Photographing Wildlife in the Mangrove Forest

Photographing wildlife in the mangrove forest of Florida’s Everglades is exciting. Outdoor wildlife photographer Doug Gardner will show you why. He searches for water birds in late afternoon when the tide drops, which creates food sources for the birds. From the vantage of a moving kayak, Doug shoots a flock of willets feeding in the shadows of the mangroves. The ideal lighting creates dramatic reflections. Because the birds are neutral gray, Doug goes with automatic metering. He uses a telephoto lens mounted on a mini-tripod to create beautiful portraits in the golden afternoon light. Photographing wildlife in the Everglades takes patience, but it’s well worthwhile.

See all of the videos in our Shooting the Ten Thousand Islands Course:

• Shooting the Ten Thousand Islands – Course Preview
• Photographing Wildlife in the Mangrove Forest
• Photographing Birds: Capturing Spoonbills and Pelicans
• The Saltwater Estuaries of the Everglades