TAMIAMI TRAIL 1 © 1986

Western Everglades

I wanted to capture a photograph of the grassy plains, edged by palms and backlit with clouds, that was reminiscent of what I often encountered while traveling on the Tamiami Trail. I hoped the image would communicate the peacefulness I experienced many times when I made the scenic drive. On this day, clouds rolled in and created the image I had envisioned in my mind. I quickly attached an extra length of tubing to my tripod legs to get the camera up 10 feet. Of several photographs I took, I chose this one to print because I liked the crisp line where light clouds met the dark sky. Delicate Balance of the Everglades In this image, the dominant plant is sawgrass, a plant that should be in the Everglades. However, this image reminds us of the delicate balance of the Everglades. Today this area has been taken over by exotic species. Many foreign and invasive grass species were introduced through the nursery trade and the importing of cattle manure when tomato farming was practiced in the Everglades. These new plants changed the balance of plant life in the Everglades, as well as the hydrology. Tamiami Trail 1 was taken with a Deardorff 5×7 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/45 | 75mm Nikkor SW lens | orange filter | 1/4 second Disclaimer – Cropping, contrast, and image density may vary. To learn more about the darkroom printing process, click here.