Mystic Morning in Myakka, Florida

I just love live oak trees! I have been trying to capture the perfect photo of a live oak tree reflecting over a pond, and after coming to this area of Florida many times for years I finally captured it! Everything has to come together for this type of photo: the soft morning light, the fog, the time of year later in the summer rainy season, the ferns being green after a fresh rain, and enough flooding of the nearby river to create a pond around the trees. Too many times I had been here in the dry season when everything was brown and no water, or the light was too harsh later in the morning. My husband and I got up really early that morning and drove out into the foggy Florida countryside when it was still dark. As the sun rose above the horizon the mist hung over open fields and sparkled on the cobwebs along tree branches and fence posts. We had a huge storm the night before, and we were curious how much the Myakka River flooded. Usually this time of year it overflows into huge fields and into the road. Would the road be closed? Our favorite area to drive was on the other side near Myakka River State Park. As we got closer we saw the river level had grown quite high, covering branches that stretched over the river, but not high enough to cover the road. It flowed very fast, and very close to the top of the bridge. So we pressed on! On our way we saw thousands of water birds, mostly ibis, wading in flooded fields. We saw a deer jumping through a citrus grove, and cattle grazing. We smelled the damp swampy air. That morning was my very first time seeing these trees in dense fog. The light and mood was amazing!! And it was right after a huge storm, so the Myakka River flooded the area surrounding the trees creating beautiful reflections in the calm water! I got the best photos of live oak trees that morning! This is Myakka City, a rural area east of Bradenton, Florida that has some of the most beautiful countryside I have seen in Florida. It is one of the most scenic areas of Manatee County. Thousands of acres of open space are filled with cattle ranches and farms. Many areas of have live oak trees with Spanish moss hanging down creating that Old Florida look that people love so much. The ferns growing on the large live oak branches are resurrection ferns. During the dry season they are brown, but after a big rain they "resurrect" quickly overnight to a beautiful green. This image is available in both color and black and white.

Tranquil Majesty of Myakka, Florida

I just love live oak trees! I have been trying to capture the perfect photo of a live oak tree reflecting over a pond, and after coming to this area of Florida many times for years I finally captured it! Everything has to come together for this type of photo: the soft morning light, the fog, the time of year later in the summer rainy season, the ferns being green after a fresh rain, and enough flooding of the nearby river to create a pond around the trees. Too many times I had been here in the dry season when everything was brown and no water, or the light was too harsh later in the morning. My husband and I got up really early that morning and drove out into the foggy Florida countryside when it was still dark. As the sun rose above the horizon the mist hung over open fields and sparkled on the cobwebs along tree branches and fence posts. We had a huge storm the night before, and we were curious how much the Myakka River flooded. Usually this time of year it overflows into huge fields and into the road. Would the road be closed? Our favorite area to drive was on the other side near Myakka River State Park. As we got closer we saw the river level had grown quite high, covering branches that stretched over the river, but not high enough to cover the road. It flowed very fast, and very close to the top of the bridge. So we pressed on! On our way we saw thousands of water birds, mostly ibis, wading in flooded fields. We saw a deer jumping through a citrus grove, and cattle grazing. We smelled the damp swampy air. That morning was my very first time seeing these trees in dense fog. The light and mood was amazing!! And it was right after a huge storm, so the Myakka River flooded the area surrounding the trees creating beautiful reflections in the calm water! I got the best photos of live oak trees that morning! This is Myakka City, a rural area east of Bradenton, Florida that has some of the most beautiful countryside I have seen in Florida. It is one of the most scenic areas of Manatee County. Thousands of acres of open space are filled with cattle ranches and farms. Many areas of have live oak trees with Spanish moss hanging down creating that Old Florida look that people love so much. The ferns growing on the large live oak branches are resurrection ferns. During the dry season they are brown, but after a big rain they "resurrect" quickly overnight to a beautiful green. This image is available in both color and black and white.

