap_1:

katie blue

kt loo

[QUOTE=kurt]Nice pics. :clap_1: 
What camera did you end up getting?[/QUOTE]
Thanks Kurt.  I ended up with a Panasonic DMZ-FZ5. It's not a pro camera, but good for enthusiasts because it has what's considered the best lens (a Leica) in its class right now, plus a 12x optical zoom, very little shutter lag, image stabilization, and is light and portable. Huge upgrade in image quality from my previous camera--and those were taken yesterday in pretty dull light. But, for under $400, I had to sacrifice some control (no manual focus, and additional lenses must be "jury-rigged"...not loving that, but it can be done.) It will get me started, and I'll upgrade to a DSLR when/if I get more serious about it. 

I'm hoping to get on a real learning curve. I need to learn to compose well-balanced shots that don't end up being too "stiff", and pull colors out like you do--with the camera, not Photoshop. Haven't figured out if you're using filters or just good manual exposure techniques.  Looks like the sun came out today so maybe I'll go experiment some more, outside, with my favorite subject. More pix tonite.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="kurt">Nice pics. :clap_1: 
What camera did you end up getting?</blockquote>Thanks Kurt. I ended up with a Panasonic DMZ-FZ5. It&#039;s not a pro camera, but good for enthusiasts because it has what&#039;s considered the best lens (a Leica) in its class right now, plus a 12x optical zoom, very little shutter lag, image stabilization, and is light and portable. Huge upgrade in image quality from my previous camera--and those were taken yesterday in pretty dull light. But, for under $400, I had to sacrifice some control (no manual focus, and additional lenses must be &quot;jury-rigged&quot;...not loving that, but it can be done.) It will get me started, and I&#039;ll upgrade to a DSLR when/if I get more serious about it. 
 
I&#039;m hoping to get on a real learning curve. I need to learn to compose well-balanced shots that don&#039;t end up being too &quot;stiff&quot;, and pull colors out like you do--with the camera, not Photoshop. Haven&#039;t figured out if you&#039;re using filters or just good manual exposure techniques. Looks like the sun came out today so maybe I&#039;ll go experiment some more, outside, with my favorite subject. More pix tonite.

TooFarTampa

SoWal Insider

Love them KB. Wow.  :wub: Love the tie dye girl and sparkly water.  :D Thank you for sharing.

Love them KB. Wow.  :wub: Love the tie dye girl and sparkly water.  😀 Thank you for sharing.

kathydwells

Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname

Beautiful photo's KB. I loved them all. Especially Bailey's nose!!!!

Beautiful photo&#039;s KB. I loved them all. Especially Bailey&#039;s nose!!!!

Paula

Katie Blue:

I love seeing the Seacrest Beach photos.  The beach just keeps looking better and better.  Is that by our beach access?  

Thanks!

Katie Blue: 
 
I love seeing the Seacrest Beach photos. The beach just keeps looking better and better. Is that by our beach access? 
 
Thanks!

Yes, Paula, the sunset one is just west of our steps, the morning ones are to the east. The beach is shorter now by our access than it's been in a while, and there's still lots of peat, but it widens as you go either direction. Oh, and yesterday they brought a bunch of thick, long pilings and heavy machinery onto the empty access lot. The guys said they're putting in a sea wall. --looks like it's going to be one mackin' sea wall :\  I have no idea how we'll access the beach unless they move the steps out. Maybe CCK knows more...

Yes, Paula, the sunset one is just west of our steps, the morning ones are to the east. The beach is shorter now by our access than it&#039;s been in a while, and there&#039;s still lots of peat, but it widens as you go either direction. Oh, and yesterday they brought a bunch of thick, long pilings and heavy machinery onto the empty access lot. The guys said they&#039;re putting in a sea wall. --looks like it&#039;s going to be one mackin&#039; sea wall :\  I have no idea how we&#039;ll access the beach unless they move the steps out. Maybe CCK knows more...

Thanks, Katie Blue.  I'll see what I can learn about the steps from our association management company.  

Best,
Paula

Thanks, Katie Blue. I&#039;ll see what I can learn about the steps from our association management company. 
 
Best, 
Paula

CampCreekLou

Don't hide the ugly, Katie!  Get some pictures of the machinery and dune skeleton that would make SJ proud.

Don&#039;t hide the ugly, Katie!  Get some pictures of the machinery and dune skeleton that would make SJ proud.

I remember seeing the pilings when the seawall for the house to the east of our access was going up and I thought it was going to block our access, but it didn't.  So, let's hope the same thing happens and that they do it soon before the nice weather comes and people want to get to the beach more often.

I remember seeing the pilings when the seawall for the house to the east of our access was going up and I thought it was going to block our access, but it didn&#039;t.  So, let&#039;s hope the same thing happens and that they do it soon before the nice weather comes and people want to get to the beach more often.

I snapped a few shots this afternoon. Nothing much to see, just pilings. Most of the seawalls around here are covered with sand now and it should all look very nice come summer when the oats come back. Not sure how smart the seawalls are in the long term,  but strictly aesthetically, cream colored sand and oats are preferable to sheer cliffs of red clay and black peat.

PS: hey CCL, long time!

I snapped a few shots this afternoon. Nothing much to see, just pilings. Most of the seawalls around here are covered with sand now and it should all look very nice come summer when the oats come back. Not sure how smart the seawalls are in the long term, but strictly aesthetically, cream colored sand and oats are preferable to sheer cliffs of red clay and black peat. 
 
PS: hey CCL, long time!

I had to run down to the beach house to take care of something. Just me, Mr. Blue couldnt leave on short notice.  I took care of everything yesterday, so I was able to run around today trying out my new digital camera. It was a warm, peaceful winters day in Sowal,  sun and clouds, probably one of the least crowded days of the year. I had much of it all to myself today, along with some great encounters, and a few good walks with my dog.   [URL=http://www.sowal.com/bb/gallery/browseimages.php?c=5&userid=409]Click here to see my first SoWal photo album![/URL]

I had to run down to the beach house to take care of something. Just me, Mr. Blue couldnt leave on short notice. I took care of everything yesterday, so I was able to run around today trying out my new digital camera. It was a warm, peaceful winters day in Sowal, sun and clouds, probably one of the least crowded days of the year. I had much of it all to myself today, along with some great encounters, and a few good walks with my dog. <a href="http://www.sowal.com/bb/gallery/browseimages.php?c=5&amp;userid=409" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">Click here to see my first SoWal photo album!</a>

Photos - Camp Creek Lake, Grayton, Seacrest

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Photos - Camp Creek Lake, Grayton, Seacrest

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2026 SoWal Sea Turtle Nesting Season Wrapup

After Hurricane Isaias: Photos of South Walton Beaches

Cars of 30A At Alys Beach: Event Highlights & Photo Gallery

Sixth annual Run Watersound At Watersound Town Center October 24, 2026