Born and raised in south Florida I took a lot of the beauty of Florida for granted, so I now run around with camera in hand trying to capture the beauty of Florida Nature.
What can I say about Gatorland in Kissimme Florida ? 
OK. So maybe those words don't do it how about some images from the Gatorland Rookery?
On my way home from a Doctors appointment I happened across a Swallow Tailed Kite that flew in front of my car in a very busy and public place! I pulled over and watched in amazement as this graceful Kite flew at some bushes and caught a dragonfly. The Kite soared and flew closer to me than I have ever been to a Kite. I, OF COURSE, had no camera in hand and I was miles away from getting it! I took advantage of the beauty of the Swallow Tailed Kite following it with my binoculars. After it caught another dragonfly, I saw it fly to a lone Australian Pine. While I thought it was to stop and eat its catch, it was in reality to land on a nest with it's mate already there! I felt weak for a moment and was STUNNED that this nest is in such a populated area and with such easy access! 
Of course I went back later in the day with camera in hand and managed to get a few images. 
If you have never been to Gatorland in Kissimmee Florida then you are missing out on a lifetime experience!
Gatorland is located in Kissimmee Florida just outside of Orlando
and close to all the Disney World attractions so if you plan on Disney you should DEFINITELY make time for Gatorland!
You will witness not only more Alligators & Crocodiles in one place then you will probably ever see in your lifetime you can view one of Florida most stunning Rookeries where Egrets & Herons Court, Preen, Mate & Nest a mere few feet from you! You will see nest so close you could pick up their eggs!
If you are a photographer bring extra Cards/Film & batteries.
If your are just a "picture taker" then your point & shoot compact camera will still get you images that will leave you breathless!
If you are just simply a nature lover then plan to spend a few hours because the sights are many.
Photoshop.......I have done so little in over a year that it really was scary to jump back into it and it took almost a full day to remember just what I needed to do and in what sequence but I again feel like I have a small grasp on it.
I have been culling some older images and I came across this one of a Limkin in flight
and after a few simple PS moves like Levels, Shadow & Highlight, Curves, H&S and USM I was able to bring this image to life.
I know most people hear the word Photoshop and they automatically think.....FAKE, but I assure you this is not so in most cases such as here. I would venture to say that almost every digital image can and will benefit from a few simple PS adjustments.
Checking a few of my files and I came accross this image that I somehow overlooked the first time around.
This nest at Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach, Florida provided some stunning early morning silhouettes as the Great Blue Herons were still nest building and courting in general.
The action seen in this image in known as the Twig Presentation.
Here is another image from Shark Valley taken with the specatacular Canon Mark III. The files from this camera require very little work in PS. A basic crop & some USM and....here it is.
I guess I am lucky as the Mark III shoots like a dream and the files that come out of it are like butter smooth and require very little processing. I am at a loss as to why there are so may "bad" copies out there.
Here is one of the first images from today at Shark Valley in ENP.
I have several more to share later.
Here is a unique view of a woodstorks head....with this crop it really does look like a piece of wood.
This image also makes me smile because I sometimes think to myself that I just can't take another Great Blue Heron image and then BAM! I love it.
The Great Blue Heron's are nesting again at Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach, Fl and the oppurtunity for flight shots and courtship rituals are non stop ! Great Blue Heron Wakodahatchee Wetlands 7832, originally uploaded by floridanaturephotography.
This nest became very popular with the local photographers and the woodpeckers never seemed to be alarmed in the least they came & went hourly and provided weeks worth of images.
Please visit my website for more exciting images.
http://www.floridanaturephotography.net/
This image was taken on May 2nd 2006. It was in Delray Beach, Florida at Wakodahatchee Wetlands. I was talking to a gentleman from England and I spotted this Purple Gallinule walking on the Fireflag stalk in attempt to get to the tender buds, a favorite food, at the end of the stalk. I quickly focused & fired off 6 shots and during that the Purple Gallinule opened it's wings to better balance itself.
The funny thing is that it all took place in about 2 seconds. The English man was still talking and never even turned to see what I shot. I too kept up the conversation for a few more minutes and forgot about the shot until I got home.
I am proud to say this is also my first published image.
Cool huh ?
Michael Wolf
This is the first documented Least Grebe nest in Florida !
Here a parent feeds its young a Dragonfly Larva.
This nest contains two chicks and they are approx
3 weeks old.
The Least Grebes moved their nest to the other side of the lake
just days after the chicks were born due to the threat of a alligator.
It seems that the building of the new nest sparked another set of eggs and while not confirmed 100% it looks possible as one adult is always on the nest while the other is feeding, and about once an hour or so the "nesting" adult will call out and the parent feeding the chicks will race over and swap out with the "nesting" Least Grebe.
Here is a rarity for Florida.
A nesting pair of Least Grebes !
First images shot with the stunning Canon 50D !
Pompano Beach, FL - Storm Front - Looking West over the Everglades
West Coast - USA
Here are some images from my friend Jay Paredes who first told me about HDR.
http://www.evergladesphotosociety.org/
