Category Archives: From Behind the Lens

A Few More Reasons to Visit Paradise…Andros: Land of the Crabs and Home of the Happy

Jun
17
2012
by Elle Grant | 0 Comments

As if you needed any more reasons to visit Andros…but just in case, here are a few images from my most recent trip to paradise.

 

Pretty perfect, right?  Any questions?

 

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Andros Crab Fest 2012: Food, Fun, and Well, Just About Everything Else but the Kitchen Sink, too…

Jun
11
2012
by Elle Grant | 1 Comment

The Bahamas. A country made up of over 3,000 bits and pieces of land sprinkled North of Cuba and Southeast of Florida. They’re known for many things. Things like giant starfish.

This guy was as big as a globe. He was thrown back about three minutes after this picture.

And adorably kind and funny families.

Brittany, Brandi, BJ, Bradley, and G. The life of the party right there, folks.

And in Andros, they have this little gathering once a year. A little gathering called “Crab Fest.”

Okay, so maybe it's not so little...

Remember those parts in the movie Forrest Gump when they’re talking about all the different kinds of shrimp they can make?  Bubba says, “Anyway, like I was sayin’, shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey’s uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There’s pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that’s about it.”  In Andros, that’s pretty much how they see crab.  And it’s all delicious.

During my visit to Crab Fest, however, one thing kept popping up in my mind.  Every time I’d look around, in any direction, I saw something that made me think: OMG.

There’s a man drinking beer out of a large, empty stewed tomatos can.  OMG.

This stuffed crab (literally) is delicious.  OMG.

There’s a rather large woman wearing a bikini underneath an entire body suit of black lace…leaving not a whole lot to the imagination.  OMG.

That is one of the most adorable babies I’ve ever seen.  OMG.

People bring babies to this event?  OMG.

This Bahamian music makes me want to open a beer and dance.  OMG, how fun!

There are amazingly talented, half-naked male dancers on the stage.  OMG.

Did those amazingly talented, half-naked male dancers really just do that?! OMG.  (Those amazingly talented, half-naked male dancers looked like they were having some X-rated fun with the air.)

And so the night continued.  After about 30 seconds of mentally processing one OMG moment, another one came right along after it.  For a girl who grew up on a farm in the country, that’s one heck of a long night.  While Crab Fest was certainly an experience I’m sure I’ll never forget, I’m thinking once in my lifetime is just about right.

I think I’ll stick with traveling to the Bahamas for all the other reasons I love going there (the people, the fresh conch salad, the Kaliks, the great fishing with great guides, the almost hot-tub-like temperatures of the crystal clear water, the fresh conch salad, the starfish as big as cookie cakes, the traffic-stopping (literally) crab-parades across the streets, the fact that they serve almost anything with grits, the children who look at my long hair as if it’s Christmas, oh, and did I mention the fresh conch salad?)…Yes, I think I’ll stick with those reasons.  For all the other 361 days of the year.

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Saltwater, Sand, and Smiles: Three Simple Ingredients for a Happy Childhood…and a Blessed Adult Life

Apr
06
2012
by Elle Grant | 0 Comments

“They” say everything is better in the Bahamas. While I haven’t had the opportunity to try “everything” in the Bahamas, from what I have experienced (Thanks Bradley – the fishing is always great!), it sure does seem like it’d be better there. In Spain, I was a stalker attempting to catch people at their finest unbeknownst to them (with my very large Nikon…not so sneaky…). In Andros, people, particularly children, were flocking to me.

Not only were they flocking to me, they were happy about it. Smiles were everywhere. Beautiful brown skin and shining white teeth surrounded me for most of my days on my last trip. Now granted, during the day, I was at a school…a school where their motto is:  Learn while you can. So much to say about that…maybe another time.

Instead, here are some photographs of the happy people I had the opportunity to spend my time with. A day with these children offers a great deal of perspective. Their childhood playground consists of sand and water. That’s it. And they’re happy with that. In a time where we are bombarded with advertisements for video games and dolls that cry when they’re hungry, it’s nice to see kids happy with what they have, essentially nothing more than the land and sea The Big Guy Upstairs gave them. I don’t blame them. I’d be happy with that, too. **Fantasizes about a move to the islands** So without further ado, the stars of an island vacation.  (Next to the fantastic fishing, these smiles make it all worth it.)

Maybe it’s because I’ve actually met these children and spent time with them playing “ball and bat” (a version of baseball utilizing a UF squish football I’d brought, random tree stumps and ropes for bases, and our arms for bats), but every time I look at their smiling faces, I can’t help but laugh. Even though they have holes in their shoes and stains on their collars, these kids know how to have a good time. So if you’re feeling a bit overworked and underpaid, consider taking a trip to paradise. The sandbox is huge, the water is warm, and I have no doubt you’ll be welcomed with open arms and, of course, big smiles.

 

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Tabasco, Tebow, & Television: No Matter What, Laughter Sure Sounds the Same in Any Language

Mar
18
2012
by Elle Grant | 1 Comment

I’ve recently come to the conclusion that, well, I’m a stalker. Not a creepy-call-the-cops kind of stalker. The other kind. The kind where I can’t seem to go anywhere without wanting to look and watch people do whatever it is they do in an endearing, non-creepy kind of way. People are fascinating, really.

