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Category Archives: Outings
Ft. DeSoto
On my second weekend shoot in Tampa I spent time in Ft. DeSoto, just outside of St. Pete. It was way too hot with no breeze at night and there were some obnoxious neighbors. Despite the lack of sleep, sunrise turned out nice and I got some nice images of the dunes/beach and wildlife. Its a beautiful area and beach(America’s Top Beach 2009) but a little too busy for me. The assignment is complete and I am awaiting the final layout. I will let you know when there is something to see.
Roseate Spoonbill
Sabal Palms and Skyway Bridge
Great Egret and Flounder
Dune Sunrise
Sea Oats and Fishermen
Tricolor Heron
Also posted in Images, Travel
Tagged Beach, Dunes, florida, Ft. Desoto, North Beach, Pinellas County, Roseate Spoonbill, Sea Oats, Skyway Bridge, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Tricolor Heron
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Hillsborough River
I am shooting an assignment for Where Guestbooks for the Tampa area. I went up and explored the Hillsborough River area 2 weekends ago and had a great time. There was a controlled burn to the east that gave us some smoke in the mornings, allowing for these great light rays as the sun rose. It was a beautiful area and really a good time to get away.
Also posted in Images
Tagged flowing water, Hillsborough River, light beams, light rays, oak, palmetto, Rapids, sabal palm
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Welcome to the Jungle
I haven’t gotten out into the cypress swamps too much but I have a great time when I do. The migrant birds are coming through so I was surrounded with chirps. And the tracks in the mud are always great to study. Otters leave their mark just about everywhere, they sure do get around.
It is a visually intense experience. I don’t think anything else could be crammed in these forests. The epiphytes cover the trees, the moccasins are hiding under the logs, spiders build webs across every opening. Slow moving, but that’s how it should be.
I don’t usually come away with stunners when I go into the swamp, but I always enjoy it.
This shot was midday, backlit and begged for bw. Also one of the few times I brought along a compass. The foreground is gator tracks and tails drags, with a few bird and otter prints mixed in.
These aren’t cypress. These are rather large pond apples(Annona glabra). There are some largish cypress in the area but the old growth is not standing. =( This is the center of a cypress strand, most have a pond in the center, the only remaining water in the dry season
5dII, 16-35II@23mm f13 1/20s iso800
Also posted in Images
Tagged annona glabra, Big Cypress National Preserve, black and white, Cypress strand, pond apple, Swamp
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In the Swamp
Went searching for a trail to a lake, but stopped on the way in a cypress dome. I was told of a few Barred Owls and quickly found what I assume was the father of some fledglings. I could hear the little guys calling deeper in the dome, but they never let me get close. The mother also stayed with them. This one, however was very tolerant of me and never gave a sign of being uncomfortable with my presence. The giant crayfish at my feet was pretty unhappy though.
Canon 50d, Canon 100-400@310mm iso800 f5.6 1/250s
When walking around I also found this small Water Moccasin(Agkistrodon piscivorus) at the edge of one of the few puddles remaining. The fish were concentrated and made for an easy meal. The species name piscivorous means “habitually feeding on fish”. This was a little guy at maybe 2 feet, still brightly patterned. As adults they are darker and more uniform in color. This one also seemed especially light.
Canon 50d, Canon 100-400@275mm f5.6 iso800 1/250s
A fun day, we are still mosquito free. If only the heat hadn’t returned so quickly.
Also posted in Everglades, Images
Tagged agkistrodon piscivorus, Barred Owl, Cottonmouth, Cypress Dome, Everglades, Moccasin, Swamp
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It’s All In The Details
So Sunday was a day of exploration. I “found” a new area that is just awesome. I will say now, it is an area full of rare orchids and I will not disclose the location. It was not first discovered by me and it is not my right to give it up. It is a saltmarsh littered with downed buttonwood apparently from the ’60 hurricane. A saltmarsh is an area where the mangroves haven not grown as thick and allow other, although few, different species to grow. It can periodically flood with saltwater and is prime habitat for bobcats and rattlesnakes in the Everglades. Gotta keep things interesting. =)
The dead gnarled branches in this marsh were covered in different epiphytes and surrounded by saltwart(Batis maritima), a succulent plant that tastes nice and salty. Another plant growing abundantly was glasswort(Salicornia perennis).
The day had scattered clouds and I used the moments of shadow to lower the contrast on intimate scenes. The resolution on the 5d2 is great and large prints of these detail rich scenes should be very nice.
Me with a very large Cowhorn Orchid
5d2, Tamron 28-75@33mm iso100 f16 1/20s
Tillandsia fasciculata 5d2, Tamron 28-75@55mm iso200 f3.5 1/1250
5d2, Tamron 28-75@60mm iso200 f10 1/125s
5d2, Tamron 28-75@75mm iso200 f6.3 1/500s
5d2, Tamron 28-75@54mm iso200 f9 1/250s
Also posted in Everglades, Images
Tagged buttonwood, Cyrtopodium punctatum, Everglades, glasswort, Saltmarsh, saltwart, Tillandsia fasiculata
4 Comments