Big Cypress Swamp - David Mathre Photography

Five-Years Ago (11-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America 2014 Road Trip. Day 11: Big Cypress Swamp National Preserve.

Pair of Queen Butterflies on a wildflower along the Loop Road. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec).

Pair of Queen Butterflies on a Wildflower. Big Cypress Swamp National Preserve in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (10-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America 2014 Road Trip. Day 10: Clyde Butcher’s Swamp Cottage.

Baby Alligator with five mosquitoes, next to the back pond at Clyde Butcher’s Swamp Cottage, Big Cypress Swamp in Florida. I didn’t realize that the baby alligators were this colorful. Momma gator was nearby keeping an eye on how close I got.

Baby Alligator with (5) Mosquitoes. Next to the Back Pond at Clyde Butchers Swamp Cottage -- Big Cypress Swamp in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 1600, 400 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre) — Baby Alligator. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 1600, 400 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (10-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2014 Road Trip. Day 9: Big Cypress Swamp.

While staying at Clyde Butcher’s Swamp Bungalow, I went for a “Swamp Walk” in the Big Cypress Swamp with Kristen and Angela. Before the trip, I got a pair of waders from Cabela’s. Not really sure what I was getting into, I only took a walking stick/monopod and my trusty Leica X2 travel camera. It was a lot of fun — and we didn’t see any alligators or water moccasin snakes. Just the week before, one of the invasive 15+ foot Burmese pythons was caught nearby.

Follow the leader into the jungle. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/80 sec). (David J Mathre) — Follow the leader into the jungle. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/80 sec). (David J Mathre)

Time to get your feet wet. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/80 sec). (David J Mathre) — Time to get your feet wet. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/80 sec). (David J Mathre)

Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/100 sec). (David J Mathre) — Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4.5, 1/100 sec). (David J Mathre)

Feet are now wet. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/50 sec). (David J Mathre) — Feet are now wet. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/3.5, 1/50 sec). (David J Mathre)

Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre) — Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)

Just about out of the jungle. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre) — Just about out of the jungle. Swamp walk with Kristen and Angela in the Everglades behind Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)

Two-Years Ago (12-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America. February 2014 Florida Road Trip. Day 12: Big Cypress National Preserve.

Dew covered spider webs at sunrise. Big Cypress Swamp National Preserve in Florida. First image is a composite of three images taken with a Nikon Df camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. Raw image processed with Google HDR Efex Pro. The second image is a single exposure with the same camera and lens.

Dew Covered Spider Web at Sunrise. Big Cypress Swamp National Preserve in Florida. Composite of 3 Images taken with a Nikon Df camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 100, 140 mm, f/8, 1/50, 1/13, 1/3 sec). Raw image processed with Google HDR Efex Pro. (David J Mathre)

Dew Covered Spider Web at Sunrise. Big Cypress Swamp National Preserve in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 100, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec). (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (13-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America. February 2014 Florida Road Trip. Day 13: Big Cypress National Preserve.

Snowy Egret, Wood Stork, and Immature White Ibis at Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/6.3, 1/320 sec). Image converted to B&W with Capture One Pro 7.

Snowy Egret, Wood Stork, and Immature White Ibis at Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/6.3, 1/320 sec). Image converted to B&W with Capture One Pro 7. (David J Mathre)