One of the great things about photographing wildlife in Florida is not only the vast amount we have here, but just how close you can get to some of these beautiful animals. Many times I have heard from photographers from other parts of the country just how jealous they are of how tame some of our birds and animals are, which provide us with some amazing photo opportunities.
One such animal is the Florida Gopher Tortoise that can be found in many areas around Florida, and the best place we have found to see these rare turtles is on Honeymoon Island. One of the keys to getting great shots of these turtles is that you need to get down to their level, which means you gotta lay in the dirt and sand they live in.
I have no problem getting dirty to get a great shot, and if I ever come home clean, it means that I didn't try hard enough to get some amazing shots. By getting at your subjects level, you bring the viewer up close, and how they see their world around them. I love seeing these turtles in the wild, and they are so calm and gentle.
Dawn shot video of myself getting down and dirty to photograph a little one we found on a recent hike. This is a rare behind the scenes look at how photographers get some amazing shots, plus you also observe and learn how these creatures live in their tiny part of the world.
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Click Here To Watch Video Of Photographing A Gopher Tortoise
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As a side note, at no time was there any interaction between myself and the little turtle, for the number one rule is to respect your subject, and never place them in any danger or distract their normal behavior. After a while, they accept you in their world, and will go about their natural routine, paying no mind to you as you watch and photograph them. It's an amazing experience to say the least.
(Click on the thumbnails for a larger photo)
Robert La Follette
www.robertlafollette.com
