Cruz Bay « Thoughts From an Island Photographer

May 3, 2010

Photo Monday 5/3/10

Happy Monday!

Cruz Bay is the big town on St John, so to speak. While it is often photographed, we feel it sometimes misses the respect it deserves.

While Sunday was overcast and drizzly, this perspective of our little town deserved a photo. Cruz Bay Park is such a green gem, just to the right of the ferry dock in this photo. We need to protect all our green spaces.

It doesn’t matter whether you arrive on the passenger ferry dock to the south of the Battery or via the Customs area to the North. This historic compound and its beautiful landscape is the first thing most people gaze at when arriving to St. John.

And, the VI National Park Visitors Center, just a short walk away along the area known as The Creek, is the first place they want to visit.

Unless you are a boater. Looking at town from Gallows Point at waters edge gives a completely different perspective of our little town that is all about the boats. Most of our Cruz Bay perspectives make us smile. But this one made us very sad.

The Cruz Bay dock at 6:00AM photographed from our departing ferry. We were headed off-island and that always puts a little weight upon our hearts. We’ll be home again soon, God willing. And we hope you’ll be there for at least a little visit too.

Until later,

Bob and Karin Schlesinger
Your Island Photographers

Filed under: General, Photo Mondays — Tags: Cruz Bay, St. John, Vi National Park — Karin @ 11:18 pm

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March 19, 2010

March Madness – It Never Gets Old

As portrait photographers, we get to spend quality time with vacationers on a daily basis. We get to share their wonder and joy as they peel back the unique layers that make St. John such a special place. We love that. This is especially true in March, when High Season is at its peak and so many families are here for their spring break. Our island culture and all its quirkiness is on full display and it’s party time everywhere.

It’s hard to spend more than a few minutes in town and not want to smile at some small thing. Watching baby chicks scrambling around their mother in the middle of the road in downtown Cruz Bay is pretty cool to young city kids. And drinking coconut water for the first time – can seem pretty exotic too.

A hike to St. John’s Petroglyphs, a swim around Waterlemon Cay, and watching the Fire Eaters on Wednesday night at the Westin are all activities worth the effort.

Every boat trip we go on makes us feel like first-time visitors whether we are there to take vacation portraits for a honeymoon couple or are just sneaking off for our own family fun with anonymous tourists. The excitement of finding a school of parrotfish, or seeing dolphins swimming alongside, or spying a hidden beach from the water – it never gets old. Capturing those images in our clients eyes makes for a perfect day.

At night our island is alive with people out having fun this time of year – enjoying restaurants, bar hopping and catching some fun nightlife activities. Yes, that’s us you saw last week, with Bob taking photos of his dinner. [He’s incorrigible]. If we catch your eye, don’t be surprised if we

Blues Festival Details Here!

offer to take your photo gratis and email it to you. There are too many good causes holding fundraising events for us to be at them all, but when we can’t, we’re there in spirit.

There is music everywhere and this week that’s especially true, especially if you like the blues. The 8^th Annual Johnny Walker St. John Blues Festival is in full swing, with the Big Concert scheduled for 7 PM in the ballpark in Coral Bay (they chase the goats away). Many visitors have told us they’ll be there and so will we, having a great time and acting like teenagers. So, if you’re there, don’t be surprised if you show up in a local newspaper photo or in one of the many images we’ll be posting on our Facebook fan page next week.

This Sunday, we’ll be exhausted, but looking forward to another wild and crazy week. We invite you all to play on our little island this week or whenever you can. For us, it just never gets old.

Until later,

Bob and Karin Schlesinger
Your Island Photographers

Filed under: General — Tags: Cruz Bay, island activities, St. John, vacation portraits — Karin @ 4:48 pm

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February 12, 2010

Love That Location!

Bench Overlooking Sunset At Gallows Point Resort

There are many perfect spots on St. John to be romantic, whether to pop the marriage question, offer an anniversary surprise, or have a special moment with your Valentine. After all, the island has been known as Love City for over 35 years!

Some people choose very private locations, and others like a cheering crowd. For the latter, the evening crowds at Woody’s, Skinny Legs, or even the dining gazebo at Maho Bay Campgrounds just can’t be beat. A crowded ferry ride with a clued in captain can make a spectacular public display.

If you want a more private moment, St. John has romantic locations galore. As photographers, sometimes we get to tag along under the guise of a vacation photo shoot, or by just “happening by” at just the right time to capture the magic moment in our camera’s lens. Here are some of our most memorable intimate locations for that special surprise:

Surprise Vow Renewal On Wayward Sailor Sailboat

In the private outdoor dining area in the ruins near Caneel Bay’s Equator Room
At sunset on the poolside bench or the small gazebo’s swing at Gallows Point Resort
At the windmill in historic Catherinberg
In the grassy meadow on top of Peace Hill
Overlooking views at the Leinster Bay garrison or Leinster Estate ruins
At the scenic overlook on the Lind Point hiking trail (to Honeymoon Beach) leaving Cruz Bay
Under the beachside tree rimmed with stonework just east of the East End Schoolhouse in Hanson Bay
In early morning on the large rocks at Hawksnest Bay
Inside the Franklin Powell Park bandstand across from the Cruz Bay ferry dock
On the walking bridge in the Westin Resort villas area
On any sunset sail overlooking St. John

The most popular St. John beach wedding locations are – you guessed it – some of the most popular beaches on St. John. There are a few lesser known beaches that also made this list of our top dozen romantic beach locations:

