The Experience

This week was a milestone for this project with the official launch of my website. I have devoted the majority of my time in the past week to writing everything and taking the photos necessary to illustrate the Everglades. I was extremely pleased with the way things went and I thank everyone for the positive feedback that I received over the past few days. The encouragement only makes me want to continue working and work even harder.

The highlight of my week was the opportunity to spend an evening talking with photographer Michael Turco. Mike is a professional photographer who has worked with organizations such as National Geographic, the National Wildlife Federation, BBC Wildlife, and many more. He was willing to spend over three hours simply sharing his experiences and thoughts on the photography business, his approach to photography, as well as discussing my specific project. His suggestions and approaches really helped me to be practical about the project and begin to feel less overwhelmed with what I am trying to undertake.

This week, as I am continuing to explore and photograph, I am going to be outlining my specific plans for the book and attempting to make a list of the photographs or at least the types of photographs I know I want to have when I leave here this summer. I think a list will allow me to focus on specific tasks rather than being overwhelmed with everything.

This week I will be exploring the Big Cypress Swamp on Tuesday, canoeing Snake Bight in search of Flamingos and other birds on Wednesday and possibly Thursday. I have left this weekend open as there is a cold front moving through Thursday afternoon and want to see what the weather will be like. I may take the opportunity to go up to Loxahatchee NWR on an exploratory trip on either Friday or Saturday.

The Photos

During the evenings at Anhinga Trail the alligators become very active towards the back of the trail. As the reptiles prepare for the evening many of them swim out of the back marshes towards the boardwalk. I really like the head on perspective as it really accentuates the size and width of the gator.

 

Most mornings, well before the crowds arrive, American Bitterns can be seen along the water’s edge at Anhinga Trail. These very secretive birds hide in the tall grass and ever so slowly stalk their prey. I have been lucky to have several of these birds out in the open or at least high in the grass to let me photograph them.

 

These Double-crested Cormorants spend much of the afternoon fishing in the first lagoon at Anhinga Trail. I have made it a goal to photograph these birds as they are taking off and “running on the water” but thus far haven’t gotten the image I want. However, in the process I was able to photograph this one with a large exotic fish. The splashing in the background is another bird that would eventually steal the fish from this bird.

 

After fishing the cormorants perch on the railing to rest and are oblivious to the people walking buy. I was focusing on the emerald eye and trying to capture a portrait when this bird yawned allowing me to capture one frame mid yawn.

 

Each week I try to include an image that is beyond what I normally capture and can be somewhat of a risk. This environmental shot of a Great Blue Heron resting under a mangrove in Mrazek Pond fits into that category for me. While the bird is the focus of the image it is small in the frame compared to most other images I have and I actually feel that it is a very strong image. What do you think?