HOLMES BEACH – Former photojournalist Craig Litten has published a book of photographs of Anna Maria Island focusing on the lesser-known angles of the much–photographed destination.

Artistic renderings of tree roots, power lines, clouds and beach toys add seasoning to familiar beach locales in the hardcover book, available from the author.

The book has been used by two bridal couples as a guest book for their Island weddings, said Litten, a Holmes Beach resident who has photos on display at The Back Alley on Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach and at Ginny and Jane E’s in Anna Maria.

“I started shooting it because I was inspired by the Island,” said Litten, who relocated here with his wife from Daytona Beach, where he worked for the News-Journal.

A Florida newspaper photographer since 1988, Litten estimates he has had more than 10,000 pictures published worldwide in newspapers, magazines, books and on the Internet.

Over three years, the award-winning photographer traveled to and photographed every beach in Florida, and is seeking a publisher for his next book project, "Life's a Florida Beach," 2011.

He also is currently working on two documentary film projects: "The Hope of El Salvador and "Mission: Cambodia," and was set production stills photographer for three films, "Gisela's Closet," 2008; and "Split," 2010, on which he also served as director of photography; and "The Ghosts of Ybor," 2008.

Island Beauty is available at http://craiglitten.com/.

The Anna Maria Island Privateers led the way as a train of automobiles, trucks, bicycles and electric vehicles made its way north from Coquina Beach to Bayfront Park Saturday. Participants showered the crowd with candy and necklaces and the only fireworks were from the cannons on Shipreck, the Privateers parade boat. Somewhere between Coquina Beach and Anna Maria, a number of non-parade vehicles got sandwiched in the parade, which gave the crowd a second parade to enjoy.

Only on Anna Maria Island.

 

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