Swamp Walk - Muck About - 2008

Every Labor Day Weekend in September we celebrate the beauty of the swamp by inviting folks to come out to Big Cypress Gallery and spend their holiday enjoying nature in our back yard. Our knowledgeable swamp walk guides take groups of 15-20 people into the swamp, educating them about the environment of south Florida. We have several different paths, as well as different kinds of walks... something for everyone...

This year we had a wonderful weekend, filled with great people! The expressions of thanks and joy at being able to experience the beauty of the swamp were repeated over and over by the folks who came to the event. It's a good feeling to know that by sharing the environment we are bringing awareness to others.

A BIG THANKS goes to all of our volunteers who helped make the event so successful and to our employees who work so hard before the event to get it organized. But, the biggest THANKS goes to our daughter Jackie who organizes the event! Without her energy and excitement about sharing the environment with others, I'm not sure Clyde and I would have the 'umpf', to get through the weekend!

We took around 800 folks into the swamp this year, with around 1500 showing up to the event...a very busy weekend...but lots of fun! The swamp walks cost $20 a person. After expenses (police to keep traffic safe, feeding the volunteers, music, etc), the remainder goes to benefit Friends of Big Cypress, Friends of Fakahatchee, and Florida Trail.

Every year we hold our breath hoping a hurricane won't interrupt the weekend. Since we started these walks in 1994, we've only had one hurricane cancel the weekend. This year we held our breath and successfully squeezed the event between two hurricanes by-passing Florida...Hanna and Ike. The clouds from Hurricane Hanna kept everyone cool and comfortable. We did have a little rain, but mostly it was perfect weather for a swamp walk.

Below you will find photographs Jackie and I took during the Muck-About...enjoy...

Getting the grounds ready for the weekend

Sandra, Miladie and Rick working to get the gallery ready

Rich and Ron organizing the swamp walks


Mike Owen from Fakahatchee Strand State Park
introducing the swamp walk to the muckers

Heading into the swamp


Jeff Ripple leading a group


Charles, from Dragonfly Expeditions, explaining the ecosystem


Charles, Dragonfly Expeditions talking about
the history of the Indians in the area

Mike Owen talking about the ecosystem

Discussing the benefits of periphyton, an ugly glob of gook, to a fellow swamp walker. Perifphyton not only cleans the water, it also retains water like a sponge so that during the dry season different small species can survive in it.

No telling the wonders found in the swamp...perhaps they saw the "Skunk Ape"?
Or maybe a flying saucer?.....

Mike Owen of Fakahatchee State Park making his way through

the swamp with a future swamp guide!

Charles of Dragonfly Expeditions rescuing five soles in the swamp...

Yep...shoes not only fall apart out there in the swamp, but many people don't want to take their shoes home with them, so they leave them with us. We are always amazed at the quality of shoes that folks leave behind, so at the end of the swamp walk we go through the shoes that are left behind and clean the good ones, then donate them to Shoes for Souls.

Rosie cleaning shoes

Of course there are those folks who just LOVE mud!

In the meantime, while all the swamp walks are going on, Clyde was in the gallery signing books and meeting so many wonderful people.

Clydes discussions with folks on photography and the environment made for fun conversations!

Cindy Hackney and Valerie Wisecracker joined us again with their great folk singing.

Political cartoonist, Rob Smith, joined us having fun drawing images of the folks who came to the event. He too donated his earnings to Friends of Big Cypress, Friends of Fakahatchee and Florida Trail.

...and of course the wonderful food provided by Camille Street Grill from Everglades City...

We all had a great time and enjoyed everyone who came to the swamp walk. Thank you all for joining us in the celebration of this beautiful place we call home.

A special event was planned for the volunteers Saturday night. Lisa Andrews, Educational Ranger from Big Cypress National Preserve, provided us with some wonderful entertainment with the vist of 110 year old Ed. (Lisa as Ed)

Rick Cruz made the photographic record of Old Ed joining us with his discussion of

"The Way It Was..."

Old Ed making his way down the road to the campfire

Old Ed stops in his tracks when he sees beautiful women...

and of course, he's very partial to young folk.

however, like all men, a beautiful woman is hard to pass by...here Old Ed shares a stuffed alligator with Julie.

Old Ed finally making his was to the group

Old Ed begins by remembering how, back in the old days, there were so many birds in south Florida that their great numbers would block out the sun as they flew overhead.

