Tag: Big Cypress National Preserve

Pole Photography: The View From Above

admin

I recently decided to try something new and change my photographic perspective.  How you might ask?  I decided to shoot my subjects from above.  While doing some research on a completely unrelated subject, I came across some photos someone had taken of a simple subject from what looked like a high vantage point.  I liked the effect and thought it might be something fun to try and add a different feel to some of my images.  However, it took me a while to figure out how they had captured the photo.  I started researching ways to accomplish this with a camera and found information on Kites, Drones and other crazy and expensive options.  And then one day, I finally found the simple answer, build a tall pole to mount my camera onto.

It turns out there are companies dedicated to the sole purpose of building tall poles that one can use to mount their camera onto.  The only downside is that these poles and their accessories are not cheap usually ending up somewhere north of $350.00.  I couldn’t justify spending this much money for a niche product that I was not sure I would even enjoy using.  Therefore, I set out to make my own Photography Pole.

After looking at various options at hardware stores, I settled on an aluminum pool pole.  Fully extended it is 16 feet high.  To the end I added a 4 foot wooden dowel and then a thread to attach my camera.  I now had the ability to shoot from a vantage point above the ground of 20 feet.  The next question was would it be sturdy enough to capture a crisp image and more importantly would it be strong enough to keep my expensive camera and lenses from meeting an untimely destruction.  Turns out the answer to both questions was yes.

Yesterday I decided to play around with my new toy and see whether or not Pole Photography was something I could put to good use.  After some trial and error, I was able to figure out the elements and conditions I needed to create a unique image and captured a few images I liked.  I still need to hone my skills using the pole as well as work on the logistical elements of more easily taking a picture when your camera is more than 20 feet above you.  Framing, focusing and composition all become very difficult when you cannot look through the viewfinder or physically push the shutter button.

Here are few of my trial and error photos from my efforts.  These images were taken in Big Cypress National Preserve.

Weekend Photography Fun

admin

It has been almost three (3) months since my last photography trip.  Over the last twelve (12) months I have been so busy it has kept me from finding time to go shooting as often as I would like.  This past weekend I finally found some free time to grab my camera and head out into the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve and the Big Cypress National Preserve.  My primary purpose for going was to check on the ghost orchids this year.  The ghost orchids I know about were only in the early stages of blooming and still have a few more weeks before producing a flower.

One of the highlights of this trip was stumbling across a mama bear and her three (3) cubs in the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve.  They crossed Jane’s Scenic Drive about fifty (50) yards in front of the truck.  I also saw the usual number of alligators, a few dear and a couple of water moccasins.

This trip I also had the opportunity to take a swamp buggy tour and airboat ride to get a different perspective than my normal hiking on foot would provide me.  It was great to get back out into the Everglades for a few days and take a couple of pictures while I was out there.

The Air Boat Ride was through Airboat in Everglades.  The guide was a friend of mine named Ozzie.  I had a great time and he put me up close and personal to a few alligators and birds.  He also taught me some things about the everglades I did not know.  I highly recommend the company to anyone interested in seeing the Everglades by airboat.  It was a unique experience and different than any other airboat tour I have ever been on.

The swamp buggy ride was through Wootens on Tamiami Trail.  I had never been on a swamp buggy before but enjoyed the experience and the perspective  one gets from sitting so high up.  The guide’s name was Shelley and she was very informative.  Her family has lived in the glades for generations and I enjoyed the history and stories she had to tell.

My favorite photo of the weekend was of a lone cypress tree with a building storm system behind it.  The sun was behind me and low causing great light on the tree and surrounding foreground.  I decided to use HDR to capture the full range of lighting conditions.  Unfortunately, I did not have my tripod with me and had to take the shots handheld resulting in a little extra work to align all three shots together.   I was happy with the final result and will be adding the image to my website.

Everglades Seasons

admin

Since I have not had the opportunity to capture any new images over the last few months, I have been going through some of my old images and organizing my folders.  During this process, I discovered that I had captured the same location with almost the exactly same composition in two different photos.  One was taken during the winter and one was taken during the summer.  The images, although the same subject, have a dramatically different feel due to the color variations of the grass and sky as a result of the different times of year in which the photos were taken.

The Winter photo is full of browns, reds and yellows and the sunset that night was not very vibrant.  Whereas the Summer photo is full of dark greens and the sunset produced very vibrant pinks and purples across the sky which was reflected in the water.  I like both images and have the summer version hanging in my dining room only because the colors better match the decor that my wife had chosen.

These photos illustrate how dramatically the same subject matter, scene or landscape can change depending on the shooting conditions.  A different season, sky color, cloud shape or water levels can result in a completely different captured image.  In this case, both images came out good.  However, I have shot other locations where one photo was unusable and very bland but after going back to the same location with different conditions the captured image became one of the favorites in my collection.

The moral of this post is to encourage everyone to shoot every location or subject multiple times to see what time of year, day or atmospheric conditions or light produces the best photo.

The photos below are of an air boat ramp off of State Road 41 in South Florida.  They were both taken after sunset during the civil twilight using long shutter speeds to smooth out the water and saturate the colors.  Both were also taken from an elevated position with the vantage point of the winter photo being higher than the summer photo.

Everglades Coalition Conference 2013

admin

I had the opportunity to attend the 28th Annual Everglades Coalition Conference this past weekend in Coral Gables, Florida.  The Everglades Coalition Conference is a three (3) day conference dedicated to discussing legislative initiatives related to the Everglades ecosystem as well as initiatives related to Everglades restoration, conservation, preservation and management.  There were representative profit and non-profit organizations from the National, State and local levels in attendance at the conference.

