THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES: "WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY AND HE IS US"!!!

Today's post is a photo tour of a trip we took to the Florida Everglades. But first let me answer a question that we see in the comments occasionally. I have people asking me to post our images without the water mark or to place it on the bottom out of the way. I really understand the request and  appreciate people wanting to see our images without words written across them. I have addressed this in the past but let me repeat why I do it this way. It is kind of sad and kind of simple. People steal images on the internet and use them for their own web sites or print them. We and other photographers work very hard to present our images, not even mentioning the expense. We do sell our art, it is available on the gadget you see on this blog or by contacting me about any image you see. If I put the copyright on the bottom it would be very easy to crop it out. It is pretty easy to clone it out using Photoshop, so we need to try and make it harder for people to do. The idea that someone would steal another person's creative property is amazing to me but it does happen much more then you would guess!! I do try and keep the opacity very low so as to not intrude too much and will lower it even more in the immediate future. Thank you for your understanding.


We took a day trip to the Florida Everglades a few weeks ago. To be factual, we went to the Shark Valley part of the Everglades. It's named so because it runs into Shark Lake which derived its name from the sharks that used to live in it; a form of shark that can live in either salt or fresh water (a Bull Shark). 


The Everglades is a National Park in the US state of Florida that protects the southern 25% of the original Everglades. It is the largest sub tropical wilderness in the US and is visited each year on average by one million people each year. It is the third largest national park in the lower 48 states after Death Valley and Yellowstone. Unlike most U.S. national parks, it was created to protect a fragile ecosystem instead of safe guarding a unique geographic feature. It is home to 36 species designated as endangered or protected, including the Florida Panther, the American Crocodile and the West Indian Manatee. It is also the most significant breeding ground for tropical wading birds in North America. More then 350 species of birds, 300 species of fresh and saltwater fish, 40 species of mammals and 50 species of reptiles live within the Everglades.


In 1882 the region began to be drained for residential and agriculture use. In the 20th century the natural water flow from Lake Okeechobee was controlled and diverted to the explosive growth of the South Florida metropolitan area. The park was established in 1934 to protect the quickly vanishing Everglades and dedicated in 1947, the same year massive canal- building projects across South Florida began to divert water away from the park. The ecosystems in Everglades National Park have suffered significantly
from human activity and the repair and restoration of the Everglades is a politically charged issue in South Florida.

One example of man creating problems for himself is the Melaleuca tree which was imported from Australlia. This tree has the ability to soak up great amounts of water and was planted in the area to help soak up water and help with the establishing of land suitable for residential and agriculture purposes.  It was planted in the Everglades originally to drain water from was thought to be a river. 


Later it was realized that the Everglades is a large swamp. But it was too late. In fifty years the tree has grown to be a great nuisance in Florida especially in the Everglades. The tree grows to immense forests in the Everglades and its surrounding wetlands. Now there is a lack of water in the area and the trees keep growing and threatening the very existence of the Everglades. 


Scientists are trying to discover a way to control the growth of the trees. Herbicides are somewhat effective but fires that they are purposely starting are actually helping to spread the tree's seeds. Recently scientist have released biologically controlled insects to help in the fight against the tree. I don't know about you but this does not fill me with hope!!  We really are our the enemy!! The trees have consumed most of the Everglades Swamp and is threatening the existence of the swamp and its magnificent ecosystem. 


When we arrived at Shark Valley we parked our car and walked over to a few buildings. We purchased tickets for a tour of the area on a tram with a park ranger as a guide. We would highly recommend taking this tour if you visit. As we were waiting for the next tour we walked over to a small river. When we looked down into the river it was obvious that we were in the Everglades. In a very small stretch of water were alligators, wading birds and fish swimming around. We saw alligators swimming up and down the river while others were near the shore almost hidden in the vegetation.

