Abundant Wildlife in Florida

Normally I would not choose a state to blog about especially since I do not live in Florida. But I am making an exception. I have family in both southeast Florida and southwest Florida so I travel to this state frequently. When I go, I always take my camera even if I think I may not have an opportunity to shoot.

Already in 2013 I have been to both coasts. On my second trip to the Naples area, I did not think I would have an opportunity to take any photos, but as you can see from my recent website additions, I scored! I was not only lucky enough to capture this picture perfect sunset, but I saw abundant wildlife including a very grainy photo of a Great Horned Owl and its baby (https://www.facebook.com/kathiandkim).

I also visited the Naples Botanical Garden (http://www.naplesgarden.org) for the second time. If I lived in this area, I would be shooting photos here often. It is an awesome place especially for photo enthusiasts who love to shoot wildlife and landscapes. It has a large wetlands area plus water lilies set in a variety of natural settings ( see photo in my wildlife gallery). I arrived early in the day and captured alligators, herons, ibises, and egrets, even a snowy egret. I watched for over an hour a group of these wading birds eating and fighting over territory. I even stood within four feet of a little blue heron (in my wildlife photo gallery). Since I had been to the Gardens before, I knew when to arrive and where to go first to optimize my shoot. Homework, especially when it comes to unpredictable nature, is always important. This way a photographer has a chance of capturing the unusual and hard to get photos.

As I review the photos on my website that I share with you, I realize that a good portion come from southern Florida just above the Everglades. While Florida is ranked fourth in this country in population, it has much unspoiled land. I am fortunate to be able to visit this part of Florida several times a year. In the coming months and years as we, as a society, grapple with the effects of climate change, we need to just take a look at photos like the ones on my site to remember that our wildlife habitats are very much affected by our indifference. The number one rule of any wildlife photographer is to leave each area visited untouched or better than it was before your visit. I follow this rule religiously even if it means not getting the once in a lifetime shot. I always want there to be a “next time”.