LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — For many people, it’s always go-go-go, leaving very little time to appreciate the good that’s around their communities.

A retired Seminole County man, though, has slowed things down and picked up a new hobby that’s now a part of his daily routine.

Picture this: You’re out by the water, the birds are chirping and you’re focusing on getting the perfect shot. For Pete Accordino, this wasn’t always his reality.

“I spent a lot of time driving on the highways," he said. "Miami to Jacksonville, to Naples to Tallahassee."

Like many people, Pete was nonstop, always heading to the next thing — never having the time to even look at the window. Now that he’s retired, he’s taking the time to develop a new hobby.

“I never took time to appreciate all of this. I’ve always liked the outdoors, but now I have time,” Pete said. 

Photo by Pete Accordino

Pete says he goes out into nature to take photos that tell a story — capturing moments that only a few get the chance to see.

Not every photo is picture perfect, but he says that’s half the fun.  

“It makes me feel good just being out and observing all of this,” Pete said. 

And so far he says it’s panning out.

It has become a hobby that not only puts a smile on his face, but other people as they’re flipping through his photos on social media.

“I started posting some photos of birds and I was surprised that people were like, 'Hey that’s pretty cool, do more,'" he said. "'Me? Are you sure?' So I’ve been posting and posting."

And people are loving it, as many say they are now too stopping to appreciate Central Florida’s beauty.

Photo by Pete Accordino

“It’s neat when people appreciate what you’re doing,” Pete said, noting that he never thought that his photos could bring together so many.

“I’ll actually walk in my neighborhood with retention ponds and some people will roll down their window and yell, ‘Are you Pete?’ ‘Yeah?’ Still kinda freaky,” he said.