I find these creatures amazing to observe; seemingly sleepy and unfazed by what is around them but if something they perceive as food gets anywhere near them, you see their large eyes open and lock on to the target. They seem like something left over from another period of time. It is believed there are over 1.3 million alligators in Florida. That census is derived by determining the amount of suitable habitat and the average density of alligators in that habitat. To try and actually count the alligators would be time consuming, expensive and relatively dangerous.  


One of the birds that live in the Everglades in the Anhinga, a water bird. It does not have oil glands for water proofing its feathers like most water birds. When it goes fishing its feathers get wet. This helps it dive and chase fish under water. However, when it is above water it must spread its wings to dry in the sun. It can fly with wet feathers but not as well. The Anhinga spears its prey with its pointed beak like an arrow. Sometimes the thrust is so powerful that it needs to swim to shore and pry the fish off its beak by rubbing the fish against a rock. 


As I walked up the river I saw something under the murky water. First all I saw was the fan tail and I had no idea what it was. Then in a matter of seconds I saw the rest of the Anhinga swimming around under water looking for food. In this image you can see it underwater swimming around. It is really amazing to see this large bird swimming under water. 

 After a short time it came closer to the top and stuck its head out of the water to breath.

About 10 minutes later it surfaced and went on shore spreading its wings to dry in the sun.

 About 25 feet from the Anhinga I spotted a Blue Heron in the river.

                                  A really beautiful bird!


Even in this river you could see part of the different ecosystems.

            But be careful, in this lush vegetation lurks danger!!

Soon it was time to get on the tram for our tour. Here's a tip if you're looking to take pictures. When you take your seat sit on the left (when looking to the front). There seemed to be more opportunities to photograph some on the inhabitants on that side. Phyllis sat there. I sat on the right!!!

Our next post will include images from our tram ride through the  Florida Everglades. 


( I need to give credit for part of the title of this post "we have met the enemy....... It is a line from an American cartoon. Pogo that ran for many years written by Walt Kelly. He penned the line many years ago and used it on a Earth Day Poster)

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE JOY!

I am very happy to have guest blogger today. She is someone I admire for many reasons. She is smart, creative, kind, compassionate and she has put up with me for almost 25 years. Todays post is penned by my wife Phyllis, it is kind of  the second part of my Revere Beach to Kokomo post of Monday, but not exactly. Which describes Phyllis's and my personalities, we are identical, hmm but not exactly. Which make for an extremely fun and interesting life together.  I hope you enjoy reading about Phyllis's day/life as much as I have had living it with her.


While Jim and I drove through the Keys, I thought about the beach, my friends and my dad. In 1970, my dad and mom decided I should have a car for college. My parents both worked two jobs so we couldn't afford much but the paper showed some end of the year Ford sales for $1999, so we went. When we got to the lot, my dad and I looked at all the cars outside and even though they were nice, they didn't make my heart race. We decided on a dark navy four door and went inside with the salesman. When we stepped into the showroom, I saw this INCREDIBLY cool car. It was lime green with a black scoop called a Maverick Grabber. My eyes POPPED so wide, I almost fainted.


When my dad came back from the salesman's office, he handed me a set of keys. He said, "I know when we came here, we had a certain thing in mind, but when I saw your eyes light up, there was no way we couldn't make you as happy as you've made us."  He handed me the keys to the shiny green car and I started jumping around like a NUT!!. As soon as the car was ready, I drove to my friend, Ev's house. We picked up a few other girls, drove to Nahant Beach and parked near the changing building because that's where all the kids from Melrose parked.  My friends thought it was so cool for me to have a brand new car and I felt like the BIGGEST kid on the block.


We stayed at the beach all day running back and forth from the parking lot to the blanket, so other kids from high school could see the car. I talked and laughed with kids I never would have spoken to if the car hadn't been there to 'break the ice' and to this day, when I'm at the beach, I think of the freedom and joy of being young.


When Jim and I stopped to photograph these board sailers, I marveled at that same freedom and joy. Each time one of the young men I saw crashed through the surf or flipped off the ramp, I felt the exhilaration of being young again. Even as we age, it's vital to be a part of something spontaneous, exciting and fun. Since we took these images, I've added a few good years to my life. I hope it does the same for you!

