william_sharwell

Barbara,

 

I think Ft. Desoto is the place to go. I typically start at tbe East Beach turn around area--drive into the park--turn left at the T-intersection as you face the ranger station and drive until the circular turn around. There can be good birds/racoons there--and it can be a good place for sunrise with the skyway bridge in the background.

 

As soon as sunrise is over I run to the North Beach area. In the morning I typically park by the North Beach Snack bar that is never open--walking through the lagoon-towards the gulf.

 

In the afternoon I drive to the far end of the noth beach parking lot walking across the little wooden bridge and heading towards the right.

 

Make sure to wear some old sneakers or something you dont mind getting wet.

 

If it is really low tide there can be racoons out in the mud at the east beach area I described for sunrise. There are lots of racoons in the park--some are really obese.

My experience over the last 5 or 6 years is that Gatorland is not nearly as good as the Alligator Farm for photographers. The AF is quite friendly to photographers--with a photo pass you can get in a hr early and stay past closing most nights for an additional $5 bribe to the keepers. It is possible to get into Gatorland early but my experience is that they are really unpredictable. I would not bother at this time of the year or in June with Gatorland unless it was cloudy out.

 

The AF can be spectacular in June with newly hatched chicks and older chicks making lots of noise demanding to be fed.

I usually cross the AF off my list of places to go in mid-july as it gets really hot and the summer monsoons start.

If you are into photographing birds, the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine can be spectacular but quite warm in June.

I have the Photo Trekker AW and up until last week was about to purchase a ProTrekker. One thing that is really important with the LowePro packs is to avoid over stuffing the lid compartments--otherwise it might not fit the template. I have also norticed that dressing neatly and wearing a casual blazer seems to help in getting good treatment.

I am going to "update" my N90-I a want to get either an F100 or an

F5. The advantage of the F5 would be the metering and mirror

lockup. The disadvantage would be additional weight and the $$.

 

The majority of my photography consists of bird and nature subjects

in Florida. I know many rave about the F5 metering. Of those who

own the F5 how many usually leave the camera on matrix without

correction?

 

What other questions should I be asking myself?

 

Thanks..

William Sharwell

Orlando Wetlands park is a wonderful place but I believe it may be closed for a few weeks at the beginning of January

I see you have answered the original question but I will weigh in on the subject of flash. I have taken many orangutang pictures at the zoo with flash. The flash really helps to fill out the shadows on the face. I have never hada problem at the zoo. I realize that out in the wild things are different. Most animals, wild, or zoo, will give some sort of warning when they get angry. The zoo animals tend to make moise and throw feces for example..

Good luck! Sounds like a wonderful trip and book....