Posted by Rob Coomer on December 8, 2007 at 11:32 PM
I'll be in Florida for about 5 days in a few weeks, staying around New Smyrna.
I usually spend some time around Meritt Island, and would like to visit the Everglades. We did an airboat tour a few years ago from Christmas, FL. and enjoyed it. Know of any that are photographer friendly / knowledgeable?
Any suggestions for places to visit?
I'll probably spend some time shooitng beach landscapes and lighthouses as well.
Posted by Jim Cloninger on December 9, 2007 at 9:53 AM
If you are going to the Everglades try Shark Valley. Great photo ops. You can bike or take the tour bus around.
Posted by Mia McPherson on December 9, 2007 at 11:35 AM
Agree with Jim on Shark Valley, great photo ops. Be aware the bike trail is 17 miles round trip if I recall correctly. Also Big Cypress is interesting.
Posted by Rob Coomer on December 9, 2007 at 11:48 AM
Shark Valley does look really interesting. It is a 4 hour drive from where we will be staying, but we are renting an SUV we could camp in and could make it a 2 day trip.
When I said Everglades, I guess I didn't really mean the NP, I'm just thinking out into some of the wetlands. But the more I think about it, that wouldn't be too bad of a trip to leave early AM, and spend an evening and a morning there.
Posted by David Bostedo on December 9, 2007 at 12:37 PM
Rob - I did an airboat tour a couple of months ago through this service. I thought it was fantastic, although on the wrong side of the Everglades from where you'll be. I don't know about other places, but we went early in the morning (8:30) and were the only ones on the boat, so we had the chance for some great shots. (And he was responsive about waiting until I had gotten my shot, pointing things out, etc.) The main things to see where we were were the gators, and the birdlife. The problem with airboats is that they scare the birds, so there's no getting close - at least there wasn't on ours. Seeing hundreds of large birds lift off flying away from you is still pretty impressive of course, but doesn't make for the best photos.
Anyway, I think you could probably get some good photo ops if you can get your own boat early in the morning when the light is good.
Posted by Mia McPherson on December 9, 2007 at 7:26 PM
Rob, you actually would be close to Lake Okeechobee and many state parks.
Discussion
5 repliesI usually spend some time around Meritt Island, and would like to visit the Everglades. We did an airboat tour a few years ago from Christmas, FL. and enjoyed it. Know of any that are photographer friendly / knowledgeable?
Any suggestions for places to visit?
I'll probably spend some time shooitng beach landscapes and lighthouses as well.
When I said Everglades, I guess I didn't really mean the NP, I'm just thinking out into some of the wetlands. But the more I think about it, that wouldn't be too bad of a trip to leave early AM, and spend an evening and a morning there.
Anyway, I think you could probably get some good photo ops if you can get your own boat early in the morning when the light is good.
http://www.floridastateparks.org/FindaParkRegion.cfm?Dist=Central
You are probably just as close a drive to the central west coast as the everglades, lots of great birding trails, including Ft Desoto.