“The River of Grass,” as Florida’s Everglades is sometimes called, is one of my favorite destinations for landscape photography. Especially in the summertime when it is all about the clouds. Armed with my camera, wide angle lens, polarizing filter, and tripod wandering the back roads and swamp edges. As the day wears on, the clouds continue to grow and seemingly sag closer to to me. The shooting just keeps getting better – until the rains start!
During the summer rainy season the early heat of the day evaporates moisture from the water filled Everglades forming white puffy clouds which continue to build. With enough moisture and heat, thunderheads frequently build in the afternoon. The prevailing easterly wind coming off the Atlantic Ocean tend to push the clouds to the west toward the Gulf of Mexico. As the afternoon progresses, the clouds fill with rain as they drift to the west, but the afternoon heat often generates an easterly sea breeze coming from the Gulf. The resulting tussling between the easterlies and westerlies determines if and where our afternoon showers fall.
The giant Swamp Lilies thrive in certain areas off the beaten path. This cluster of blooms was just inches from the lens, the pregnant clouds seem almost within reach.
Much more on this week’s Photo Challenge is here.
Visit Ron Mayhew Photography.
Jeni
7 Sep 2012Phenomenal cloud shot!
fotograffer
7 Sep 2012Thank you so much.
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dunden
7 Sep 2012Your photograph always has full of energy.
It made me feel as if even clouds were living like an animal.
Really energetic and lifelike!
Great capture, Ron,
fotograffer
16 Sep 2012Thank you. I appreciate your comments.
cumakatakata
7 Sep 2012waaaaaaaaw…. good moment…..
fotograffer
16 Sep 2012Thank you.
The Retiring Sort
7 Sep 2012I just love the clouds in the top shot! It’s like they’re all lined up to head out somewhere!
fotograffer
16 Sep 2012Thanks. Your are right. They are heading whichever way the wind is blowing. 🙂
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Cardinal Guzman
8 Sep 2012That first photo is absolutely stunning.
fotograffer
16 Sep 2012Thank you so much my friend.
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dearferrero
8 Sep 2012Beautiful! Love the reflection of the clouds in the water.
fotograffer
16 Sep 2012Thanks. I waited a few minutes until the cloud was in place!
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eof737
9 Sep 2012Beautiful additions to the challenge as always! 🙂
fotograffer
16 Sep 2012Thank you for your encouraging words.
Marylinwarner
2 Oct 2012Your blogs are filled with wonderful photography. I was taken by the “Red” post as we are a family of redheads, and there are MANY shades of red but we all have the same freckles! On this blog, I was thrilled with the Swamp Lilies.
Lovely post.
fotograffer
2 Oct 2012Thank you for your kind words. Alas, in a much earlier life I was a redhead too. Still have my freckles.