Silver Springs State Park in Ocala, Florida – Silver Springs is the premier spring of Florida, truly a beautiful place. I was invited to give a presentation at the celebration of the Florida State Park System taking over this iconic tourist attraction. The park was kind enough to take to share this beautiful river with me. Floating down the Silver Springs River was like floating on air. However, jumping into that cold clear water to photograph was challenging. It often looks shallow, but after putting a paddle down into the water I would find it was VERY deep. The area was a challenge, but a beautiful challenge to photograph.
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
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When I saw this solitary mangrove surrounded by crystal clear water, the simplicity of the image attracted me to the scene. The transparency of the water illustrates the importance of clean water to the Everglades system, and I hope this photograph raises awareness and reminds us to help keep our waters pristine for future generations.
Origin of the Florida Keys
Off the southeast coast of Peninsular Florida, there are over 800 small charted islands whose origins are in the sea itself and the life it supports! Ancient sand shoals on the bottom of the ocean floor were believed to have created the shallow warm water conditions conducive to the growth of abundant corals and other calcium carbonate-forming sea inhabitants. Coral developed into dense reefs, like thick thriving underwater forests reaching from 10–18 feet in height. Over thousands of years, other marine organisms contributed to the seafloor as their skeletal remains and organic secretions accumulated. As sea level slowly receded during the last ice age, both coral and accumulated marine sediments became exposed and formed the Florida Keys.
Shell Key was taken with a Deardorff 5×7 on T-Max 100 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 | 72mm Schneider Super-Angulon XL lens | orange filter | 1 second.
Disclaimer – Cropping, contrast, and image density may vary. To learn more about the darkroom printing process, click
here.
Chasahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, Florida – Many people told us about a beautiful secret place in north Florida. the name of the place is a tongue twister: Chasshowitzka River. When we decided to do some photography along the northwest coast all we could remember was the name of the place had a “Z” in it. We eventually found the location, and true to the stories people had told us, it is a beautiful place.
We launched our pontoon boat near the freshwater spring and spent a week on the river photographing both the freshwater area and the brackish area.
Seven Cabbage Cut is taken out in the wetlands at the mouth of the river. The photograph is unusual because it was taken from our boat. I saw the scene and knew it was what I wanted to photograph. We anchored the boat and I climbed over the edge, down into the saw grass, then immediately sunk into the muck up to my waist. Setting up the tripod in the muck would be impossible. With difficulty, I climbed out of the muck and got back into the boat to consider my predicament. I knew I wanted to photograph this scene, but how?
The solution to my problem was to put out four anchors, one at each corner of the boat. They helped stabilize the boat, although we did sway slightly with the current. I set up my 12-foot ladder, tripod, and camera on the bow of the boat. After getting my focus adjusted and my film in place, Niki went to the stern of the boat and watched for the moment the boat stopped swaying, at which time I took my photo. I took seven photos that way and only one negative was without movement. It was amazing that I managed to get one good negative under those conditions.
At a later date, I became involved with the Florida Aquarium in Tampa and was pleased to find out that the ecosystem on which the aquarium is based is that of the Chasshowitzka River.
Seven Cabbage Cut was taken with an 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-45 | 120mm lens | 1/8th second | orange filter
Disclaimer – Cropping, contrast, and image density may vary. To learn more about the darkroom printing process, click
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As I explored the Santa Fe River, I encountered this amazing tree. We measured it and found it to be 53 feet around! I have never seen a cypress tree that large. Naturally, I photographed it. Without a person standing beside it the immensity of the tree isn’t evident. I loved the texture and shape of the tree contrasting against the soft mist in the background.
Our first trip to the Santa Fe River was during the dry season. The fresh spring grass was all around the base of the cypress. It almost looked like someone had been taking care of a lawn! The area was so beautiful that I was determined to return when the water was high so I could photograph again.
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.
There aren’t many large oak trees arching over the Santa Fe River, so when I saw this one I was determined to photograph it. The bank of the river was very steep. I found a spot near the tree that had a better slope, and had to stand on a large root under the water in order to set up my camera. It took a while to get my tripod solidly on the bottom, put my camera onto the tripod, focus and get read to take the photo. Just as Niki handed me the film the heavens opened up. I stood under my umbrella next to my camera for about a half-hour as the rain poured down on me.
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.
We couldn’t pass up the invitation by Tom and Kerry Hoolihan to stay at their cabin in North Florida while photographing the local area. We were amazed at the beauty of the rivers and springs in North Florida and that all these years we had missed such beauty! Photographic opportunities were everywhere, which made our visits to their cabin a fantastic experience.
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.
I first discovered the Santa Fe River during the dry season. Although beautiful, I wondered how it transformed during the wet season. When I returned in the summer, I was thrilled to see the water gently converging around the base of the cypress trees. Photographing water demands immersion, a particularly challenging environment for setting up a tripod and camera. I had to use a 7-foot ladder to disembark from the boat and enter the water. Once I waded into the chest-deep waters, I carefully positioned the tripod to capture the desired composition. Fortunately for me, as I did this, a soft mist filled the air, giving the image a sense of gentle tranquility.
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.
I took this while visiting a friend on Sanibel Island on the west coast of Florida near Ft. Myers.
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
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I had spent the day photographing deep in the Everglades with my friend, Oscar Thompson. As the day grew late, I saw the sky develop into an extraordinary cloud pattern, and I knew I’d have to make a choice. I could safely leave the Everglades while there was still light, or stay and take the photo. I chose the photograph. As the sun fell behind the horizon and the land shifted to pitch black, the swamp came alive with the sounds of nocturnal animals and insects. I was very grateful to be with Oscar, a fifth-generation Floridian, who was familiar with this daunting land.
Everglades at Night
The Everglades at night is an active, noisy, and somewhat intimidating place. As the sun sets and the bulk of wading birds retreat to rookeries for the night, the air becomes filled with different sounds. Night herons begin to bark their call and take their place along the water’s edge, hunting for amphibians, like the amphiuma and siren (eel-like salamanders). Biting insects such as the “no-see-um” and mosquito become more prevalent as predators, such as birds and dragonflies, retire for the night. Not only are the sounds different at night in the Everglades, but it also smells different. Night-blooming flowers emit a delicate fragrance to lure nocturnal pollinators such as moths and bats, and the ghost orchid attracts its only pollinator, the nocturnal giant sphinx moth, with its unique aroma.
Rock Island Prairie 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/45 | 121mm Schneider Super-Angulon lens | orange filter | 1 second.
Disclaimer – Cropping, contrast, and image density may vary. To learn more about the darkroom printing process, click
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I was sitting on my porch having my morning cup of tea when this Red-shouldered Hawk landed on the tree right in front of the window. I moved over to Niki’s Pentax with the 1200mm lens, slowly opened the window and just as I got ready to take the photograph he spread his wings into the morning sun. As the light poured through his feathers like stain glass, I took the picture.
Red-Shouldered Hawk was taken with a Pentax 6×7 camera on Ilford XP2 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/22 | 1200mm Takumar lens | 1/4 sec
Disclaimer – Cropping, contrast, and image density may vary. To learn more about the darkroom printing process, click
here.
