Everglades National Park Photographic Expedition and Digital Exposure Workshop
On Sunday, March 30, 2008 we had our first expedition to the Everglades National Park.
Everglades National Park is the only subtropical preserve in North America. The park is known for its rich wildlife and is one of the few places in the world where alligators and crocodiles exist side by side. A fresh water river, 50 miles wide and eighteen inches deep, flows from Lake Okeechobee through marshy grasslands into Florida Bay. The Everglades National Park was created in 1947 by President Harry S. Truman to preserve the wetlands and this slow-moving “River of Grass”. The park provides habitat for more than 1,600 varieties of plants, more than 350 species of tropical and temperate birds, 40 species of mammals, 50 species of reptiles and 18 species of amphibians. The wetland wilderness invites exploration to observe the natural beauty and extensive wildlife.
Our day began at 9:00AM at the Cardozo Hotel where we met our photography enthusiasts. From there we drove to the park, arriving at around 11:00AM. For the next two hours we had our exposure class, and later took an hour for lunch, during which we had a close encounter with a seven foot aligator.
From 2:00 to 4:00PM we photographed on the Anhinga Trail. This .8 mile loop trail offers one of the best opportunities to view wildlife, including alligators and birds, up close.
We later photographed at the Pa-hay-okee Overlook from 4:00 to about 5:30PM.
This .2 mile boardwalk leads to an observation deck offering a view of the vast Everglades from horizon to horizon.
While photographing in the park, we discussed exposure strategies for digital photography. We covered topics such as image visualization, light meters, metering modes, dynamic range, exposure compensation, and understanding the histogram.
It was a wonderful day in the field with a group of very enthusiastic and talented people. We thank everyone for a great experience.
Pavlova M. Greber
Executive Director
