Robert Payne

Luke grabbed this shot of me yesterday out at “The Street” in AMI. I like it for the perspective and because it shows how beautiful the water and waves around Tampa Bay can be. Normally, I would be riding a shortboard in conditions like this, but with mine in the shop, I decided to give [...]

Just a few hours south of Tampa, Florida is North Captiva Island. View North Captiva in a larger map It gets the name from both its captive beauty, and the fact that it served as a prison for female “captives” held for ransom by pirates. Accessible only by boat or private plan, this half-mile wide [...]

I’ve lived in Tampa for nearly two years now, and I must confess that during that time I’ve never taken the initiative to go to a Tampa Bay Rays game. So, when I got the invite from a friend it was the only push I needed. It was a good game, and the Rays walloped [...]

If you look carefully at this mural (click to enlarge) that is painted on the side of a building in downtown Tampa, you can see that it embodies much of the personality of the city. I hope the artist does not mind that I took a picture of it and posted it here. Within the [...]

Lately, I have been exploring the different personalities of particular places I frequent. Here are two pictures taken in a 24-hour period along Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa, Florida. They go along with this shot of a Dolphin and Jack playing Cat and Mouse, Horses Resting, and this Bird On A Light.

Caught some images of skimboarders at Sebastian Inlet, Florida after a great Memorial Day surf session. More here…  

The fact that Cocoa Beach is a mere 2 hour drive from Tampa, Florida can be a life saver for me. I get a little grumpy with all the flatness as far as the eye can see, so it sooths me when I spy a little natural variation on the horizon line. This generally comes [...]

If you are interested in visiting Anna Maria Island there is decent write up on the location in Southern Living. Otherwise, here is a little summation of this mellow enclave on the Gulf of Mexico. No Roofs. No Doors. No Windows. No Bars. Think I’ll go for a bike ride. Technorati Tags: anna maria,island,florida,gulf coast,tampa,biking

There are certain people who are absolutely fanatical when it comes to their fascinations with dolphins. I call these special treats, Porpoise People. And trust me, these unique individuals are by no means exclusive to beach communities. I can’t tell you how many times I have been driving through some little poedunk  mountain town, East [...]

Sure, family is important, but if you are tempted to avoid all the hassles of baking a bird and packing on more calories than nature ever intended, you might just think about disappearing down to the Florida Keys for Thanksgiving. That is exactly what I chose to do this year, and a light suitcase containing [...]