A Year of Discovery in the River of Grass

A Year to Remember

As I look back on this transformative year, I'm struck by how a simple camera and an untamed curiosity led me deeper into Florida's wild places than I ever imagined. What began as casual wildlife photography evolved into a profound journey of discovery, pushing me beyond familiar trails and into the heart of our state's last wild frontiers.

2024 marked my commitment to not just observing nature, but truly documenting it – from pre-dawn paddles through misty mangroves to patient hours waiting in cypress swamps. Each venture into the unknown strengthened my resolve to capture and share these moments of wild Florida.

Join me as we revisit this year's most memorable encounters and images, each one a testament to stepping beyond comfort zones and into the remarkable wilderness that was always waiting just beyond the beaten path.

An adolescent American alligator rests in the slough beside the boardwalk of Anhinga Trail at Everglades National Park.

Introduction

In the depths of personal storms earlier in 2024, I found myself drawn to the wilderness not as an escape, but as a place of profound connection. Through the lens of my camera and the solitude of wild spaces, I discovered something deeper than mere distraction – I found purpose in documenting the raw beauty of Florida's untamed heart.

There's something transformative about sitting alone in nature's cathedral, where cypress knees pierce black water and morning light filters through Spanish moss. In these quiet moments, amid the whispers of sawgrass and the distant calls of birds, I found both solace and direction. My camera became more than just a tool; it became a bridge between inner reflection and outer discovery.

What began as a search for peace evolved into a journey of rediscovery, bringing me face-to-face with both the wild beauty of creation and my place within it. Each sunset spent in solitude, each quiet encounter with wildlife, strengthened not just my portfolio but my spirit as well.

Rediscovering my Backyard

My journey began simply enough - weekend wanderings through local boardwalks, my camera capturing whatever caught my eye. Armed with Google Maps and a growing curiosity, I started uncovering hidden gems in my own backyard. Each week brought a new pin on my digital map: the wading bird paradise of Wakodahatchee Wetlands, the vast wilderness of Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, and countless small preserves I'd driven past for years without noticing.

A pileated woodpecker fledgling spotted at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.

Like a naturalist mapping uncharted territory, I created a checklist of these wild spaces, each weekend bringing a new adventure. From the early morning chorus at Wakodahatchee's wooden walkways to the endless sawgrass prairies of Loxahatchee, every visit awakened something dormant within me - a child-like wonder I hadn't felt in years.

But as I checked off these accessible sanctuaries one by one, I felt the pull of something more. Beyond the maintained trails and interpretive signs lay the true wild heart of Florida, beckoning. These managed wetlands and refuges weren't just destinations - they were gateways, preparing me for deeper ventures into the unknown.

From February to as late as June, the Wakodahatchee Wetlands become an active nursery for migrating wood storks.

Florida’s [Very Hot] Wet Season

As Florida's wet season unfurled in late June, I found myself drawn back to the Everglades. What began as a simple woodpecker photography session transformed when afternoon storms rolled in, clearing the park of visitors and leaving me alone with the raw essence of this ancient landscape. In that moment of solitude on Anhinga Trail, through sheets of warm summer rain, I locked eyes with an alligator – a silent exchange between observer and apex predator that would alter my path forever.

An American alligator rests on the Anhinga Trail of Everglades National Park.

The steady drumming of raindrops on royal palm leaves became a meditation, and in that peaceful isolation, clarity struck like lightning. This wasn't just another day in the park – it was an initiation. Soon I was poring over maps, engaging with rangers, and diving deep into research about the Everglades' hidden corners. Even as summer's intensity peaked and the wetlands swelled with seasonal rains, I felt pulled deeper into the wilderness. The crushing heat and daily storms that kept others away became my constant companions as I ventured further into Florida's wild heart.

As lily pads collect droplets, they mark the beginning of Florida’s wet season - nature's vital cycle that has sustained the Everglades for millennia. These afternoon storms aren't just rain; they're the heartbeat of South Florida's wilderness.

July blazed a trail of firsts into my journey as a wildlife photographer. Armed with my newly acquired Sigma 150-600mm Sports lens – an investment that signaled my commitment to this growing passion – I ventured solo into Big Cypress's mysterious depths. Standing at the trailhead of Gator Hook, my heart pounded with equal measures of excitement and apprehension. The trail stretched before me into the unknown, and for the first time, I would face the wilderness entirely alone.

The Gator Hook Trail beckoned after a summer storm, leading me thigh-deep into swamp waters, my new glass adding welcome weight to my pack. Each splash of my boots through dark water, each distant rustle in the brush, tested my resolve. Yet with every step forward, I felt a growing sense of empowerment. Here I was, facing down years of urban comfort and ingrained fears, pushing deeper into a world few ever see.

Every step through that flooded trail was a step deeper into my evolution as a wilderness photographer, but more importantly, it was a testament to personal growth. In the heart of Big Cypress, surrounded only by the sounds of the swamp and my own breathing, I found something more valuable than photographs – I discovered a courage I didn't know I possessed.