                When I saw this image in camera, I wanted to yell, 
                                        "WEEEEEEEE"!

FROM REVERE BEACH TO KOKOMO!

I put a video of the Beach Boys singing Kokomo at the beginning of this posting. I suggest playing it in the background while you watch these young people enjoying their beach and maybe think back to your beach, when you were young and life was in front of you!. 


When we visited the Florida Keys last week we stopped and photographed a group of people board surfing. Phyllis and I photographed it without consulting with each other.  The only thing we knew was that we were photographing with two different focal lengths. Phyllis would be shooting with an eye toward the closeups while I would be looking more for wide angle images. Phyllis was looking to capture the action while I concentrated more on the relaxing atmosphere and beauty of this spot. We will post Phyllis' images on Wednesday.


If you are not familiar with the Beach Boys, they are called America's Band. They were formed in 1961. Their songs reflected a life style and youth culture of surfing, cars and romance. I remember when I first heard their songs, I instantly became a big fan. I was of that age, when that culture defined what the ultimate teenage life would be. Hanging out at the beach, in my case, would be Revere Beach in Massachusetts, pretty far from California but it had the ocean. My buddies and our girls were sitting on the wall overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, no surfing but still a great time in our lives. Born from an innocent freedom that I'm guessing most of us yearned for as we got older. Seemingly our only worries being if the girls we were sure we loved would go out with us. 


Many had problems at home but we didn't speak of them, especially not at the beach, with our buddies, on the wall looking out at the Atlantic Ocean. We just enjoyed the sun, girls and the Beach Boys on the radio of a passing car; getting a coke and a slice at Bianchi's or clams at Kelly's planning who we could get to buy us a six pack of Bud or for some of us Heineken beers, later that night!  Hanging out with our buddies on Broadway at night. A bunch  of us squeezing into a car to see movies ( yes plural) at the Revere Drive In, listening to the radio as we drove down Revere Street, who was better then us!!!  But it was the summer , the beach and our friends that stands out. Yes, life was good for those fleeting moments on the wall at Revere Beach. They formed memories that I still cherish. I truly hope Lou, Bill, Roger, Denise, MaryAnn, Arlene and Linda all remember and cherish them. too.


As I photographed this generation of young people on their beach, I wondered what beaches they would have 40 years from now. Would there be beaches to enjoy? Would they find their beach, their happy, ultimate adult life? I hope so. If they do, I hope they realize it and take the time to enjoy it. It can be more fleeting as you get older.  I have been one of the lucky ones. I have found my beach, my girl, my wall and my happiness. I try to remember to enjoy it everyday, down here in Florida, close to Kokomo.

   Some just come to watch and maybe dream a little!!!

   
When these two were young was this their beach, if so what memories have they? Are they happy or wishing for another chance to surf the ocean? I hope they're happy. I wish them peace, happiness and love!

No matter what age you are, find your beach and be happy. Enjoy your life! It can be like a great bottle of wine; rich with flavor, containing beautiful shades of red, blacks, whites, yellows and it can provide great memories. But once the bottle is empty, it is just a glass container. Enjoy it while it is still full!!!

SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TODAY!!!

