Into the Dark: "Eyes of the Everglades" Captures Contest Honor
2024 Everglades National Park Photo Contest Results
“Eyes of the Everglades'“ photo by yours truly. One of my personal favorite captures this year from Big Cypress National Preserve.
The 2024 Everglades Photo Contest has come and gone! The grand prize winner, second place, and honorable mentions have finally been published.
I'm honored to share that my photograph "Eyes of the Everglades" received Honorable Mention in the 2024 Everglades National Park Photo Contest! This year's theme, "A Traveler's Trails," resonated deeply with my own journey into Florida's wild heart. As I scrolled through the incredible entries from talented photographers across the country, each image telling its own story of discovery and connection, I felt humbled to have my work recognized among them.
Funny enough, it was my first day with my new Sigma 150-600mm Sports telephoto lens when I scored the photo.
My image was captured during a sultry July afternoon on Loop Road in Big Cypress, where my own trail of discovery began. In the gathering darkness beneath the cypress canopy, a lone alligator's eyes pierced the black water's surface, embodying the ancient mystery of these swamps. This moment marked a turning point in my evolution as a "Florida Man" – not the kind that makes headlines, but one who finds solace and purpose in the untamed backcountry of the Everglades.
Looking back, this recognition feels like a milestone in a greater journey. What started as exploratory ventures into the Everglades has blossomed into a full-blown love affair with Florida's wilderness. Every trail, whether well-worn or barely visible through the sawgrass, has led me deeper into understanding this remarkable ecosystem and my place within it.
Shortly after photographing the alligator for my “Eyes of the Everglades” photo, the crocodilian decided to swim off deeper into the darkness that is Big Cypress.
Catch the day I captured that photo with my new Sigma telephoto lens on a solo swamp hike through Big Cypress National Preserve in one of my most recent YouTube videos.
You can purchase a print of the “Eyes of the Everglades” over at my Darkroom shop here. For a limited time, I'm offering 10% off all photo prints in my gallery. Whether it's the mystical glow of "Eyes of the Everglades" or the serene beauty of Florida's wading birds, each image tells a story of our state's remarkable wilderness. This special offer runs through December 31st – the perfect opportunity to give the gift of nature or add a touch of wild Florida to your own space.
Also, be sure to check out the high resolution submissions of the 2024 Everglades Photo Contest over at the official Everglades National Park website!