Trunk Bay Beach
Cinnamon Bay Beach
Francis Bay beach
Classic Romance at Cinnamon Bay Beach During Sunset
Hawksnest Beach
Turner Bay Beach
Honeymoon Bay Beach
Little Lameshure Bay Beach
Hanson Bay Beach
Great Cruz Bay Westin beach
Gibney Beach/Oppenheimer Beach
Brown Bay Beach
Jumbie Beach

Because more and more brides are choosing non-beach locations on or around St. John for their special day, we have assembled a list of our own short list of locations to consider for the wedding celebration:

Annaberg Plantation grounds near large frangipani tree
Fortsberg Point garrison area
Westin Resort beachside gazebo
Estate Concordia Preserve
Caneel Bay’s grassy Turtle Point
Gallows Point Resort large gazebo on the point
Framed in the windmill on Peace hill
Offshore – on a sailboat, catamaran, etc.
Inside the Maho Bay pavilion
At the Catherinberg historic ruins

Love City Is For Lovers

Note – private villas all over the island are also excellent choices. There are too many to list here, but if you are interested in this option, we’ve worked with perfect locations for just 2 people to those for large groups. At Tropical Focus, we’re always searching for romantic locations. If you have a personal favorite you want to share – drop us a line. And if you are looking for some place special but none of the above inspired you, then share your vision with us and we’ll do our best to come up with a creative solution.

When it comes right down to it, the truth is that anywhere on St. John can be a very romantic place, especially when you are with the one you love.

Any time and any place… share the love.

Filed under: General, Weddings — Tags: beach wedding, Caneel Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Concordia, Cruz Bay, Love City, Maho Bay, Peace Hill, romance, St. John, Trunk Bay, wedding locations — Karin @ 5:28 pm

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February 8, 2010

Photo Monday 2/08/10

Happy Monday!

Watching the Weather Channel is a bit of a sport to us. With all the snow and rain and cold up north, we decided to start off this week by warming everyone up with this picture postcard perfect view of Cinnamon Bay in the VI National Park.

Overlooking Cinnamon Bay on St. John

Now, how can you look at that view and not feel the warmth of the sun on you and the relaxing scent of tropical flowers?

Of course, you have to work to get there. We especially feel for first time visitors to the island as they adjust to island time. Imagine, after travelling all day, you get to little Cruz Bay, are told to drive on the left side of a road barely wide enough for your vehicle to pass. Then, you pass by this sign and have to make a decision:

Cruz Bay Confusion Guaranteed

Nope… we don’t have a clue what all that sign means either!

Thank goodness that as soon as you get out of town, life settles down to normal. Of course, it helps to remember that our ‘normal’ isn’t the same as most other places in the world.

Just Another Traffic Obstacle - A St. John Iguana In The Road

Iguanas have been spied everywhere this week, hiding in the lee of a palm tree, running back and forth across roadways and even snoring on top of our ixora hedge.

Pink Island Hibiscus

They seeem to prefer pink hibiscus, at least near our little cottage on St. John. Since each blossom lasts only a single day, it was hard to catch a photo before they ate them this week!

Snorkeling Is Awesome In Zootenthaal

Whether you live here or plan to visit sometime in the future, your island is ready for you to have fun. So get out there and snorkel, for goodness sake!

Love City Sign Etched in Cruz Bay

And, on this week, when Valentines and love is in the air everywhere, keep this thought close to your heart:

Love City Loves You.

Warmest wishes wherever you may be this week. Until next Monday,

Karin and Bob Schlesinger
Your Island Photographers

Filed under: General, Photo Mondays — Tags: Cinnamon Bay, Cruz Bay, hibiscus, Iguana, Love City, St. John, Vi National Park, Zootenthaal — Karin @ 8:51 pm

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January 11, 2010

Photo Monday – January 11, 2010

Happy Monday!

This week we kept close to home on the west end of St. John for our weekly photos.

Late Afternoon On Turner Bay

While taking a little walk near downtown Cruz Bay one afternoon, we came along this little seen perspective of Turner Bay.

It was worth the pause in our exercising to capture the image for you.

Morning Doe - At Home On St. John

The next morning while enjoying a cup of coffee at our home, Bob looked out over the deck railing and saw this early morning visitor. No, not in New England. Here on St. John!

Bob and the deer bonded for a moment. Such eyelashes and beard!

Another Morning Visitor On St John

We thought that doe was pretty darned amazing, since we live only a mile from the Cruz Bay ferry dock. But when the doe came back the next morning, she brought her mate to feast on our Ixora flowers.

He calmly stood his ground long enough for Bob to catch a few images. I guess this answers the long asked question from our New England friends – don’t you miss seeing deer?

View from Frank Bay in Late Afternoon

As St John photographers, we wanted to leave you with something that feels a little more like the Caribbean island you’ve been craving all week.

So we decided to give you this late afternoon viewpoint from Frank Bay across from Coconut Coast Studios and one of our favorite spots to watch sunset. It wasn’t a crystal clear day, but it was perfect none the less for both pirates and as a prelude to Coconut Coast’s weekly Wednesday Sunset Cocktail Party with renown artist and owner Elaine Estern.

Until next week,

Karin and Bob Schlesinger

Filed under: General, Photo Mondays — Tags: Caribbean, Coconut Coast Studios, Cruz Bay, deer on St. John, Frank Bay, pirates, St. John, Turner Bay — Karin @ 2:26 pm

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Bob's Blog Thoughts From an Island Photographer

May 3, 2010

Photo Monday 5/3/10

March 19, 2010

March Madness – It Never Gets Old

February 12, 2010

Love That Location!

February 8, 2010

Photo Monday 2/08/10

January 11, 2010

Photo Monday – January 11, 2010

Bob's Blog
Thoughts From an Island Photographer