Fountain

 

Collier County Library, Headquarters Branch.

Olga

 I recently got a new iPhone 13 Pro Max, which has improved camera functions, so I went to the Apple Store for a lesson.  Olga sat next to me.

Olga came to the United States with a two year old daughter 21 years ago.  

She is now a quite successful Naples realtor.

  When the lesson was over, she agreed to pose for me.

  There were no good backgrounds available in the Apple Store, so I photographed Olga using the camera's Portrait mode.  These three images are all the same, edited with the variations in Portrait mode that lets me blank out the background either to white or black.

Mel's Diner

 Mel's Diner is a handsome classical diner along US Route 41 in Bonita Springs.

I like it best at night after everyone has gone home.

This view is from the right side, near the rear.

And this is from halfway down the right side.

A couple of weeks ago a vehicle plowed through the building on the front left side, pushing in two windows, a wall, and shifting booths and tables.  It looks like there has been enough repair for the building to be used again, though the cosmetic work remains undone.

Vote!

 

This is a consequential election.  Don't fail to vote!

Naples Botanical Garden

 

A simple but colorful plot at Naples Botanical Garden.

Day of the Dead

Yesterday and today Naples Botanical Garden is hosting events celebrating "Day of the Dead" or "Día de Muertos," a Mexican holiday.  According to some cultures, on these days loved ones emerge from the afterlife to visit and reunite with their families on Earth. 

Alma (on the left) and her family celebrated many loved ones who are no longer physically present on Earth, but whose memories comfort the family members. 

Another family honored their departed just a bit further down the wall.

I don't have any Mexican or other Latin heritage, but on days like this, I wish I did.

Sofia was also at the Naples Botanical Garden, dressed for these special holidays.

The monthly theme for City Daily Photo participants on November 1 is "Happy."  Really?  On a day wrapped by Halloween on one side and Day of the Dead on the other?

I knew my odd habit of photographing license plates that amuse me would pay off sometime.

Click here to see other photographers' interpretations of "happy."

Halloween

 

Well, today is Halloween, but I haven't been out scouting for appropriate Halloween scenes to photograph.  Six years ago I was in Savannah on Halloween and saw four dinosaurs walking past.