We are blessed. We live in paradise. A little spot of ground surrounded by palms and tropical fruit trees. On an island. Just minutes to the Gulf of Mexico.
Saint James City, a tiny waterfront community of about 4500 year-round residents, forms the southern tip of Pine Island in Southwest Florida. Islands, of course, are surrounded by water and ours is no different. One piece of water with four different names: Charlotte Harbor to the north, Matlacha Pass to the east, San Carlos Bay to the south, and Pine Island Sound to the west.
We have neighbors. Hundreds of them. Large and small. Well known (Sanibel and Captiva Islands) and obscure (Panther Key, Mondongo, Punta Blanca).
The real beauty of the area is the water itself, especially from the air. I expected that, but I was overwhelmed at just how enchanting. It was like being in a gigantic abstract painting by nature done in swirls of vivid hues of turquoise, cobalt blues, and dark greens. The task at hand was to photograph the islands and geological features of Pine Island Sound for Denege Patterson for her upcoming book, A Tour of the Islands of Pine Island Sound, slated to be released early next year. Leaning out of a doorless helicopter, photographing an area I know so well from the water made for an exhilarating adventure.
Come along for a birds-eye view of where we call home.
The Sanibel Lighthouse looking out over the Gulf of Mexico.
Looking across Sanibel Island toward St James City and the southern tip of Pine Island.
A boat passes by Useppa Island.
Cabbage Key with the restaurant that allegedly inspired the song “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”
Fish Shacks, reminders of the waterman’s life of a bygone day.
Looking south from the tip of North Captiva Island across Redfish Pas toward Captiva Island and Sanibel on the horizon. Eleven years ago Hurricane Charley cut a new pass through the island. Time and tides have since closed the pass, but the outwash is still evident.
Mondongo Rocks, a cluster of oyster bars and mangroves.
The village of Matlacha on the only road leading to Pine Island.
Looking north over Useppa Island toward Charlotte Harbor.
Looking through Boca Granda Pass into Charlotte Harbor. Cayo Costa is on the right and Boca Grande the left. The northern tip on Pine Island is on the upper right. Boca Grande Pass is the most famous area in the world for tarpon fishing and the fishermen in the boats below are hoping for a hookup.
Home.
Penelope Higgins
16 Aug 2015You captured such beauty in our own back yard!
A wonderful blog – thanks so much for posting!
fotograffer
18 Aug 2015Thanks, Penny. Hope it made you a little homesick. 🙂
BARB dunn-DAVIS
20 Aug 2015I LIVED IN FORT MYERS, FL FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS BACK IN THE 1980’S. OUR FAVORITE BEACH WE WOULD GO TO WAS SANIBEL ISLAND. TAKING THE BRIDGE OVER TO THE ISLAND AND THEN ARRIVING TO THE ISLAND IS BREATHTAKING. IT IS LIKE A TROPICAL PARADISE.
fotograffer
20 Aug 2015And it still is – just much more crowded. 🙂 Thanks for your comment.
Ed Robinson
16 Aug 2015Reblogged this on quityourjobandliveonaboat and commented:
Great aerial photos of SW Florida. This is where we live, aboard Leap of Faith.
fotograffer
18 Aug 2015Thank you Ed.
blastedgoat
16 Aug 2015Gorgeous photos of an amazing place! I would love to visit. Used to work with aerial photography at my job and still love looking at the world from above 🙂
fotograffer
18 Aug 2015Thank you. I hope you get to visit. The world from above is fascinating, as you say.
anotherday2paradise
16 Aug 2015Fabulous aerial shots, Ron. What a beautiful place you live in. It was great to see Sanibel lighthouse from the air. I loved our visit there earlier this year. 🙂
fotograffer
18 Aug 2015I remember that you were in the area and spent some time being a tourist. 🙂 Did you get to Pine Island?
anotherday2paradise
18 Aug 2015Yes we did driven onto Pine Island. It looks like a very relaxed place.
karen sherwood
16 Aug 2015THIS IS AWESOME….I WANT TO SHARE YOUR FABULOUS PHOTOS…WITH FAMILY UP NORTH!!!!!THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS….WE LOVE THE ISLAND….BEEN HERE FOR 12 YEARS…HUBBY HAS BEEN HERE 16YEARS…..
fotograffer
18 Aug 2015Thanks, Karen and thank you for visiting.
Penny &Dave Tice, Belmont N. C.
