Cumberland Island National Seashore, located near St. Marys, Georgia, is a pristine 18 mile stretch of undeveloped wilderness unique to the East Coast. The island is known for its feral horses, possibly left over from the Spaniards during the 1700s.

The island has a long history, and was once owned by the Carnegie Family who then dedicated the island to the National Park Service in 1972. The island has faced various threats to its wilderness status over the years and has been defended through the continuous efforts of Carol Ruckdeschel, one of the few persons allowed to live on the island.

Heading out from my backcountry campsite to a small airplane landing strip, this area is frequented by the wild horses (technically feral) of the island. I was able to observe this group of horses grazing in golden hour light highlighting the area’s beauty as well as their complicated existence.

Acadia National Park, located southwest of Bar Harbor, is as picturesque as a national park can be. The varied terrain presents itself as one thing and then transforms into another. Known for its rugged coast and rocky cliffs, the national park offers a variety of hiking trails, loops, and climbs giving you a different perspective every direction you look.

This pond, known as The Bowl, was formed by glacial activity like many of the features in Acadia. This left a rounded, shallow basin surrounded by hills and rocky outcrops such as the one this photo was taken from.

Following a hike from our campsite a few miles away, we were able to avoid parking debacle Acadia is often known for. Climbing the precarious Beehive Trail, we were affording stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean on one side, and this picturesque lake on the other.

This photo was from my first visit to Cumberland Island National Seashore, located on the border of Georgia and Florida with access via a Ferry from St. Marys, Georgia. I would revisit this same island four years later, affording me the opportunity to finally explore all 18 miles of it.

The beach here is pristine, a stark comparison to the islands directly north and south of it which have been developed for residential and tourist activities. The island has faced various threats to its wilderness status and has been defended through the constant efforts of Carol Ruckdeschel, one of the few persons permitted to live on the island, and who I had the pleasure of meeting randomly on my second visit.

This photo was taken in the early morning on an overcast day following my sunrise shoot, and the feel of this specific patch of sprawling dunes system felt like something out of a painting.

The Great Egret, often referred to as the white heron, is a majestic bird known for its all-white plumage and long, graceful neck. It is an excellent hunter, often seen standing motionless in shallow waters or slowly wading through wetlands in search of fish, amphibians, and small reptiles.

During the breeding season, egrets develop long, delicate plumes on their backs, which were once highly prized in the fashion industry, leading to significant hunting pressure in the late 19th century.

This specific individual waded slowly through in the lowlands of the Everglades as I waited to frame its graceful profile against the swampy abstraction behind it. These birds find a secluded paradise in the Everglades, an area that has been under a constant state of threat since its inception.

The Tricolored Heron is known for its vibrant plumage, with dark shades of blue, purple. It is an expert hunter, often employing a unique technique where it attracts prey by creating a contrast with its bright chest feathers in the water.

They are social creatures, often found hunting in groups and nesting in colonies with other wading birds. During breeding season, their plumage becomes even more colorful with long, elegant plumes on their heads and necks.

This specific heron was found on a lone dirt road surrounded by trees and swamp on each side. The birds here seem to enjoy a secluded paradise meandering among the Everglades swampy foliage. This guy noticed my lens and gave me a beautiful glare during a moment of soft light creeping through the shadowy of the swamp.

Everglades National Park is a park that reveals itself slowly, it requires those with patience and keen observation to see its true beauty.

Known colloquially at the “River of Grass”, the Everglades is one of the largest wetland ecosystems in the world. One of the only places in the world in which both alligators and crocodiles coexist, it also contains one of the largest mangrove forests systems in the world. But it’s true beauty is the sanctuary it provides for all manner of birds make it their home or migratory stopping point.

This photo was taken sitting around a fire at my campsite following a long day of kayaking through a mangrove forest strewn with alligators. Requiring the stitching of two photos, this is one of the few images I offer that was not captured in camera due to the nature of how depth of field works in a camera versus our eye, but the light and view was too good to not attempt to emulate what I saw.

Cumberland Island National Seashore is a pristine 18 mile stretch of undeveloped wilderness unique to the East Coast.

The island has a long history, and was once owned by the Carnegie Family who then dedicated the island to the National Park Service in 1972. The island has faced various threats to its wilderness status and has been defended through the efforts of Carol Ruckdeschel, one of the few persons allowed to live on the island.

While wandering back to my campsite coming from the deserted airstrip strewn with feral horses, I found this scarlet sunset right across from my campsite, the clouds accentuated by the pointing fingers of the tall Loblolly Pines prevalent on the island.

Cumberland Island National Seashore, located near St. Marys, Georgia, is a pristine 18 mile stretch of undeveloped wilderness unique to the East Coast. The island is known for its feral horses, possibly left over from the Spaniards during the 1700s.

The island has a long history, and was once owned by the Carnegie Family who then dedicated the island to the National Park Service in 1972. The island has faced various threats to its wilderness status over the years and has been defended through the continuous efforts of Carol Ruckdeschel, one of the few persons allowed to live on the island.

I arrived at Plum Orchard Mansion for a tour of the defunct Carnegie mansion dedicated in 1898. The area is frequented by the wild horses (technically feral) of the island. I was lucky enough to capture this black stallion bathed in light, highlighting its beauty if not also its complicated existence.

Everglades National Park is a park that doesn’t present itself as grandly as the others, it requires those with patience to see its true beauty.

Known colloquially at the “River of Grass”, the Everglades is one of the only ecosystems to house both alligators and crocodiles. It also contains one of the largest mangrove forests in the world and, due to the diverse ecosystem, all manner of birds make it their home.

