Long Pine Key

Everglades Sunrise

An Everglades Sunrise – the mist shrouded lake glowed as the sun rose.
It was 4:30am, as I left my house with my friend Ivan, traveling south to Everglades National Park. We arrive at 5:50am, at the Long Pine Key Lake, where it was so dark we could see the Milky Way. For some strange reason someone left three bright lights on at the south side of the lake. As we got out of the car, we felt the coolness of the morning – it was 57 degrees in APRIL! We thought that the mosquitoes would not bother us, but we were very wrong. Fortunately I packet my screening for my hat and quickly put that on as we stood by the lake. The mosquitoes were intense. I can feel the itchy bites on my fingers as I write this. After shooting for about an hour, the sun finally started to rise above the horizon, creating this wonderful rays of light through the fog around the Island. I shot many photos trying to get this image. I was so happy to capture this moment – it made my day!

An Everglades Sunrise - the mist shrouded lake glowed as the sun rose
Everglade – IMG_1446-HDR

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
Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park at Sunrise - 6953
Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park at Sunrise – 6953
Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park at Sunrise - 7010_1_2
Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park at Sunrise – 7010_1_2
Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park - 7078
Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park – 7078
Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park - 7141_2_3
Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park – 7141_2_3
Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park - 7153_4_5
Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park – 7153_4_5
Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park -7192
Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park -7192
Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park - 7194
Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park – 7194

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)

Everglades - Long Pine Key - IMG_0900_1_new
Everglades – Long Pine Key – IMG_0900_1_new

Long Pine Key, Everglades

Photo by Lee Smith

Long Pine Key, Everglades

Long Pine Key, Everglades, FloridaIMG_0900_1_new
Long Pine Key, Everglades, Florida – IMG_0900_1_new

 

The Darkness with a Star

Long Pine Key was dark, the mist lightly covered the lake. I know that is not a star, but that beautiful spot of light is Venus  -it shined like a jewel in the sky

Long Pine Key with Venus, Everglades National Park
Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park – IMG_0894_6

Long Pine Key – Everglades National Park

I drove down to the Everglades this morning to catch a sunrise and to visit a Meetup group. This photo was taken 30 minutes before dawn. No clouds in the sky. The air was cool and very still. There was a shroud of mist across the lake.

Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park

 

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