I haven't gotten out into the cypress swamps too much but I have a great time when I do. The migrant birds are coming through so I was surrounded with chirps. And the tracks in the mud are always great to study. Otters leave their mark just about everywhere, they sure do get around.
It is a visually intense experience. I don't think anything else could be crammed in these forests. The epiphytes cover the trees, the moccasins are hiding under the logs, spiders build webs across every opening. Slow moving, but that's how it should be.
I don't usually come away with stunners when I go into the swamp, but I always enjoy it.
This shot was midday, backlit and begged for bw. I did a bit of "glow" processing on the highlights cause I felt it perfect for this scene. Also one of the few times I brought along a compass. The foreground is gator tracks and tails drags, with a few bird and otter prints mixed in.
These aren't cypress. These are rather large pond apples(Annona glabra). There are some largish cypress in the area but the old growth is not standing. =( This is the center of a cypress strand, most have a pond in the center, the only remaining water in the dry season.
Sorry for the ramble......5dII, 16-35II@23mm f13 1/20s iso800
Very nice. Should post that one larger for sure (750px tall). The scene works perfectly. Curious your method for 'glowing' the highlights. The snake shot is rockin too :-)
Wow - nice set. My first thought when you showed the mud in #1 was "yuck - what vehicle left that?" and then I kept reading. Fascinating - the shot got much more interesting after that. The snake and the owl are incredibly sharp and clean - very nice work here Paul!
paulmarcellini wrote:
Thanks Floris, yeah real windy. I'm not hesitant of 800 on the 5d2. This was also exposed bright, so noise, what noise? =)
Oh I know, I do it all the time now too, it just doesn't look windy at all in the image, which threw me off, I guess the water wasn't getting hit with the wind? It's so nice to be able to go up to those high isos
The first photo has so many interesting characteristics. Very nice compostion, and lighting. Thank you for all the information on the location, as well.
I am sure that the viewers over in the Nature and Wildlife forum would enjoy this, also.
bshamilton wrote:
Sweet set, Paul.
I want to know how close you were to the mocassin??
Barry
Thanks Barry. =) Not as close as other shots. This was at 275 mm, but I have some of other moccasins at 75mm. Thats within striking distance.
hfillmore wrote:
Great shots. The tree is surrealistic, and the snake is captivating. Where is this?
Harvey
Thanks Harvey. This is in big Cypress National Preserve, in South Florida.
MrGreen wrote:
Awesome shots. Did you edit #1 to get that much contrast, or was it like that naturally somewhat?
It was midday so some areas were high contrast, while some areas were totally shaded so in low contrast. I dodged and burned some areas to either lower contrast or raise it, to bring what I thought was an overall cohesiveness to the image.
