South Florida Everglades Photography | Lee Smith Photography

Everglades National Park – Landscape Photography

Photos by Lee Smith

Traveled to Everglades National Park to find locations to photograph. I traveled from Long Pine Key, down to Flamingo. The area is still a beautiful area and offering loads of photographic opportunities.

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Dragonfly of the Glades

Photo by Lee Smith
(Click on the image for a Larger View)

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A Busy Bee landing on a flowering Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)

Photo by Lee Smith

A Bumble Bee landing on a flowering Pickerelweed

Everglades National Park, Florida

Photos by Lee Smith

We got up at 5am to travel down to Flamingo in the Everglades. The roads were clear and the temperature just turned a little cooler. We traveled first location – Long Pine Key to capture the sunrise. As soon as we got out of the car, the mosquitoes attacked. We sprayed the Lemon Eucalyptus repellent, but it really did not work. I had to pull a screen protection for my head, but I was bit before I even got it on.

Anyway, we braved through the swarms of skeeters and captured the sunrise. After the sun began to rise, we raced back to the car to head down to Flamingo and explore for more locations to photograph. It was a great day , but the mosquitoes were not fun. Definitely going to wait till it gets cooler to visit the Everglades!

Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park at Sunrise - 6927 — Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park at Sunrise – 6927

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Long Pine Key – Everglades

Photo by Lee Smith

Hoping and waiting to catch the light and clouds just right. On this day, I left my home and saw clouds in the sky – only to arrive at this location to see the skies had completely cleared. I got my camera & tripod setup then waited for the morning glow at Long Pine Key in the Everglades National Park. I took several long exposures and even a few HDR’s as the light brightened on the horizon. Nature’s beauty appears in the moments between light and dark. (3/8/2014)

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Kayak Trip in Chokoloskee, FL

Photos taken by Lee Smith

Traveled to Chokoloskee, FL to take a kayak tour with my friend Don McCumber from the Everglades Area Tours company. The area is alive with beauty and it is vast. An August trip does have a few set backs as far as heat and the mosquitoes, but if you plan carefully it is all doable. We traveled a few miles from the Everglades Area Tours store back to 41 to a location called Turner River where there is a secluded boat launch. We loaded our two man kayak and set off on our short trip as we traveled a few miles down stream through the tree lined river shores and the Mangrove Tunnels that opened to a sea of sawgrass. It was a very comfortable trip on this day with a small breeze, but in some areas there were fierce mosquitoes & slow branches almost blocking our path. My guide, Don, knew exactly what to do and how to travel through the dense areas. I sat up front and was taking photos as Don paddled guiding us over the river. It was an awesome area full of beauty. I saw many birds and only one small alligator, but in the beginning of the morning we heard the growling of the larger Everglages gators as they were waking up. I look forward to doing another Kayak trip – the Team at Everglades Area Tours were awesome – I rented my kayak, vest and paddle from them as well. Contact the Everglades Area Tours to arrange a kayak tour, they have plenty to choose from!