Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) With Catch
A great blue heron who appears to be very proud of his catch, at the Shark Valley Visitor Center in the Everglades National Park. Shot at f/8 at 1/1000 second at ISO 400 with a Nikon 800mm supertelephoto lens.
Wood Stork (mycteria americana)
Early in the morning this wood stork was warming up in the sunshine at the Shark Valley Visitor Center. Shot at f/10 at 1/400 second at ISO 100 with a Nikon 800mm supertelephoto lens.
Green Heron (butorides virescens)
Standing taller than usual to see better, a green heron looks for breakfast at the Shark Valley Visitor Center in Everglades National Park. Shot at f/10 at 1/400 second at ISO 100 with a Nikon 800mm supertelephoto lens.
Old Newspaper Boxes
Looking down at old newspaper boxes stored behind the Florida Times-Union building in Jacksonville gives a colorful but confusing image. Shot at f/5 at 1/640th second at ISO 200 at 29mm.
Jacksonville, Florida, at Night
Looking across the St. Johns River at night with some of Jacksonville's bridges and a boat cruising on the river. Shot at f/22 at 30.0 seconds at ISO 400 at 14mm.
American Alligator (alligator mississippiensis) "Sleeping"
It might look like it is sleeping but this alligator is ready to go at an instant's notice. In fact, its eye was open in the next shot. This was taken at the Shark Valley Visitor Center of the Everglades National Park. Shot at f/9 at 1/320th second at ISO 400 at 800mm.
Brilliant Swamp Plant
Although I lack the knowledge to identify this plant, it certainly stood out in the early morning light at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Florida. Shot at f/5 at 1/2500 second at ISO 1000 at 18mm.
North American River Otter (lontra canadensis)
One of a pair of otters that swam in the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and then climbed onto a log, this one, the male, took a quick drink. Shot at f/8 at 1/320 second at ISO 8000 at 400mm.
Banded Water Snake (nerodia fasciata fasciata)
Carefully balanced on a stick, the snake seemed bored by the attention and appeared to yawn before turning around and heading back the way it had come. Shot at f/6.3 at 1/4000 second at ISO 8000 at 280mm.
Old Shell on a Stick
An old shell that someone put on a stick in some trees at Lovers Key State Park. Shot at f/5.6 at 1/1000 second at ISO 64 at 220mm.
Three trees at Sunset
Only the trunks of these trees remain, right at the edge of the surf, at Lovers Key State Park as the sun approaches the horizon. The one on the left has a shell stuck on the top that looks like a duck's head. Shot at f/22 at 1/5 second at ISO 64 at 62mm.
Shell Tree at Sunset
Just as the sun reached the ocean, I shot a dramatic tree stump onto which people had placed many shells. It is located at Lovers Key State Park. Shot at f/6.3 at 1/250 second at ISO 64 at 38mm.
Bald Eagle (haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Shot when the sun was just hitting the horizon while sitting just above its nest. The focal length comes from using an 800mm lens with a 1.4x teleconverter, and it's still sharp! Shot at f/8 at 1/2000 second at ISO 1600 at 1150mm.
Great Egret (ardea alba) With Chick
It is amazing to think that a chick as unattractive as this can grow up to be a beautiful bird like its parents. The nest is part of the Venice Rookery, a popular photography spot. Shot at f/8 at 1/3200 second at ISO 4000 at 800mm.
Black-Crowned Night-Heron (nycticorax nycticorax)
Gathering materials for its nest, the heron was not shy at all about landing very close to me and stayed very calmly for a couple of minutes. Shot at f/11 at 1/500 second at ISO 1250 at 290mm.
American Alligator (alligator mississippiensis)
Alligators are not only apex predators, they are also ambush predators. This alligator had been sitting long enough that the water had gone completely still leaving only his eyes and the tip of his nose showing. Shot at f/8 at 1/1600 second at ISO 400 at 400mm.
Black-Crowned Night-Heron (nycticorax nycticorax)
Flying gently into a setting sun against clouds lit up in yellows and golds, a heron moves to its overnight resting spot. Shot at f/8 at 1/2500 second at ISO 400 at 400mm.
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
Shot in the light of a very low sun, the gold light and clear reflection make a great blue heron glow. Shot at f/8 at 1/1600 second at ISO 2000 at 300mm.
Morning Swamp Glowing
Shot during a Swamp Tour at Big Cypress Gallery in Big Cypress National Preserve, the individual needles of the trees glow with dew as the first brilliant light of sunrise reach into the swamp. Shot at f/14 at 1/2000 second at ISO 2000 at 70mm.
Blue Swamp Reflection
The early morning sky reflected in the water of the Big Cypress National Preserve on a walk through the water behind the Big Cypress Gallery. The swamp is very quiet but very full of life and is a magical place to visit! Shot at f/14 at 1/125 second at ISO 4000 at 70mm.
Cypress Sucker
A sucker growing on the bottom of a large cypress tree during a Swamp Tour behind the Big Cypress Gallery. Early morning light was just reaching into some of the darker corners of the swamp. Shot at f/8 at 1/200 second at ISO 800 at 70mm.
Dragonfly in Big Cypress National Preserve
A rather startlingly colored dragonfly that was courageous enough to let me take several shots before I left. Shot at f/16 at 1/400 second at ISO 800 at 70mm.
Osprey (pandion haliaetus)
The osprey watched me as it flew over very slowly, showing the underside of the wings and its legs very clearly. The blurry thing below it is a bug that was not in focus but was large enough to be recorded. Shot at f/8 at 1/1600 second at ISO 400 at 400mm.
