When it comes to wildlife photography, Florida is hard to beat. On any given day, I can head out on foot or in a canoe to find amazing animals and scenery to shoot. Of course, finding the subjects is just the first step in capturing great wildlife images.

To move beyond the snapshot requires patience, practice, and an understanding of wildlife behavior. It also requires perfect light. Had it been a bright sunny day, the contrast would have overwhelmed this scene of a Great Blue Heron preparing to take flight. I was treated to a slightly overcast sky which resulted in this gentle diffused light, perfect for capturing the detail and color of the birds feathers.

Exciting wildlife photos don't happen by accident. Taking the time to understand an animal's behavior is paramount. It's that understanding that enables a photographer to safely photograph an animal without causing stress to the animal or intefering with it's natural behavior. Having lived in Florida my entire life, I've been around a lot of alligators. In many areas, Alligators and humans coexist in close proximity. Many Alligators have become habituated to human presence and in some cases have lost their fear of humans. Sadly, that makes them a greater danger and often results in their being destroyed. When photographing these wonderful animals, I use a telephoto lens that allows me to shoot from a distance that's comfortable for me and the Alligator.