From the Archives of 2009—People
December 25, 2023
Maybe it was living in a small city rather than in the country or in a small town, but over the years I seem to have taken many more photographs of people when I was spending up to six months a year in Sarasota. This post gathers my favorite photographs of people I saw in Florida in 2009.
1 In early-morning downtown Sarasota, a restaurant worker sweeps out from the previous night.
2 A fisherman in the nearby town of Cortez mends his nets.
3 Downtown Sarasota used to host part of the Thunder by the Bay motorcycle rally on Main Street. My late friend Janet, also a photographer, and I went every year. The whole event seems to have moved to the Sarasota Fairgrounds and is now called the Thunder by the Bay Music and Motorcycle Festival. These guys asked me to take their photograph but didn’t offer contact information. Unless they see this blog post, they won’t ever have seen the photo.
4 I don’t think this motorcyclist knew I took his photo.
5 For a few years Janet and I also attended an event (open to the public) where Native Americans gathered to sell crafts, dance, and enjoy each other’s company.
6 This man is one of several participating in a short ceremony held during the powwow to honor Native Americans’ military service. In spite of the atrocities Europeans and European Americans committed against Native Americans, those who lost so much serve in the US military at five times the national average.
7 Sarasota’s Selby Gardens hosted an Asian Festival in 2009, where this little boy demonstrated one of the martial arts.
8 These little guys were more interested in a computer game than in the live performances.
9 The girls, on the other hand, were happy watching the taiko drummers.
10
11 Serious artists often begin at an early age.
12 I hope this toddler—now 15 or 16 years old—whom I saw in a Venice, Florida, play area, has hung onto his sense of wonder.
13
14 The restricted area of the Myakka River State Park held much fascination for Janet and me—including a gathering of alligators. But that’s a story for another blog post.
Romancing Reality 
This portfolio is wonderful, Linda. I can’t pick a favorite. Well done.
I have a similar shot to your #13. Taken a long, long time ago. I will try to scan it and post.
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December 25, 2023 at 9:52 PM
Thanks, Ken. Oh, please do post your photo. I’ll be looking for it.
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December 25, 2023 at 10:13 PM
I like doing these look backs and it’s fun to see others’ reminisce about past adventures. Thank you for posting!
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December 26, 2023 at 9:59 AM
I suppose I have the most fun with these look backs. Glad you enjoyed this one, too, Anonymous.
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December 26, 2023 at 7:33 PM
This is so different from your usual fare that probably few people (including me) expected it. Perhaps you could send picture 3 to a national biker organization to see if they can post it somewhere to identify the people.
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December 26, 2023 at 10:02 PM
Thanks for the suggestion, Steve, but I don’t think I want to get more involved with the motorcycle guys. They’re a rough bunch.
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December 26, 2023 at 10:12 PM
Fine set! and surprising to see a people set from you.. 🙂
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December 27, 2023 at 2:13 AM
Thanks, Harrie. I was surprised myself to find so many photographs of people in one year.
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December 27, 2023 at 11:29 AM
I always enjoy your archive digs, Linda. 😉 It would be fun to hear about the alligators. I was surprised to see someone actually repairing a net by hand – that was a great observation. All the event photographs are well done. Your wish for that toddler is a good one and the final photo is so poignant. Though I hope you can get outside and make new photos, please always feel free to mine the files. 🙂
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December 30, 2023 at 1:37 PM
What a great collection of portraits. Your eye for how natural light falls on your subjects in a variety of ways is an inspiration. Picking a favorite would miss that point. 🌞
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January 6, 2024 at 6:34 AM
What a nice thing to say, John. Thank you.
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January 6, 2024 at 7:45 PM
Just looked at your last ‘people posting’. You are so very talented.
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January 7, 2024 at 1:51 PM
Thank you, Kathy.
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January 7, 2024 at 4:39 PM