I happened to be the lone passenger on as sunset Everglades boat tour and the captain was kind enough to veer off the usual course and tailor it to my photography. At the end of the tour, when he brought me to one of the mangrove rookeries these birds call home, an egret flew into frame and began its landing as I snapped the photo. It was a sunset I’ll never forget.

Congaree National Park in South Carolina is the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States.

The Congaree River floodplain had a rich history with bootlegging during the prohibition era, where authorities would be hard pressed to find the spirits stored in the recesses of the swamp land that locals knew well.

I spent one night at Congaree, and it has stuck in my mind since. Tho capture this photo I needed to creep further onto the flooded boardwalk to get the right angle resulting in water flooded my boots. It took great effort to dry them out for my backpacking trip the following morning.

Cumberland Island National Seashore is a pristine 18 mile stretch of undeveloped wilderness unique to the East Coast. With this comes an undeveloped beach that provides a stunning juxtaposition to the developed lands north and south of it.

The island has a long history, and was once owned by the Carnegie Family who then dedicated the island to the National Park Service in 1972. The island has faced various threats to its wilderness status and has been defended through the continued efforts of Carol Ruckdeschel, one of the few persons allowed to live on the island.

Through multiple visits to Cumberland, I have always found the sands particularly beautiful, creating myriads of abstract patterns. Each time I visit, I spend time with these Rorschach tests.

St. Marys is a quaint little town in southern Georgia. The town provides ferry access to Cumberland Island National Seashore, which offers 18 miles of undeveloped wilderness.

St. Marys became a point of conflict during the War of 1812, with the British raiding the town in 1815. It established itself as a port town, with shipping and trade. The town’s economy declined following the abolish of slavery and reestablished itself as tourist community in the mid-20th century.

This photograph was taken while returning from Cumberland Island on the daily ferry. The sun lined up perfectly along this strip of clouds making the bay and the surrounding boats shimmer gold.

Cumberland Island National Seashore is a pristine 18 mile stretch of undeveloped wilderness near St. Marys, Georgia. The area is unique, showing the true beauty of untouched land on the East Coast.

The island has a long history, and was once owned by the Carnegie Family who then dedicated the island to the National Park Service in 1972. The island has faced various threats to its wilderness status and has been staunchly defended through the efforts of Carol Ruckdeschel, one of the few persons allowed to live on the island.

This sunrise required a particularly early wakeup call. The sun seemed to stick to the horizon evoking the imagery of the 1950’s nuclear tests. This gull flew at the right moment, accentuating this curious image.

Cumberland Island National Seashore is a pristine 18 mile stretch of undeveloped wilderness unique to the East Coast.

The island has a long history, and was once owned by the Carnegie Family who then dedicated the island to the National Park Service in 1972. The island has faced various threats to its wilderness status and has been defended through the continued efforts of Carol Ruckdeschel, one of the few persons allowed to live on the island.

This was the view at my backcountry campsite at the north end of the island where the bay sat still as birds and the rare dolphin would pass by. This was the beautiful end to a long 10 mile hike.

Cumberland Island National Seashore is a pristine 18 mile stretch of undeveloped wilderness unique to the East Coast.

The island has a long history, and was once owned by the Carnegie Family who then dedicated the island to the National Park Service in 1972. The island has faced various threats to its wilderness status and has been defended through the continued efforts of Carol Ruckdeschel, one of the few persons allowed to live on the island.

I had visited the wild protected beaches of both the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean in the same calendar year when I took this photo, and I cannot divide my love for both. The sunrise peaked through the clouds this particular morning, while I photographed on an empty beach. It is a peaceful memory I recall often.

Cumberland Island National Seashore is a pristine 18 mile stretch of undeveloped wilderness unique to the East Coast.

The island has a long history, and was once owned by the Carnegie Family who then dedicated the island to the National Park Service in 1972. The island has faced various threats to its wilderness status and has been defended through the constant efforts of Carol Ruckdeschel, one of the few persons allowed to live on the island.

This was my first trip on the island, and luckily I was the sole person on this wild beach on an early December morning. The sun rays fanned out on the horizon in a way I had never seen before, but it was this sand bank that made the shot, producing a fascinating abstraction of the landscape.

Everglades National Park is a park that doesn’t present itself as grandly as the others, it requires those with patience to see its true beauty.

Known colloquially at the “River of Grass”, The Everglades is one of the largest wetland ecosystems in the world. Alligators and crocodiles coexist, it contains one of the largest mangrove forests in the world, and due to the diverse ecosystem all manner of birds make it their home.

I happened to be the only guest on the boat tour I had booked the day before, and the captain tailored my tour toward photography allowing me to explore some unique areas of the Ten Thousand Islands. We took a long ride out of the thick mangroves to find the sandbanks where the pelicans gather. Showing off their impressive wingspan (the largest of any bird in North America), these pelicans have found a bird paradise.

Congaree National Park in South Carolina is the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. The Congaree River floodplain had a rich history including being a prominent area for bootleggers to hide their wares during the prohibition era. Authorities would be hard pressed to find the spirits stored in the recesses of the swamp land where the locals knew like the back of their hand.

Congaree is a mysterious land and one I would like to come back and kayak through as the boardwalks were completely flooded when I arrived. While this prevented me from exploring much of it, it was a prime example of the beauty of the area, one which cannot be tamed.

The best angle to capture this flooded boardwalk required the sacrifice of the dryness of my boots. I needed to dry them out before the next morning’s backpacking trip so I blasted the heat in my car with my shoes next to the vent while I sat in 90 degree bumper to bumper traffic. All worth it.