A goal for my photography is to bring people out of their own element. For realization, understanding, or just to sit in awe. And that goes the same for myself too. I can only take so many palm tree and wave shots in Florida until I want something else and more.

Had heard about this derelict shrimp boat around the Ponte Vedra coast, but there was really no know location info going around. Searched Facebook groups, news articles, county commission reports, wasn’t even showing up on Google satellite. I needed this shot and luckily found another photographer from the area that had come across it on his beach cleanup walks.

With Hurricane Ian on the way, and hearing that the removal budget had just been approved for the boat, I needed to act fast and prepared to run a long night of pinpointing the Captain Chris.

Started off at 3:30am in St Augustine, hiking up 3 miles on the pitch black beach from the South Ponte Vedra Recreational Access. I swear, I thought I pasted it a dozen times and couldn’t see it, too far out with the tide to see against the water.

Finally saw this monsters looming in from of me highlighted from the beach house lights. Got a handful of stacked shots in and 30 minutes of star trails. Hoping for a longer set behind the boat, but the sunrise said otherwise. Stay for a little while until all the beach walkers started gathering around and hiked back, felt like forever holding onto these shots. This was a much needed project for myself and motivation to travel more for specific shots, even if short distance.