More than meets the eye: Tampa Bay in focus

I'm always on the hunt for inspiration

When I got the opportunity to visit Tampa Bay while on tour with Jacksonville rock band, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, I went in with an open mind but few expectations. My attitude was nonchalant, bordering on lackadaisical.

What I discovered through my camera lens was a vibrant cultural blend of art, food, and community spirit that inspired my creativity and changed the way I travel.

My trip started filming the band’s concert at a cool local spot called The Crowbar. As soon as I arrived, I could sense the passion that music evokes here; the music scene is alive and well, with the concert being a sell-out show. When the band took to the stage, the energy exploded - capturing footage of concerts has been my gig for years and experiencing the living, breathing music culture here first hand showed me that Tampa Bay is a hotspot for both local and touring acts. On any given night, you can pick from numerous events and people turn out in their masses to support. This was one of those transcendent nights where everyone came together and just lost themselves in the experience.

Excited to discover more, I spent the next few days wandering Tampa Bay's streets. As a certified drone pilot*, I love taking to the skies to give me a unique vantage point–always keeping in line with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) rules. Over the waterfront's glittering high-rises and the tree-lined neighborhoods surrounding downtown, I spotted funky restaurants, colorful street art murals, classic hot rods, and hidden architectural gems. However, it was the people that truly stood out to me. Every time that I think about that trip, I just remember the people. I remember how amazing and kind and welcoming and warm the people are.

As my Dad once told me: "document everything". I still take that advice to heart, striving to capture the diverse patchwork that forms a community. In Tampa Bay, I walked up to strangers and asked to portray them in that time and place; my GoPro bounced as I ran to film a Tesla purring by and I glimpsed the humanity behind a policeman’s uniform. Each moment began to make up a more vivid picture.

One of the quickest ways to a place’s heart is through your stomach, and local recommendations led me to Blind Tiger for a café con leche, followed by dinner at Columbia - claiming to be Florida’s oldest restaurant. During my stay, I tried the original Cuban sandwich, a traditionally pressed panini-style snack with ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard. The layers of flavor reflect the cultural fusion that this place embodies.

Sparkman Wharf was one of my favourite places; an outdoor shipping container food hall downtown. It was quite surreal; I’d never seen anything like it before and I love quirky experiences like that. Creative chefs here are putting their own spin on dishes while incorporating fresh, local seafood and produce into the mix. As the sun dipped below the horizon, I captured locals and visitors relaxing over craft cocktails and desserts.

Since my trip, I've made a point to dig deeper into the local food, music, art and architecture wherever I travel. Capturing a place through images and stories has taken on new meaning after my enlightening few days in Tampa Bay. The perspective I gained there continues influencing my creative approach, taking me down unexplored avenues that reveal the substance behind the first impressions.

* Editor’s note: This article includes first-hand experiences as well as inspirational activities. To fly a drone as a hobbyist in the state of Florida you are required by the FAA to take The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST). You are also required to follow the FAA's recreational model aircraft rules. See more here.

Quick fire five

What's your favorite memory in Tampa Bay?

My favorite memory has to be capturing the energy at The Crowbar during The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus concert. The passion in the air was palpable, and it was a night that truly encapsulated the vibrant music scene of Tampa Bay.

Describe Tampa Bay in three words:

Experience. It. All

What's suprised you the most in Tampa Bay?

One of the biggest surprises in Tampa Bay was Sparkman Wharf. It was quite surreal; I’d never seen anything like it before, and I love quirky experiences like that.

Describe what Tampa Bay would be like, if it was a person?

Tampa Bay would be an eclectic artist with a deep love for culture and a knack for making everyone feel at home.

What's a must-try experience or dish in Tampa Bay?

Definitely trying a Cuban sandwich. The flavors are a perfect representation of Tampa Bay's cultural blend.