LITTLE BUTTERNUT KEY 8 © 2001

Florida Bay

I enjoyed photographing Little Butternut several years ago, so when I had the opportunity to visit the Florida Bay again, I couldn’t resist. It was interesting to see how the island had changed. The sand spit had shifted after both a hurricane and a tropical storm hit the area. However, it was still a beautiful island, deserving of many photographs! Loss of Seagrass in the Florida Bay At the southernmost aspect of the Everglades lies a multitude of mangrove islands surrounded by shallow, clear lagoon waters. Known as Florida Bay, this coastal region’s water teems with small sea life—hatchlings and young crabs, fish, shrimp, lobster, oysters, seahorses, sponges, and corals hide in the thick blades of its seagrass meadows. However, the bay, with its shallow average depth of three to five feet, is extremely susceptible to outside pollutants, such as nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers. Vast tracts of seagrass are continually lost due to a disruption in the natural saline balance. 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. Disclaimer – Cropping, contrast, and image density may vary. To learn more about the darkroom printing process, click here.