Soicher Marin Says

As both sailor and amateur photographer I appreciate every opportunity to connect with the hobbies I love. Just recently I had the pleasure of visiting the Sail Tampa Bay Tall Ship Festival, an annual event that celebrates Tampa’s long maritime history. Here dockside tours provided me the opportunity of capturing some beautiful details of magnificent international sailing ships.

The Captain Miranda, a 205 foot Staysail Schooner built in 1930, and Gloria, a 249 foot Three-Masted Barque, were truly a feasts for the eyes. Both ships, built in Spain between 1930 and 1966, are a true testament to the countries long history of seamanship and boat building. Today, both ships serve as training vessels for young cadets from both Uruguay and Colombia.

As a small craft sailor, with dreams of someday sailing on such ships, I was pleased to see so many familiar systems. From fairleads and wenches to the sails and sheets, the only difference for me was the massive scale. They say that the whole is greater than the sum of all its part, and while I know this to be true, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to focus my attention on the simple details that sometimes get lost. 250 photographs were taken this day.

The details of my photographs hopefully capture the simple beauty of the systems that both power, tame, and support these massive sailing ships.

Please enjoy,

-AG

The Bellagio Conservatory was a beehive of activity during my stay there from the 5th through the weekend to March 8th.

Hard Hat Horticulturists (HHH?) with gloved hands and serious looks are everywhere within the nearly 14,000 square foot Conservatory. About 100 people from the engineering and horticultural department were working 24 hours a day to complete the spring transformation. Although most of the Conservatory was closed to foot traffic for the three days I was there, access was gradually allowed in stages until, finally by Sunday, the work was complete, and utterly breathtaking. The sights and scents were dizzying, as I elbowed my way around to gain some shooting space. I love the poppies so I lingered there mostly. If you think about the gorgeous Dale Chihuly glass  ceiling at the main entrance, you have to look no further than the Conservatory for what may have been his inspiration.

This change-out occurs five times a year (Chinese New Year, Spring, Summer, Harvest and Holiday). It’s part art lab, part construction zone. I’m still trying to figure out how they got a giant crane inside.  Flowers and plants for the Conservatory are replaced and refreshed every two weeks, many are watered by hand.

Bellagio does not comment on how much they spend to change and maintain the space, but its worth the price for the sensory break it gives its patrons. Walk only a few yards out of the smoky chaos of the casino and lose yourself in the pristine air and placid environment of the Conservatory.

Now more eye candy…enjoy. EM (pictures were taken with the remarkable Leica D-Lux 2)