BIG CYPRESS GALLERY 2 © 1992

Big Cypress Gallery

I always enjoyed driving along Tamiami Trail (Highway 41) through Big Cypress National Preserve. One spot that caught my interest was a pond near the parking lot of Orchid Isles, an old orchid nursery along the side of the road. Despite passing by the pond on several occasions, I refrained from stopping due to the numerous “No Parking” signs scattered throughout the lot. However, the pull of that pond was too strong, and I eventually decided to stop and try to capture the picture. Upon pulling over at “Orchid Isles” to photograph the pond, a wild man emerged from the house, fired his gun into the air, and shouted at me to leave his property! Needless to say, I abandoned the idea of taking the photograph at that moment. Only many years later, after purchasing “Orchid Isles,” did I finally have the opportunity to capture this image. The pond I had longed to photograph all those years ago now sits in front of my gallery, and you all are welcome to stop by and photograph it! Bald Cypress The bald cypress of these endangered wetlands stands as a monument to endurance and fortitude. This lumber, prized in the mid-twentieth century for rot-resistant wood, was harvested by loggers who removed almost all of the old-growth bald cypress trees. With a loss of its protective canopy, swamp regions struggled to support the once-abundant variety of tropical ferns, orchids, and bromeliads. Under today’s protections of state and national preserves, the cypress giants are making a comeback. Their positive effect on the Everglades’ environment is evident by the returning wildlife and plants drawn to the refuge the trees offer. Big Cypress Gallery 2 was taken with a Deardorff 8×10 camera on Tri-X film.  This photograph is hand-printed in Clyde’s darkroom on fiber-based paper, selenium toned, then mounted and matted to current archival standards. The photograph is a limited edition and signed by Clyde. Camera settings f/32 | 150mm Schneider Super-Symmar XL lens | 1/4 second. Disclaimer – Cropping, contrast, and image density may vary. To learn more about the darkroom printing process, click here.