Gator Hook Trail is one of the more popular hiking trails in Big Cypress National Preserve. However, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone hiking out there mid-day during Florida’s wet season.

You can actually catch my most recent YouTube video about my day out there here.

That sultry afternoon in Big Cypress National Preserve would gift me with what became "Eyes of the Everglades" - a moment where all elements aligned in perfect harmony. Deep beneath the cypress canopy, where filtered light barely touched the black water, an alligator's eyes pierced the surface, creating a mirror image that seemed to tell stories of ancient Florida. A dragonfly hovered nearby and landed on the stone-like alligator, adding an ethereal touch to this prehistoric scene. The image would later garner recognition, but in that moment, it was simply magic unfolding through my lens. And as if the swamp wanted to offer one more gift, my first hawk photograph rounded out a day that would forever mark my journey as a wildlife photographer.

But the month's adventures were far from over. As a result of my newfound appreciation for the Florida backcountry, I would find myself going all in and purchasing my very own pair of waterproof snake boots. Eventually, my compass pointed south to Flamingo, a place I'd only known as a distant marina on a map. The coastal prairies of the southern Everglades opened before me like an unexplored frontier, where ospreys soared overhead and American crocodiles basked in brackish waters – both first encounters that left me breathless.

Photographing an osprey for the first time off the coastal prairies of Flamingo, Everglades National Park.

Nature, however, had a harsh lesson in store. While chasing these new horizons, the merciless Florida summer nearly claimed its price. Heat exhaustion struck like a reminder that in these wild places, it's not the teeth and claws you need to fear most – it's the unrelenting sun and suffocating humidity. A humbling experience that taught me respect for the elements trumps any photo opportunity.

As July drew to a close, I ventured into the northern reaches of Big Cypress near Ochopee, where the wet season transformed trails into waterways and the mercury soared to a punishing 105 degrees. My new waterproof snake boots opened up worlds previously off-limits, allowing our small group to push deeper into untamed habitats – though the brutal heat and heavy camera gear taught me hard lessons about respect for Florida's elements.

I would find more often than not, that wildlife was harder to come by during the peak summer days of Florida. But it was the discovery of fresh panther tracks that truly changed everything, igniting an obsession that would define my future adventures: the quest to document Florida's most elusive predator.

A pair of Florida panther tracks were discovered on one of my hikes up in the Ochopee region of Big Cypress National Preserve.

Embracing Wilderness

Autumn was a fun time. I was able to visit Paynes Prairie State Park in northern Florida for the very first time, I turned 34, started sporting a mullet, and came away with arguably some of my best photos ever. We also saved a baby croc. A surreal experience that will forever live in my memories.

A juvenile American crocodile I spotted in the road on the way down to Flamingo, Everglades National Park.

Did I also mention we got my calendar cover photo during that time and caught arguably the best sunset down in Flamingo? Check out those sunset colors.

I'll never forget that moonlit September night deep in the Everglades. We came face-to-face with a behemoth bull alligator and witnessed waters teeming with tiny hatchlings, their eyes glowing like stars in our spotlights. Then, on September's final breath, magic struck – capturing "The Hatchling," a moment that would become one of my proudest images.

This was the Everglades in its purest form, raw and alive.

October was a very stressful month with "Best Man" duties for a wedding. We got to check out Long Key State Park for the first time and see loads of birds of prey and other wading birds down in the Keys. Unfortunately, a very brief window of opportunity to capture anything meaningful.

If you’re a fan of birds, especially birds of prey, consider stopping by Long Key State Park if you’re visiting the Florida Keys.

October whisked us away to Tennessee, where between wedding toasts and celebrations, the Great Smoky Mountains beckoned. At Cades Cove, a world away from my familiar Everglades terrain, ancient peaks pierced through morning mist, introducing me to a different shade of wild. Here, instead of cypress knees and alligators, rolling mountains and autumn colors painted nature's canvas.

The timing proved perfect – in Cherokee, bull elk bugled their ancient songs across autumn valleys, while our final evening brought an unexpected drama: a black bear and wild boar sharing the dusky stage (I didn’t even know boar lived out in Cades Cove, and this was my fourth visit to date). Granted, there was little to no light and the video footage came out much better than the photos I took with ISO cranked way too high for any sharp photos.

A very memorable couple of days out in the Great Smokies.

Ending on High Notes

As 2024 drew to a close, Florida's dry season has offered up its gifts. Cool December days brought wildlife into the open, leading to my first owl photographs and an unexpected honor – my image "Eyes of the Everglades" receiving Honorable Mention in my first-ever photo contest. You can read about that achievement more here.

A fitting end to a year of wild discoveries.

An American alligator basks during a sunset at Shark Valley, Everglades National Park.

Looking ahead to 2025, the trail beckons with endless possibilities. With each sunrise comes a new chance to push deeper into Florida's wild spaces, to perfect my craft, and to share these moments with the world. The panthers still roam, the light still breaks through cypress canopies in new ways, and somewhere out there, stories wait to be told through my lens.

Here's to another year of early mornings, muddy boots, and the constant pursuit of wild moments.

YHWH bless you and your families. Drink more water and touch more grass!