Good Morning everyone, today there are no pretty images, song lyrics  or tutorials. Yesterday my nephew Paul sent me an email, it was one of those that one person sends to all his friends and family. The kind I usually glance at and then delete. This one was different, this one I didn't delete. At the end when it asked the reader to send it along to others, I thought this would be the best way for me to send it to my friends and family.  Please take a moment to read and if you are inclined please pass it on, to your friends and family.  I have to admit I thought long and hard about doing this blog. This is not a political blog, it never will be, it is a spot for people to see the beauty in this world through our eyes. I wondered if this was the place to show this. I almost decided not to. Then I remembered two quotes that I have heard all my life. "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" and   "First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out --  Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out -- Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out -- Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me." The gentleman whom this quote is attributed to was Martin Niemoller. He was an ardent nationalist and prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last 7 years of Nazi rule in concentration camps. Someone to remember The world hasn't just become wicked...it' s always been wicked. The prize doesn't always go to the most deserving. Irena Sendler... In 2008, there was a death of a 98 year-old lady named Irena. During WWII, Irena, got permission to work in the Warsaw ghetto, as a Plumbing/Sewer specialist. She had an 'ulterior motive'. She KNEW what the Nazi's plans were for the Jews (being German). Irena smuggled infants out in the bottom of the tool box she carried and she carried in the back of her truck a burlap sack, (for larger kids). She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto. The soldiers of course wanted nothing to do with the dog and the barking covered the kids/infants noises. During her time of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants.  She was caught, and the Nazi's broke both her legs, arms and beat her severely. Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out and kept them in a glass jar, buried under a tree in her back yard.  After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived it and reunited the family. Most had been gassed. Those kids she helped got placed into foster family homes or adopted. Last year Irena was up for the Nobel Peace Prize. She was not selected. President Obama won one year for his work as a community organizer for ACORN and Al Gore won also -- for a slide show on Global Warming.

In MEMORIAM - 63 YEARS LATER Please read the little cartoon below carefully, it's powerful.  Then read the comments at the end.

It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War inEurope ended.

This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians  who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated!

Now, more than ever with some , claiming the HOLOCAUST to be 'a myth'.

It's imperative to make sure the world never forgets, because there are others who would like to do it again.

This e-mail is intended to reach 40 million people worldwide!

Join us and be a link in the memorial chain and help us distribute it around the world..

Please send this e-mail to people you know and ask them to continue the memorial chain. 

Please don't just delete it. 

It will only take you a minute to pass this along.. 

Thanks!

THE ANATOMY OF A CANDID PHOTOGRAPH

In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, one of the definitions of candid is; relating to or being the photography of subjects acting naturally or spontaneously without being posed. Wikipedia describes candid photography as unposed and unplanned, immediate and unobtrusive. 

This past weekend, Phyllis and I spent a day on the Florida Keys. The Keys really excited me as a Floridian and a photographer. I can see us going back there many times. With its blue skies, white sand, great sunsets and shallow beaches, it is a great place for a photographer. This was not a planned visit. We found ourselves within a few hours of the it and decided to scout out the area. This is something we will do when we have not visited an area previously. 

We were there only a few hours and knew we would be coming back. The Keys are different than other areas of Florida. If you're expecting expansive picture postcard beaches for sunbathing, swimming and shelling, you'll find those on the 'mainland' but not on the Keys. But there are special tucked away places, little coves where sand has collected; easily missed spots of sand hidden among mangroves, not so long stretches of beach, small, man made, man enhanced, or by geological fluke, natural.

Why are there no 'real beaches'? The Keys have a spectacular coral reef, the only living coral reef in the continental U.S. running parallel along it lengths. The reef acts as a barrier to the waves coming in from the Atlantic Ocean preventing waves from pounding against the shoreline rocks, thereby inhibiting sand being made and its buildup. As a matter of fact many of the Keys' beaches are really tidal flats where sand has piled up and you may have to wade out quite a way to reach deep water.

As we were driving along we spotted one of these tucked away spots. Pulling into a small parking area, enough for maybe a dozen cars, we were lucky to find one empty spot to park. This is what we saw as we drove in and parked.

We saw a wonderful view of blue skies, turquoise waters, white coral sands and people para gliding.  When we are out like this 'hunting', Phyllis and I will usually have two different focal lengths on our cameras. This time Phyllis had her 18-200 zoom and I had my 17-55 zoom. We also do this when photographing an event like a wedding. This allows us to cover an event or area from both a wider angle and close up. 

Phyllis started concentrating on the para gliders and I started looking for landscapes and people images. I took a few images like the above one, getting my initial settings and trying to 'see' an image that intrigued me. Off to my right I saw this tree.

  

I thought maybe I could work with this tree; the blue skies, white sand and green/yellow leaves would help me create something.