16 Aug 2015Truly enjoyed the photos! Have been coming to Pine Island for years. My parents retired there. Have boated and fished there. Thank you so much.
fotograffer
18 Aug 2015I am happy you enjoyed the photos. Do you still visit the area?
Eric Orion Anderson
16 Aug 2015Great shots Ron!
fotograffer
18 Aug 2015Thanks, Eric and thanks for visiting.
Linda Mark
16 Aug 2015Thank you Sandee for giving us such an awesome tour of your living in paradise.Really am amazed. Linda
cindy Walsh
16 Aug 2015Beatiful pictures and great information! Love it!
fotograffer
18 Aug 2015Thank you so much, Cindy. And thank you for visiting.
robert montgomery
16 Aug 2015This is outstanding. And to think is was there under our noses all the time.
fotograffer
18 Aug 2015You said it well, right under our noses. Thanks Robert.
Rachel Lee Whisnant
16 Aug 2015Mr. Mayhew,
Thank you so much for your beautiful photography. My family were all mullet and trout fishermen in SW Florida since the late 1800s. My parents lived in a fisherman’s “shack” on the beach in St. James City when I was born in 1951. My first memory in life was awakening before daybreak in my mother’s arms as she carried me down to the boat, climbed in, then placed me under the bow. When I awoke a little later and crawled from under the bow, she and my father were catching “shiners” for their long day of trout fishing. Egg sandwiches for lunch, some lemonade, a thermos of coffee, enjoyed in the shady breeze under a mangrove tree. A fisherman’s little family, hard work, honest work, simple times, good times, precious moments. Your photography has touched my heart, allowing me to visit again that paradise that, for a little while, seemed all ours. Thank you again, so much. Rachel
fotograffer
18 Aug 2015Rachel, what a wonderful childhood. I am so glad my photographs triggered childhood memories and that you shared them here. Are in still in the area?
Dalo 2013
16 Aug 2015Wow Ron, you really do live in a magical place – these are such incredible photos and show a land that has a history and story all its own, and one you own as well. Very cool. This series of shots shows a diverse land and waterways, I am still in awe. Beautiful work, simply beautiful.
fotograffer
18 Aug 2015It is a magical place and I really didn’t realize how beautiful it was until I was able to fly over it at such low altitudes.Thanks for your wonderful comments.
Julene Thorstenson
17 Aug 2015Thanks Ron, awesome. I am going to send to my family up north, so they can see why I am so enchanted with Saint James City and the whole area.
fotograffer
17 Aug 2015That’s great Julene. But, we don”t want too many knowing our secret. 🙂
Donna Gauthier. SJC
17 Aug 2015Absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing!
fotograffer
17 Aug 2015Thank you so much. I am happy you enjoyed it.
silvana1989
17 Aug 2015Wonderful pictures,
fotograffer
17 Aug 2015Thank you, Silvana.
catbirdinchina
18 Aug 2015What a fabulous tour of the place you call home, Ron. It was lovely being in the airplane with you! The water textures and colors are amazing. I’ve never been to Sanibel Island and only spent an afternoon on the west coast of Florida, in Tampa, so I definitely would love to explore more. Wonderful photos! 🙂
fotograffer
18 Aug 2015Its a beautiful area. You should come and check it out. Doing the photography was great fun. Lynne got to come with me on one of the flights.
catbirdinchina
19 Aug 2015I bet Lynne loved going on the flight with you! What fun! I will have to take you up on your offer sometime! I’m still dreaming of Cuba, but I have no money right now, and unless Mike wants to come along and pay, it’s out of my reach!! Unless it’s all filled up that is!
tjbeached1
19 Aug 2015These photos are absolutely amazing! When I’m flying into RSW, I always want to sit next to the window to see if I can spot my house in St. James City! But, you have done a spectacular job of capturing what the rest of us cannot see daily! Thank you!
fotograffer
20 Aug 2015I do the same thing, but the plane is too high to get the detail I was able to get at 500 feet. Thanks for visiting.
cyn1020
1 Nov 2015You have given us a priceless treasure. For the first time I can see it all. Not until this aerial view of this whole area have I been able to see each island and waterway in relation to all the others. It will help so much when we are heading out of Blue Crab Key in Bokeelia, trying to find our way to one island or another. But more than that, we have it all in the stunning photography of a master photographer. Thank you.
fotograffer
13 Nov 2015Thank you so much for your kind words. It pleases me to know you enjoy my work.