Looking for ideas for a Florida photo workshop

Howdy everybody, I'm interested in possibly setting up a photography workshop

for people interested in shooting in Florida. However, I need ideas! I lived in

Florida for 13 years from high school through the beginning of my career. It's

been 7 years since I've lived there and really explored it like I used to. I

know several areas that I think would be great for photography, but any

suggestions would be appreciated. Here are some of the ideas I have:

 

Torreya State Forest west of Tallahassee... the "Garden of Eden of America"

 

drive down US 27/19 through Tampa and maybe hit some locations in Clearwater/St.

Pete?

 

continue down west coast to Alligator Alley or Tamiami Trail? Tamiami Trail hits

the Everglades walk. Any good or are there private folks who can take us out on

"safari"?

 

Go up the east coast to Jupiter and visit Blowing Rocks, Jonathan Dickenson

State Park with its awesome mangroves... any better mangrove areas?

 

get down to Miami, hit South Beach, Coconut Grove, then maybe some Calle Ocho

(8th Street)... this will appeal to the street photogs

 

Down to the Keys and hit 'em all the way down Key West.

 

 

If you know of any great locations along this route... let me know!

Sounds like you're trying to pack a lot into a week!

Anyway, I don't know Florida very well. But I believe that Ding Darling Wildlife Preserve would

be an amazing place for birds around February.

Jeff, the biggest problem is Florida's size. There are many photo ops from the panhandle down to the Keys, from coast to coast. A lot of time is spent traveling unless you select a specific area for a few days.

 

FWIW, here is what one Florida photog offers. Maybe this will give you some ideas....

 

http://www.miltonheiberg.com/Upcoming_1-EVENTS.htm

Round trip from Tallahassee to Key West is about 1,280 miles and a wee bit over 20 hours of driving. That's without breaking to go shoot this or that. You might consider one area and spend a few days shooting: Tampa Bay to St. Petersburg Beach to Tarpon Springs could take two or three days depending on what you expect to find - shoot - see.

Florida is a HUGE state. I've been living here since 1956 and haven't seen but a fraction of it, and things change faster than you can keep up with them. Most of "old Florida" is long gone. http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6344/1997/1600/Blog%2081%20e.jpg

This photo of the Ochopee Post Office was taken in the early 70's. A decade or so later it was history.