Category Archives: Images

Image of the Month: April 2010 Morning Buck

By paul | Published April 3, 2010

I am going to be up in the Smoky Mountains in a few weeks and this image was created on my last trip, in October 2009. This was taken in Cades Cove, on a nice chilly morning. The fog and deer couldn’t have cooperated better, and as the sun rose, it helped define the distant mountains and cast a nice warm glow over everything. For April only, this image is available at discounted prices. The image will be printed on Epson Lustre Paper with Epson Ultrachrome K3 inks. These are guaranteed not to fade for over 100 yrs when properly cared for.

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2 Moods

By paul | Published March 26, 2010

I recently came across an image from my trip up to Hillsborough River State Park last summer. I had overlooked it because I had taken a much bolder and “better” image the following day. This first image was forgotten but as time has distanced the experience, I feel both hold their own, for their separate moods. Some may consider one too strong and prefer the subtle cooler tones of the other. I just figured I would put both up and show the contrast of moods and how light affects a scene.

This first one was taken in the late hours of the day. It was mostly shaded and thus the light was cooler in tone.

This second image was taken just after sunrise with a nice fog hanging in the air. It was a much harder image to process and manage the light, but the effort was worth it in my opinion. As you can see, there is a lot more warmth to the image. Both images are limited editions of 100 and can be purchased on several surfaces.

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Scenes from the Swamp

By paul | Published March 11, 2010

The cypress swamp is an amazing ecosystem in the Everglades. Maybe the more typical type of scenery when people think of the Everglades, dark and mysterious. The water is usually almost crystal clear, filtered by all the plants, or yellow stained with tanins from fallen leaves.

A small “collection” I have mentally kept in mind to develop will eventually be called “Scenes from the Swamp”. The idea was to show the details. My go to lens typically was the ultra-wide. The wide angle scenics certainly have appeal, but I got tired of them. They became easy and predictable.  Many photographers do very well with only one type of photography, but I want to have strong images at all ends of the millimeters. You also can’t tell the whole story with just one focal length.

So here are some images from the slowly developing collection. Enjoy!

The Architect

Alligators are sometimes referred to as the Architects of the Everglades, because they actually help create the cypress domes by moving around the soil. By pushing it up, they create deeper holes for water, and deeper soil around the hole. This in turn allows the cypress more nutrients and they can grow larger.This image was taken with the ultra-wide, but very close to the alligator, to get a close-up with some habitat in the background.

The Puddle Hunter

In the dry season, it can be a time of plenty for the predators. The fish and frogs are all bound to the water, which is shrinking in size. This Water Moccasin was takin advantage of the newly concentrated food supply in this small puddle.  This was taken with my 400mm and extension tubes to allow for closer focus.

A Good Father

A Barred owl also uses the time of plenty to raise some owlets. This one was keeping an eye out as its fledgelings were hopping about. Also taken at 400 mm.

Looking For Light

A more intimate shot at about 28mm.

Secret of the Swamp

Not the shot I sell as a fine art print, but one that shows how hard it would be to find a ghost orchid when not in bloom. It is a leafless orchid, so for 11 1/2 months of the year, you would have to look for a few roots, hidden among the mosses. My 180mm macro was used here.

A more recent shot to add to the set. Wild Grape on a cypress trunk.  This was taken at 75mm.

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Image of the Month: March 2010-Wild American Flamingo

By paul | Published March 1, 2010

Sometimes said to be the same as the Greater  Flamingo, most taxonomists now regard it as a separate species.  Sightings in the Everglades and Southern Florida are rare and many are considered to be escapees from the Hialeah Race track. One specimen banded in the Yucatan Peninsula was sighted in the Everglades, so I like to believe these were birds of wild origin. Regardless, this specimen and 4 of its friends were found in the Everglades in the winter of 2008.  The whole trip is written about here. For March you can purchase this image at discounted rates.

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Loxahatchee River/Jonathan Dickinson State Park

By paul | Published February 9, 2010

This past weekend I went up to Jonathan Dickinson State Park and kayaked the Loxahatchee River. It is Florida’s first “Wild and Scenic” river. It is is confusing at first, but the best part of the river is not really accessible from Jonathan Dickinson State Park. If you don’t have your own canoe/kayak and decide to rent one, they won’t even let you up to the good cypress lined parts. For this you need to put in at Riverbend County Park. It is off Indiantown Rd and is open from sunrise to sunset.

If you put in at Riverbend, the first 5 or so miles is a twisted cypress lined tanic river. The water is stained by all the fallen leaves, and when the light hits the shallows, it glows orange. The river was full of wildlife, I saw many limpkins and other birds, wild hogs, turtles and gators.  It is also lined with several species of ferns, the most impressive being the leather fern, which had fronds over 6 feet tall.

At about the 5 mile mark, you will hit Trapper Nelson’s. He was known as the “Tarzan of the Loxahatchee” and had built a much visited zoo, until his mysterious death by shotgun in 1968. After this, the river opens up and you can see the transition from cypress to mangrove, with pines and sabal palms mixed in.  I don’t consider it as scenic but there are several active Osprey nests that keep it interesting.

I didn’t spend as much time in Jonathan Dickinson State Park, but did wander around for one sunset. I actually had pretty bad weather, but did manage this, showing the pine flatwoods, home to the endangered Gopher Tortoise.

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