Photographing The Everglades;Home of the Alligator

A visit to the Everglades or the River Of Grass, as Walt Whitman called them, will find you in the middle of nature itself.

Here you can find a wide array of things for anyone to see and an amplitude of subjects to photograph.

Some of the most common photo ops are alligators, that's why it is often called the Everglades, home of the alligator, egrets, many bird species, the occasional non-native python, manatees, turtles, colorful tree snails, the elusive Florida panther and plenty of exotic plant and flower species, such as native orchids.

It is one of the largest wetland ecosystems in the US. Mostly composed of grasslands inundated by water which is constantly flowing towards the ocean. It is more commonly known to the locals as the Glades or poetically refereed to as the River of Grass (Walt Whitman). It is bound by land, mangrove swamps, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Touring the Glades can be done in a variety of ways. It is best done by air boat, swamp buggies or through tours.

There are also horse trails and nature trails on which you can walk,drive or bicycle. If booking a tour, do so in advance as they fill up quickly and space is limited but they do offer snacks, refreshment and operators know exactly what to show you. Most tours are half a day to a full day and usually end by 5:00pm due to the ever present chance of thunderstorms.

If you plan on photographing, make sure to protect your equipment from sand and water as they are ever present. Insect repellent is always a good idea as are some personal snacks.

Talk to the tour or air boat operator to let them know what your interests are and in most cases they can plan a trip to meet your needs.

Don't be surprised if your tour goes over the ocean coast and if dolphins get acquainted with the group as they are fond of doing. You can also schedule snorkeling, kayak or canoe trips and shell hunting but the collection of any fauna or flora is prohibited by the US Parks Service.

If saving money is your priority, most park entrances cost about $10.00 per car and is valid for two days. You can then explore on car or foot. Trails are usually 2 to 4 miles in length and facilities are available on most sites. Making plans in advance can make your trip to the Florida Everglades a memorable one.