jmattphotos

May 16, 2026 at 8:55 AM

¶This site is powered by a bespoke static site generator I'm developing—Stringer. I'm building it for myself but might put it out there at some point in the future. It's designed for photography and photoblogging, which may be a bit of a dead art but I'm ok with that.

¶I'm working on a shortcodes feature right now, which is intended to let me include a photo already posted on the site in the body of a post by simply referencing the slug of the photo. I'm writing this post to test that feature.

¶We're getting ready for a trip to St. Pete Beach, so I'll reference a few of my favorite SPB photos that I've published here.

¶Weird to remember a rain storm from the beach, but this photo is the first that comes to mind. "Nothing but absolute joy" is and always has been my takeaway from this photograph. I reflect on it quite a bit and it never fails to make me smile.

Two women dancing in heavy rain on a wet street along side a row of parked cars. One wears a black outfit and raises her arms joyfully. The other, in a yellow top and blue shorts, wears a straw hat and extends her arms. A black SUV with a red umbrella extending partially over its roof is parked nearby, presumably waiting for the women to finish their impromptu celebration of being caught in a rain storm. The rain creates a blurred, misty background, emphasizing the lively, carefree moment. — Rainy Day Dancing WomenTwo women dance in the street alongside parked cars during a rain storm. — J. Matthew Buchanan

¶After the rain comes the sun, right? I literally have hundreds of sunset photos from St. Pete Beach, but I still never get bored of shooting it.

A lone angler stands in silhouette atop a rocky jetty extending into open water at sunset, two fishing rods arcing above him against a vivid sunset-drenched sky, with a motorboat anchored nearby in the deep blue water. — Double Duty SunsetA man fishes from a rocky pier during sunset over the Gulf of America on Upham Beach in St. Pete Beach, Florida. — J. Matthew Buchanan

¶And here's one more just for kicks. I "rediscovered" this one last week when searching Lightroom for a different photo. I must have forgotten about it after editing it because I don't think I posted it anywhere. So, six years later, here it is.

A serene beach scene at sunset. Tall, slender grasses in the foreground frame the view. The sky is a blend of soft oranges, yellows, and grays, with the sun partially hidden near the horizon, casting a warm glow over the calm ocean. A few people are visible in the distance, enjoying the tranquil setting. The overall atmosphere is peaceful and picturesque. — Sunset Through BeachgrassViewing the sunset through beachgrass on Upham Beach in St. Pete Beach, Florida. — J. Matthew Buchanan

¶I added each of these photos to the body of the post using a shortcode that includes the photo's slug. Pretty simple. Love it.