An innocent person being stalked...Thanks Brianna!

And, of course…

A stalker...one of the endearing kind...and yes. I'm in a dress. In the grass. Smiling. What can I say?

It all started in Spain. In a taxi. On a ride from the airport. A ride in which I thought I was going to die. After skirting death for the third time, thoughts of “Oh, crap, that’s a big bus. And this is a small taxi. Damn Europeans and their need for teeny, tiny showers and streets and automobiles,” running through my brain, I had an epiphany.

Every time I ride in a cab, I seem to have an “Oh my God, we’re going to die” moment. At least once. Every time. Now granted, I don’t ride in cabs very often, but when I do, the experiences share some scary similarities. As I’m still here, apparently The Big Guy Upstairs thinks I still have some things left to do here on Earth. **Side note to The Big Guy:  I know, I know. I’m working on it.  It would help if I got a little cooperation down here. Just sayin’.**

From the fear-inducing cab drivers, I couldn’t help but notice simalarities in all the other people we came across, too. As we wandered through Spain and Portugal on foot, by train, and by plane, I saw:

Grumpy old men. 

Grumpy yet endearing.

Tiny old women.

This little lady is a nun. So sweet, bless her heart.

Happy couples.

Happy couples sharing their affection for each other with the world.

Still working on what the 21 could mean.

People napping.

People attempting to heal other people.

People reading.

People looking perplexed at what they’re reading.

People bonding over beers.

People putting on a good front.

More people napping.

Men and women on different pages.

People practicing their Spanish.

Two Lovely Ladies immediately after a total of 15 hours on a plane, one scary cab ride, and about six blocks of walking with luggage in tow. At least one of them is a Florida fan. And oh, look. She's got Post-its. Imagine that.

And Florida grads showing their love all over the world. 

UF Love in Lisbon

After all that, I came to realize, even though we’re all different, with different brains and different families and different hair colors (natural or salon-assisted), we, people that is, are quite similar. When we’re happy, you can tell. (After all, laughter sounds the same in any language.) When we’re upset, you can tell. (So does yelling…she may have been speaking in Portuguese, but boy, that guy in the red coat was getting a lashing.) When we’re thinking, you can tell. (Eyes up to the sky, forehead wrinkled ring a bell?)

So, while we all have our differences (you like Tabasco, I prefer Crystal; you like Tebow because he’s hot, I love him because he’s a Gator; you like TV for zombie shows, I like TV for away games; you live in Florida because it’s better than New York, I live in Florida for the sunshine, etc.), we’re all fundamentally the same. We have hopes. We have insecurities. We have good intentions. We have crazy relatives, and baggage (the carry on and emotional kinds), and better driving abilities than almost everyone else. We’re simply kindred spirits. And in a world as big and busy as we live in, it’s kind of nice to know someone knows just how you feel.

 

 

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The Sun is Orange. The Sky is Blue. I’m Certainly a Gator, and it Seems God is One, Too.

Dec
28
2011
by Elle Grant | 0 Comments

While conveniently avoiding last week’s game against the Bills, here’s a little tid bit of Gator fun…

Tom Brady, after living a full life, died. When he got to heaven, God
was showing him around. They came to a modest little house with a faded
Patriots flag in the window. “This house is yours for eternity Tom,” said
God. “This is very special; not everyone gets a house up here.” Tom felt
special, indeed, and walked up to his house.

On his way up the porch, he noticed another house
just around the corner. It was a huge 3-story mansion with Orange and Blue
sidewalks and drive ways, a 50 foot tall flagpole with an enormous Broncos
logo flag waving, a swimming pool in the shape of a horse, a Broncos logo in
every window, and a Tim Tebow jersey on the front door.

Tom looked at God and said, “God, I’m not trying to be ungrateful, but I
have a question. I was an all-pro QB, I won 3 Super Bowls, and I even
went to the Hall of Fame.”

God said, “So what’s your point, Tom?”

“Well, why does Tim Tebow get a better house than me?”

God chuckled, and said “Tom, that’s not Tim’s house; it’s mine.”

God's a Gator

 

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Five Reasons Why Sunrise Shoots are Worth the Effort

Nov
29
2011
by Elle Grant | 1 Comment

I have a confession.  I am a List Lover.  Lists are fabulously handy, and while they’re not to be used for absolutely everything, they can be helpful.  For example, lists are wonderful for more efficient grocery store trips, lighter island-vacation luggage, organizing what falls under “Quarter-Life Crisis” symptoms and cures, deciding if that person is worth the drive across the state…you know, the usual stuff.

So, in honor of our most recent “Don’t Be Shy” photograph, we have…a list.

Five Reasons Why Sunrise Shoots are Worth the Effort:

5.  Even gas station coffee tastes good at that time of day…and that level of exhaustion.

4.  There are roughly four other kindred spirits up that early, and they are all amazingly friendly.

3.  Early mornings like those are conducive to morning naps…which are simply wonderful.

2.  Aside from the ocean, it’s oh so quiet.

1.  Scenes like these:

 

surfer-sunrise-dock-moon.jpgbeach-bird.jpgblurry-water-message-bottle.jpg

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