Jeff Smith (1953-2022)

Jeff Smith's self-portrait of his one-room shed.  Or, on the needed occasion, his "guest house".

a 50 year long career, sliding

It's down to this. Today photographing an overgrown property lot, for sale by a Latvian woman named Svetlana, in god-forsaken scrub outside Englewood, Fl.

 

 

And on the job, some 20 long years ago, in my prime wearing a fancy watch, shooting for the magazines.

a landmark's dead end

At the end of our road, a long single-lane dead end, a notable home is coming down. Today, one of only a few remaining early 20th century properties left on Siesta Key, recently (discreetly) sold for 12 million. Another landmark, the historic home that was situated there, is now being demolished and slowly hauled away with little attention paid.

The property majestically juts out on an extended peninsula overlooking a large majority of Sarasota's Roberts Bay. The home, originally built in 1926 for Sarasota's first city mayor, A. B. Edwards, was designed by Dwight James Baum, the noted architect of John Ringling's Ca' d' Zan, and of Sarasota County's iconic Courthouse. At the time, the Sarasota Herald described the home as, "Palatial in Appearances."

The most recent owner, the prominent Sarasota attorney, David S. Band, refurbished and remodeled the existing structure in 2003.

 

with a new view

 

 

 

 

 

 

mysterious finds

My wife, a devout Catholic Eucharistic minister, recently found these two side-by-side in the church’s sacristy, in the vestry's back bathroom. Both standing, facing a tiled shower wall - a modern Joseph and a much taller, blessed virgin Mary.

my buddy, Rebecca Wild Baxter

A dear, close friendship of nearly 50 years passes on. A woman of great spirit, a photographer and companion - and always, an advocate for that underdog.

Becky waiting at her door, picking her up from one of our more recent lunch outings.  I'll miss you.

 

(sharing back in 2017 at her 70th)

 

 

fun outings

Had to take old 301 north, up to Whitfield Avenue to look for a lumber/decking supply company, and found instead ....

 the Royal Relaxation (massage parlor)

 

next door to the right, the Gold Star Donut Shop,

 

and from across the parking lot, the broken-ears "Bunny" homeless site and shrine.

 

and there, just down around the corner, Sarasota’s Pet Crematory.