Bald Cypress on the Santa Fe River

I had the chance to get out on the Santa Fe River in my kayak this fall to make some photographs. I like to start out early just as the first light is coming on in the morning. The kayak let me get into shadow water and access some areas that a larger boat couldn’t get in. When I find an interesting location, I park the kayak and wade around in the swampy areas looking for a nice grouping of cypress trees. The early morning stillness and the cypress trees create a special moment and being there is always a satisfying experience.

Evening Glow

The summer rainy season in Florida offers a great opportunity to explore wetlands and swampy areas that fill with water that normally are dry. I made this image on a rainy summers evening in the last few minutes of daylight. The swamps with the rain soaked trees and vegetation take on a wonderful glow at this time of day. I waded knee deep in water searching for the right composition to show the soft light that was present. I had to completely cover my entire body, face and hands to fight off the army of mosquitoes from attacking me as I made my way though the swamp. It is gratifying to be able to come away with an image that reveals the beauty of the swap in these conditions. I cherish the times that I get to these locations and enjoy a time of quiet and solitude.

Morning Fog

I was out on a lake in my kayak before sunrise a few days ago. The morning had a heavy fog and in the darkness it was a bit difficult to find my way at first. The winter time in Florida can produce some wonderful foggy mornings for landscape photography. It can be hard to know which nights will produce a good fog, so I find myself getting up a few hours before sunrise and going outside to to see if any fog has developed. The fog event can lasts a couple of hours and the light is constantly changing once the sun has risen. This was the last image I made from my morning kayaking trip and the light was still soft and moody.

In the shadows of the cypress trees

I enjoy getting out in my kayak to do some photography.  One location that I like to photographing in is Blue Cypress Lake here in Florida.  The shoreline of the lake is filled with century old cypress trees that have weathered many powerful storms over the years. I find the best way to access these location is with my kayak.  I have a small boat of about 10' with an electric tolling motor.  It allows me to cover a fair amount of distance when the lake is calm.  I use a Sony A7R111 camera that has a 5 axis stabilization system in the camera body.  This is the prefect camera when photographing out of a boat that is constantly moving. 

Little Gator

I was honored to have this image win an award in the Nature & Wildlife Art Exhibition held at St. Augistine Arts Association Gallery.  I made this image in May of this year at Manatee Spring. Florida.  I enjoy photographing from a kayak because I am able to get back in area that otherwise would be difficult to access.