Myakka River State Park Prairie, Florida

This image is an HDR panorama I created by merging 9 photos together to capture the entire scene and all the details in the bright and dark areas. This is a pair of trees in Myakka River State Park. I like how they come together to frame the view of the prairie with yellow wildflowers. I also have a black and white version of this image. Myakka River State Park is one of the largest and oldest parks here in Florida with 37,000 acres at the Myakka River near Sarasota, Bradenton, and Myakka City. The park is known for its wildlife and alligators and its boardwalk into the river which is good for birding. Myakka River State Park is a beautiful area full of large oak trees. It feels like Old Florida where you are walking back in time.

Foggy Sun Rays in Myakka City, Florida

A gorgeous misty sunrise in Myakka City, Florida. The sun is peeking through a live oak tree creating strong sun rays in the misty fog. This is near the Myakka River and the entrance to Myakka River State Park. This rural area is east of Bradenton and Sarasota.

Oaks and Wildflowers at Myakka River State Park, FL

This is a large live oak tree in Myakka River State Park. I like how it stretches out to frame the view of the prairie with yellow wildflowers. I also have a black and white version of this image. Myakka River State Park is one of the largest and oldest parks here in Florida with 37,000 acres at the Myakka River near Sarasota, Bradenton, and Myakka City. The park is known for its wildlife and alligators and its boardwalk into the river which is good for birding. Myakka River State Park is a beautiful area full of large oak trees. It feels like Old Florida where you are walking back in time.

Banyan Trees in Heritage Park, Venice, Florida at Golden Hour

Venice is an amazing city in Florida. It sits on the Gulf of Mexico on the west coast and has a beautiful beach, jetty, and pier. You have a couple places at the coast to watch beautiful sunsets each night. Venice is just south of Sarasota and is near Englewood, Nokomis, and North Port. This is a very large banyan tree at Heritage Park near Venice Beach. This photo is an HDR.

Foggy Cow Pasture in Myakka City, Florida

It's an early morning in Myakka City, Florida. Myakka is a beautiful area of Manatee County outside of Bradenton and Sarasota. There are thousands of acres of open space filled with animals grazing under the curved branches of live oak trees covered with spanish moss. There are three cows grazing in this pasture. On the far right of the photo a cow is hiding under a tree, and he is peeking out at the cows in the foggy distance. On this cool winter morning, fog hugs the ground and hangs below the clouds. The sky is pink and orange from the rising sun. It's a very peaceful place to be in the morning! This photo was taken down the road from the entrance to Myakka River State Park.

Wetlands of Myakka, Florida

It's an early morning in Myakka City, Florida. Myakka is a beautiful area of Manatee County outside of Bradenton and Sarasota. There are thousands of acres of open space filled with animals grazing under the curved branches of live oak trees covered with spanish moss. On this cool late summer morning, fog hugs the ground and hangs below the clouds. The sky is misty from the moist air. It's a very peaceful place to be in the morning! This photo was taken down the road from the entrance to Myakka River State Park. It's late in the rainy season and the water levels of the Myakka River have risen as it does every year, flooding this area. Cattle often graze here and sometimes stand in the water. This is one of the most scenic areas of Manatee County. This image is available in both color and black and white.

A View of Old Florida at Myakka River State Park

This image is an HDR panorama I created by merging 9 photos together to capture the entire scene and all the details in the bright and dark areas. I also have a black and white version of this image. This is a view of tall palm trees in Myakka River State Park near the lake. Would you like to sit here and enjoy this view of Old Florida? It's like going back in time. Myakka River State Park is one of the largest and oldest parks here in Florida with 37,000 acres at the Myakka River near Sarasota, Bradenton, and Myakka City. The park is known for its wildlife and alligators and its boardwalk into the river which is good for birding. Myakka River State Park is a beautiful area full of large oak trees.

Foggy Morning in Myakka City, Florida

It's an early morning in Myakka City, Florida. Myakka is a beautiful area of Manatee County outside of Bradenton and Sarasota. There are thousands of acres of open space filled with animals grazing under the curved branches of live oak trees covered with spanish moss. There are four horses grazing near this live oak tree. On this cool winter morning, fog hugs the ground and hangs below the clouds. The sky is pink from the rising sun. It's a very peaceful place to be in the morning! This photo was taken down the road from the entrance to Myakka River State Park.