That white that you see in the background is the coral sand/ rocks that are under the water. You can see the turquoise water farther out. I was figuring out what I could do; maybe a wide angle  showing the single lonely tree out on this beach? I was sure that it might work but I wasn't that excited yet.

Then a young man walked into my shot and sat down. Many times this would be a problem but not this time. As he sat looking out at the ocean and the para sailers, I thought this is getting me excited. Here we go; the lonely young man looking out at the sea, contemplating his life, where has he come from and where is he going; a man in the prime of his life sitting alone under lonely tree! Maybe just a silhouette, making him the every man!!

But then, there was a change in my story line.

 Here comes his family into the scene. Alright, this is good; not the lonely man but a couple and their child looking out at the ocean, maybe thinking about what the world has in store for their son.

But the story changed once more. The young child's real father called him back to where his family was sitting away from this young couple. Poof, there goes my family storyline.

So now we have two attractive young people on a white sand beach in Florida sitting under a tree looking out at the ocean. Okay, this is not bad, as long as she sits down next to him. Please walk over and sit down next to him Happily, that is what she did.

 Okay, now I wanted to catch a candid moment; an unplanned, unposed, unobtrusive moment in this young couple's life/day.

I always feel that a candid does not need to be a 'catch as you can' image. Sometimes you do only get that one shot before you're noticed or before something happens to take the scene away; a young women standing at a bus stop then the bus pulls up and she's gone. You had time for maybe one shot. Exposure might be okay, composition might be okay.

But sometimes you can stay in the shadows so to speak. Your subject is not aware of you at all or not aware that you're photographing them.  Okay I know this sounds a little creepy but I always do approach them and let them know what I was doing and offer them a few free copies. But only after I am finished. Here was a little of both I think. I had a pretty good distance between us and if they did see me, it would look like I was photographing the ocean and para sailers. I could take my time and get my exposure right where I wanted it and also try different compositions. Which is what I started doing. What about a view from behind them? Seeing what they are seeing as a point of view. It was not bad; a certain look but not what I wanted.

 
As more people came into their view, I took another shot. Again alright but not what I wanted. If you look at their body language, they are sitting together but leaning away from each other; taking away from the intimacy of the moment I wanted to capture.

So I moved back to their left, looking to capture a moment! On this next one I love how he is resting his head on his hand and with this composition they look closer more intimate. They really could be two young people looking out at into the sea, wondering about what life has in shore for them.

    
When the sailboat came into the image, I thought it was a welcome addition. Its presence helped build an island atmosphere. The breeze picked up and billowed her dress and I think it added to the feel of a warm tropical day, cooled by a gentle breeze.

I kept moving slightly, waiting to capture a moment, a memory.

    
Whenever I photograph moments like this I cannot help but add a possible storyline to it. In my mind I see a young couple in love on a beautiful beach together. But there seems to be something on their minds. Did they just meet and fall in love but now need to get back to their real worlds, maybe far apart from each other?
Did they just have an argument? Is he thinking of asking her some important question that will shape both of their futures? Or are they just trying to figure out where to eat tonight? I will never know and for my purposes it really does not matter. 


I spent a few minutes observing their lives and documenting that time to the best of my ability. I created a story hopefully in each image. If you look at these images and feel something or add your own storyline to it then I have accomplished what I wanted with my photography.


The next three images are my favorites of the two of them together.

   
What is she pointing at? I have no idea but as soon as I saw her point, I took the image. It could represent her pointing to the rest of their lives together or a red boat. It really is up to what the person seeing this image, you, feels!

  
After awhile the young man got up and walked away. I actually spoke to him and told him I had taken some images and that I would have them on my blog where they could see them if they wished. I would send them a copy of the images if they liked them.

Now, I had this very attractive young women sitting alone and I started shooting.

Until this last image, I know they did not see me. I think she might have realized I was photographing her after this image was taken.  

This was the last image I made.

By the way, this beach was not that empty as you can see in the images I shot from behind the couple. Those people did not move throughout this whole sequence but I did choose to remove them in post production. It worked better for the story I was trying to convey with these images.