Be Present When the Light Appears: A Day of Photographing Sunshine on Florida’s Forgotten Coast
The next morning of my photography trip to Florida’s Forgotten Coast dawned with the storms and grey skies of the previous day just as forgotten. We set out early for a return visit to Mill Pond along Scipio Creek in hopes of catching the early morning light. Our reward for our patience of the day before was more beauty than we could possibly dream of. The sun rose softly at first, painting the sky pink and then boldly kissing the landscape with a blaze of orange.
As the sun rose high in the sky, we wandered the marina slowly, looking for the way light danced on the edges of the Apalachicola fishing boats. It revealed the intricate details of worn nets, rusty pulleys, anchors, and all the other fixings that come with a life at sea.
First Light at Scipio Creek
Sunrise at the Scipio Creek Boat Basin
We continued our exploration throughout the day, and being on the coast of Florida meant we found amazing birds around every corner. We were always on the lookout for the exciting bird of the day.
White Egret in the waters near Eastpoint
Red Shouldered Hawk
Mockingbird sits in the tree
In the afternoon, we made a must-stop visit at the Cape St. George Light. It was fun to see the lighthouse festively decorated for the holiday season. This beautiful lighthouse stands at the center of St. George Island, a tribute to the original, which stood at the tip of the island but sadly collapsed into the Gulf in 2005.
Cape St. George Light decorated for the holiday season
Playing with sunbursts at the Cape St. George Lighthouse
For sunset, we headed to Seafood Landing Park in Apalachicola. This small park offers a great view of sunset over the Apalachicola Bay and the Saint Vincent National Wildlife Refuge in the distance. The final light of the day was as brilliant as the morning light.
Evening light on the Apalachicola Bay
Fishing boat returning at Seafood Landing Park, Apalachicola
Peach colored sunset sky over Green Point in the Apalachicola Bay
Last light kissing the waters of the Apalachicola Bay
After sunset, we were left with perfect conditions to experiment with a few intentional camera movement images. I ended up with a few that truly captured the motion and color of the moment.
It was a day filled with incredible beauty, from the first light of sunrise to the last light of the sunset.
The journey doesn't end here. This post is part of a series chronicling my photography trip to Florida's Forgotten Coast. Join me for the full story and discover more beautiful moments!
Where the Panhandle Meets the Past: A Forgotten Coast Photography Story
A Photographer's Journey to Florida's Forgotten Coast: The Magic of Scipio Creek & Mill Pond
Finding Beauty in the Storm and the Quiet that Follows: A St. George Island Photo Story
