Photos from day 1.
Hard to write much on my phone, but this place is amazingly beautiful! The weather was overcast today with occasional sun breaks, but the temperature was lovely and hey, it’s the tropics, I have no complaints.
There’s definitely a third-world feel here but it has charm. Locals seem friendly enough although we’re definitely visitors here (at least that’s how it feels). We were all pretty wiped out so we didn’t do much scouting today (that’s on tomorrow’s schedule). After a long, post lunch nap I awoke and went to dinner with the crew (Sara wasn’t up to eating again so soon, but I was). We ate in the harbor and the food was as good as the views and the beautiful evening light.
I’m writing this as we wind down, laying in the hammock outside our building (the 2-story white building in the photos). For some reason I can’t add captions on my iPhone app so I’ll have to add them later, but the photos start in Miami as we’re waiting for the shuttle to take us to the puddle jumper to Eluethera (we took the redeye out of Seattle and didn’t get much sleep).
Enjoy! More to come…wish you were here 🙂
-C
A view out the bus while we wait to be taken to the plane for Eleuthera.
It was freezing in the bus, resulting in the condensation on the windows.
Do we look tired yet?
Sara getting ready to board the plane.
Our fellow Bahama-bound travelers.
Me, boarding…
Not sure what islands these are, but it was beautiful and exciting to think what awaited us.
A slow shutter and a fast-spinning prop make for a warped photographed, but pretty cool.
The endless ocean below.
Penny for your thoughts?
A portrait of the mundane (or unexpected). You never know what you’ll get until you try…
North Eleuthera International Airport, right before the big guy with dark shades told us ‘no photos!’. Apparently they take their security risk seriously here in the Bahamas…
The boat that took us to Harbor Island from ‘The Land’ (local name for Eleuthera, which is also known as the “island of Freedom”).
Our arrival to Harbor Island…not what I had expected…
Looking left from the dock.
Landed. It’s hot, but never too hot for a quick photo amidst the greetings and culture shock.
Most travel by foot or by golf cart. In my case, I was on the back of the golf cart as we headed for Hibiscus Hill, the residence and estate of India Hicks and her partner David Flint Wood, known for their inspirational island interiors and good taste, which we found to be true and impressive.
The palm grove right outside the Guest House at Hibiscus Hill. Perfect palm trees, with a hammock perfectly shaded.
The Guest House. I could live here, but would need more income to afford it. That’s Sara and our producer Susan walking ahead of me.
The lower porch as we were heading inside. The contrast of the white against the greenery was, well, perfectly tasteful.
The decor was beautifully simple (the chest these are on was wrapped with old maps and glazed over).
Tortoise shells on the walls as decor are petty common here. They’re beautiful, but it’s sad knowing a living creature gave it’s life for this ‘art’. In the Bahamas they’re considered a delicacy, but as endangered creatures it shouldn’t be legal.
Correspondance desk with personal treasures, photos and other cool knick-knacks…OK, so I’m not a writer equipped with language skills to describe what a cool place this is!
Living room/space wall, upstairs (2 couches facing each other, both with walls of photos, prints and other artwork.
Island Colonial with a dash of Africa…seriously, I want to live here!
Our bedroom (king bed) for the first night. Given the circumstances of the shoot, we ended up moving the next day to Coral Sands resort, but at least we got one night at Hibiscus Hill. Hopefully it was enough to ‘rub off’ on us!
Sara. In Heaven. Check that one off the bucket list (too bad she didn’t get to meet India!).
The upper deck sitting area (mirrored on each side of the French doors leading out).
Looking down on the hammock and perfect palms.
Just another angle…one I would shoot several times while there during the shoot.
Lunch at Pink Sands restaurant overlooking the beach.
Loved it so much I had to include another shot.
Greg exploring locations while we wait for an ice-cold lemonade. Notice the pink sand? Unique to the Bahamas, it’s amazingly find, beautiful and apparently never-ending (they don’t truck it in here!).
Heading down to the beach after lunch.
Greg.
Heading back up off the beach next door at Coral Sands, our eventual place of residence for the next week.
Beautiful plants that I never could get enough of…
The alo plants are huge…feels like a million years ago.
Sadly, those close to the path get their share of graffiti even here…
Fan palm outside Coral Sands.
Back at Hibiscus Hill…detail of a little triptik.
The road leading to the beach from HH.
Valentines for dinner…a modern group of buildings at the sport fishing docks, predictably period, but still charming.
Views from around the docks. Didn’t really fancy the vibe around the sport boats – too much testosterone for even my likes.
There were a number of overly large fishing boats, costing small fortunes I’m sure (even the NBA ball player Jerry Stackhouse was down here on his boat, although his was a pleasure yacht). Notice, no closeups of the macho guys around the boats 🙂
The gull in the middle can’t seem to decide which boat to call home (or decorate)…
My favorite shot of the day…didn’t have my SLR so this is as good as it gets, but I love the painterly feel of it and the colors.