Shark Valley, Everglades National Park

One of my favorite spots to photograph wildlife in South Florida is at Shark Valley, a unit of  Everglades National Park. The area was originally developed by Humble Oil, and there is a 15 mile loop road (for trams and bikes), largely bordered by water created when they “borrowed” material to make the roadbeds. It is great habitat for American Alligators and many species of large birds, often close enough for photography with conventional stereo cameras.  The birds spend most of their time on the OTHER side of the canal, but visit the near side often for brief photo ops.The land proved useless for oil drilling , so was donated to the US government. Fuji Provia 100 i n TL-120

ANHINGA PAIR   This  image shows two Anhingas (Anhinga anhinga is the scientific name, one of my favorites.) They are excellent underwater swimmers due to lack of oil waterproofing on their feathers; afterward, they need to spread their wings out to dry in an iconic pose.

GATOR CAMO  This American Alligator is peaking out from under the floating vegetation as it swims down the canal.

GREAT BLUE HERON AT SHARK VALLEY. This heron is posing at the edge of the canal.

 

CYPRESS AND BROMELIADS: This was taken in a nearby area, part of the Big Cypress National Preserve. The Cypress trees are conifers but deciduous, dropping their needle-like leaves in the winter, greening up again in the spring. The Cardinal Plant with its bright red bracts is a type of bromeliad (aka pineapple family)

Air Power

Photographed at a New York Pinup Club event at the American Air Power museum in Farmingdale NY. TL-120 with Vivitar 285H fill flash. Ilford Pan F processed with DR5. DR5 recommended rating the Pan-F at ISO 25. I believe this was a half-second exposure at f16. It’s challenging to get sharp portraits at the long shutter speeds these low ISOs require.

Halo

Photographed at the 2022 Coney Island Mermaid Parade. TL-120 with Vivitar 285H fill-flash. I was happy to see this event happen again after its two year absence, it’s a portrait photographer’s paradise.

Bagan Myanmar

Bagan Myanmar – this was in late 2015. I’m not sure if I would be able to get this shot again as climbing on these stupas has since been restricted and there was some earthquake damage in 2016.

Photographed with twin Mamiya C220s with 135mm lenses. It was quite a feat hauling that rig around Myanmar, I’m not sure if I could do that again either. Provia 100F pushed one stop.

Ariel

Photographed at the 2022 Coney Island Mermaid Parade. I was very happy to see this event take place again after a few years of its absence. Photographed with a TL-120 with Vivitar 285H fill flash, Provia 100F pushed one stop.