Although I did not engage in any photography while at the conference, I found the topics discussed to be very educational and enlightening.  Guest speakers and panels discussions had individuals from the Water Management District, Army Core of Engineers, Federal and State Congressmen and women, fishing guides, scientists, agriculturalists and sportsmen.  Each presenter brought a different perspective and different methodologies to the conversation but the underlying goal was the same, preserve the Everglades and the animals and plants contained therein for future generations enjoyment.

The primary message I got from the conference was that although we have made great strides in Everglades restoration, preservation and conservation we have a long ways to go before we can declare victory.  Through my many hours spent driving, walking, fishing, camping and photographing the Everglades I have developed a great love and respect for this ecosystem.  However, it would be more enjoyable without the millions of mosquitoes.  I plan on doing my part in getting out the message and working toward restoring and preserving the Everglades for my children and grandchildren.

Fakahatchee Strand Ghost Orchid and Turner River Road Sunset

admin

I took a trip back to the Fakahatchee Strand in an attempt to capture a ghost orchid shot I was happy with.  The first trip produced some good photos, the second not any.  I figured the third time would be the charm.  I did get a few ghost orchid shots that I was happy with this trip but do not know if they will make the website.

This particular orchid is up high resulting in having to point the camera upward to photograph it.  Unfortunately, this also results in getting blowouts from the bright sunlight coming through the dense canopy of trees.  The last time I shot it there were so many blowouts behind the orchid it distracted from the orchid and killed the shot.  This time I went later in the afternoon when the sun angle was lower.  There were still blowouts but not as many and in better controllable areas of the shot.

When I first got there the sun was still higher in the sky and was directly in my shot.  I decided to try and create a sunburst in my image with the ghost orchid in the foreground.  I accomplished my goal but not sure I like the final product.  The sunburst is unique but also distracting.

After shooting the orchid I went over to Turner River Road to shoot a sunset with the same lilies I had used as a foreground subject for the lighting storm I shot there last week.  I captured two sunset shots that I was really happy with and will likely make the limited edition everglades gallery on my website.  Both sunset lily photos are HDR’s to account for the dramatic differences in exposures needed to capture both the foreground lily and the bright sun.

 

Big Cypress National Preserve Lightning

admin

Took a day trip over to Everglades City in hopes of photographing a Royal Poinciana Tree someone had told me about.  I have been trying to capture a Royal Poinciana Tree next to the water for some time but without any luck.  This day would not be any different.  The tree I went to shoot was not yet in full bloom and I needed a boat to get the shot I was envisioning.  I will have to plan another trip in the near future and try again.

Since I was already over on the west coast I decided to spend some time in Fakahatchee Strand and the Big Cypress.  I went back to Fakahatchee to check on my ghost orchids.  One was still in bloom with another still budding but not yet flowering.  I took a few shots before having to walk back out to the truck due to rain and thunder.

After leaving Fakahatchee I went over to Wagon Wheel Road and Turner River Road to try and see if I could get some lightning shots across the vista.  I got a few good strikes from a storm on Birdon Road but did not have a great foreground.  The stroms were fluctuating from producing lighting and just rain for the better part of a few hours.  In between storms I would drive the road looking for wildlife.  I saw numerous deer feeding after the cooling rains.  I took a few shots but none I thought were worth anything.

Another storm started producing lighting and this time I was near a field of blooming lilies.  I set up my shot with as many of the lilies as I could in the foreground and hoped the lighting would cooperate.  The best bolts were out of my frame but I did manage to get a few decent strikes to complement my scene.  I would have preferred more dramatic skies or closer/branched lighting but all in all I am happy with the shots.

On my way home I noticed the sky starting to turn color and pulled over at a boat ramp location I had shot before.  In my prior shot it was winter time and the grasses were brown and trees were losing thier leaves.  This time everything was green and the skies were very colorful and reflecting off the smooth water.

I did not accomplish my original goal but still managed to capture a few unique shots.

Big Cypress National Preserve Rattlesnake and Whitetail Deer

admin

After my Orchid Adventure I stopped by Wagon Wheel and Turner River Roads on my way back home.  I found a couple of snakes sunning themselves in the late afternoon sun on the gravel road.  I came across two Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes, two Water Moccasins and one Garter Snake.  The largest rattlesnake was around 5 foot or so.

I also saw a few deer grazing in the sawgrass on the blooming string lilies.  I walked out in the sawgrass to capture one that had bedded down among the flowers.  Before I got in camera range the deer heard me and stood up.  Luckily a red winged black bird happened to land on the deer giving me a decent and unique photo.  Unbeknownst to me there was another deer that had bedded down nearby as well and it jumped up and sounded the alarm causing both deer to sprint off in to the distance.  Either way it resulted in a few good shots.

Everglades Association Board of Directors Appointment

admin

I was recently appointed to the Board of Directors for the Everglades Association, a not for profit 501(c)(3) corporation and subsidiary of the Florida National Parks Association, Inc.  The Everglades Association is the official not for profit arm of the Everglades, Biscayne, Big Cypress and Dry Tortuga’s National Parks Service and was founded in 1951.  The purpose of the Everglades Association is to help raise money for educational and conservation programs related to the associated National Parks and Preserves.

Through my photography I have developed a passion for the Everglades, Big Cypress and Biscayne National Parks and want to ensure that the natural beauty is preserved for future generations to photography and enjoy.  By becoming a part of the Everglades Association I can directly help work toward this goal to preserve and educate the community about the wonders and beauty found in South Florida’s National Parks and Preserves.