Iron Creek Photography®: Big Cypress National Preserve (Part II)

Monday, March 19, 2012

Big Cypress National Preserve (Part II)

70mm f/11 1/400 ISO160

63mm f/6.3 1/250 ISO125

300mm f/8 1/250 ISO400

300mm f/8 1/250 ISO320

Camo Gator

300mm f/8 1/250 ISO320

300mm f/8 1/400 ISO400

Yesterday we shared what Don was able to do with his medium format 60 megapixel camera. Today I'll share what I did with my 22 megapixel Canon 1DsIII using either the EF24-70 or 300mm lens.

300mm f/8 1/400 ISO400

300mm f/8 1/320 ISO400

300mm f/8 1/250 ISO200

With some Irish luck I got to spend St. Patty's Day with a very talented group of photographers in Big Cypress National Preserve; and got to meet and chat with Clyde Butcher at his Big Cypress Gallery. Clyde and I spoke for about 15 minutes and shared stories/visits about Death Valley and Lone Pine. He was also kind enough to sign 2012 and 2013 Clyde Butcher calendars containing amazing black and white photographs. Clyde's positive outlook is that life will exist after December 21, 2012--I love his outlook! He signed and dated my 2013 calendar March 12, 2012--let some historian figure that out in a 100 years! Thank you Clyde--you and your work are awesome and I'll cherish the time we spent together.

The other swamp buggy

70mm f/11 1/200 ISO400

43mm f/11 1/200 ISO400

One of the "softer" roads

24mm f/11 1/200 ISO100

My Guide (and Hero) Victor

46mm f/11 1/200 ISO100

70mm f/11 1/200 ISO50

After the visit at Clyde's gallery it was off to Big Cypress National Preserve where I finally got to meet Dave Gallagher whom I have heard about from Don. What a treat meeting Dave and a very nice group of photographers. It was a enjoyable day and I got to see landscape totally different from the Southwest.

52mm f/5.6 1/125 ISO200

32mm f/5.6 1/125 ISO200

60mm f/5.6 1/125 ISO200

After an in-brief from the outfitters, Lyn and Victor, off I went in a swamp buggy with fellow photographers, a guide and mechanic, and our outfitters (all men). Two hours later we arrived at our first stop. Before stepping out of the swamp buggy (in water proof boots) Victor reminded us to keep our eyes open to Cottonmouth Snakes but to have a "good time taking pictures", and I immediately heard a whimper from Dave who I thought was napping in the back seat.

70mm f/5.6 1/100 ISO125

35mm f/7.1 1/100 ISO125

52mm f/6.3 1/100 ISO125

54mm f/6.3 1/100 ISO125

Big Cypress National Preserve offers unique beauty and is well worth visiting. My thanks to Dave for the wonderful opportunity to explore Big Cypress. Also my thanks to Victor for getting me out safely.