A typical day at the St. Marks NWR

Today I am sharing a few images I recorded on a rather typical September day at the Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

September begins the transition to Autumn with flowers, pollinators, and slightly cooler temperatures.  The spoonbills and eagles have returned and the alligators abound in large numbers.

Come see it for yourself!

Jim

Ranger John McKenzie’s bench

One of the most popular benches at St. Marks NWR is dedicated to Ranger John McKenzie and is located near the lighthouse where it overlooks Apalachee Bay.

Ranger McKenzie was beloved by the St. Marks NWR community, and his untimely passing in 2011 was mourned by all who knew him. The site of the bench is a location McKenzie visited often, especially at the end of his workday. Continue reading “Ranger John McKenzie’s bench”

Infrared photography at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

My first attempt at infrared photography took place at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge for a very simple reason: the sweeping landscape, clouds, and ocean could help make any photo look good.

Most modern digital cameras can record infrared. To find out if yours does simply point your IR remote control toward the lens of your camera then either take a photo or watch “live view” while while pressing some of the remote buttons. If you see light from the remote then you camera will work, at least to some degree.

Getting setup for IR photography can be as simple as buying an infrared filter for your lens. There are a number of filters available but I got the Hoya R-72 which is probably the best for beginners. Continue reading “Infrared photography at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge”