Downtown Tampa

For Christmas, I got my first SLR camera. I usually buy clothes and shoes or more clothes. I'm not happy with my size these days, so it was time to get a decent camera. For the past month I have been using it with auto mode. I decided it was time to learn how to use it. I've always had a good eye, but I don't know anything about photography. I know some things about colors, composition, proportions... not enough. My mother is a painter and I used to draw. This is like learning a (fun) new language. I was lucky to see Kyle, an amazing photographer and friend, during Christmas. She gave me a lesson on aperture and camera settings. Also, my brother in law gave a photography basics book for Christmas that I've been reading. 

I worked half day last Friday and headed to Downtown to play with the camera. My favorite part of downtown is the new Waterfront Park and the Tampa Museum of Art overlooking the Hillsborough river and the University of Tampa (UT). The Museum and the park were renovated in 2010. I haven't been inside yet. I tried going on Friday, but it was closed due to the "Art after dark" event. Later I learned that it is free admission after 6:00 PM on the "Art after dark" days. I need to find out more about this. UT has always been one of my favorite sites in Tampa. I always take out of town visitors to see it. This was a beautiful warm winter day (around 25 C/80 F). I could see the UT students across the river laying in their bathing suits. It was the perfect day for that. 

University of Tampa in the background

Tampa Museum of Art

Tampa Museum of Art

Downtown Tampa

University of Tampa

Hillborough River and University of Tampa

One legged bird

University of Tampa

Skypoint and Element, the 2 high rise residential buildings in Downtown

Children's Mist Fountain

The birds like the view too

The Glazier Children's Museum is also located in this area. I love the mosaic that they have on the walls.

Someone taking a nap

After taking too many pictures in the park, I drove towards my favorite City mural. This is a few blocks away and I don't know how long it has been there. I saw it years ago because Fly Bar is next to it.

Later, I decided to drive around where we live now. We moved to our new place in September and there are several hotels around. This was the view from one of them. I drove to our apartment complex and headed towards the trail to watch the sunset while I read. I was supposed to go to spinning at 5:30 PM, but I was enjoying a slow Friday afternoon. 

My favorite reading spot

Sunset over Tampa Bay

If you want to see some pictures taken by a real photographer in downtown and UT you have to see this and this sessions from the talented Kyle Hepp.