He spoke about how millions of birds were killed in order to make feather hats. Here he puts a feather hat on Mike Owen's head.

Mike Owen is just so THRILLED at having the hat on his head...!

Niki sharing the feather hat with the kids

Then Old Ed told the story of how the alligators were almost became a vanished species because their beautiful hides were used for so many things. As an example he passed around an alligator purse.

Old Ed showing us an alligator tooth

Old Ed sharing with us the skull of a manatee and telling us the story of their lives, as well as cautioning us boaters to go slowly because more manatees are killed or damaged by boats than anything else.

Old Ed with Clyde

It was an educational, funny and inspiring evening thanks to the extraordinary talent of Lisa Andrews!

Timothy Whelan - Books & Prints

Clyde and Tim in his book store

The book store, Timothy Whelan - fine photographs, books & prints, is paradise for any photographer, but for a bookaholic like me, I was in seventh heaven!

George DeWolfe suggested we stop at Timothy's store and check it out. The book store only has photographic books, with most of them being used and rare books. If you are looking for a book, I'm pretty sure Timothy either has it, or can find it for you. Clyde and I had a hard time leaving the store. We were there for three hours! Between getting to know Timothy and going through the books...we walked out with half the store! Well, it felt $ like we did anyway! Ahhh...but they are such wonderful books. We justified it by telling ourselves that it might be another several years before we make it back to Maine and get this opportunity again. We also bought a black and white print...

If you'd love to have a great experience in a photographic book store, this is the place. He is located in Rockport Maine. Phone: (207) 236-4795

Timothy and Clyde with the pile of books we bought from his store

George DeWolfe

Clyde with George DeWolfe

One of the highlights of our trip to Maine was the visit with George DeWolfe and Lydia Goetz. George is one of those great photographers that has been around as long as Clyde. Photography possesses him in the same way that it does Clyde. When they finally got to meet it was non-stop photo-talk! It is such a thrill to be with another person who loves photography as much as Clyde and I do.

George was a dedicated "traditional" black and white photographer. He believed that the wet darkroom was the only way to achieve the best photograph...until he saw a very good black and white digital print. He was converted to the wonders of the digital age. He now teaches and writes articles on photography. He has published several books that you might enjoy reading:
Digital Photography - Fine Print Workshop
Adobe Master Class - The Digital Fine Art Printing Workshop
Optipox 3: Image Enhancement Tools for Digital Photographers

George is now in the process of publishing another book that should be out sometime next year. If you'd like to see his work or hear about his new book here is his website: www.georgedewolfe.com

And, on a personal note, his girlfriend, Lydia, is also a photographer! Women who love photography are few and far between, so when I discover one I am amazed. When I talk with another female photographer there is a connection that gives me a deeper feeling than talking to a man about photography. I can't exactly explain it, but it always feels good to be around women photographers. If you'd like to see her work her website is: www.lydiagoetze@roadrunner.com

It was a great afternoon and was wonderful to spend some time with fellow travelers on the path of photography.

The History of Photography by Beaumont Newhall

It has been quite a while since I posted anything about Beaumont Newhall's book, The History of Photography. I was interrupted by life and wasn't able to finish it until just recently.

I am of the opinion that the last half of the book isn't history...although I've had discussions with people who disagree and claim it is history.

The last half of the book is about photographers that were alive during Beaumonts life and although they had tremendous influence on the photography of today, I think for Beaumont to call it history is wrong. It is impossible to write history when you are living it. Much of what he wrote about Stigletz, Brassi, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Dorthea Lange, Ansel Adams, Edward Weston...et al was his opinion...not history. Well...that is my opinion anyway.

Beaumont's opinion on those people that we, today, consider historic figures in photography, is worth reading. However, many new issues have been unearthed on the lives of these people since Beaumont passed on. History has refined their tremendous influence, or lack of influence, on the lives of photographers today. I just wish someone with the skill of Beaumont Newhall would write a new history book starting where Newhall left off.

And so...it is up to you to read the last half of the book and let me know if you think it's history or the current opinion of Beaumont Newhall on the photographers of his era.

Exhibit - Bar Harbor Maine

The Friends of Acadia invited Clyde to exhibit his work at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor on Desert Island, Maine, the home of Acadia National Park. The Friends of Acadia have joined together with Clyde to create a small traveling exhibit of National Parks that is available to any Friends groups who would like to exhibit the beauty of our National Parks. If you are interested here is the phone number and website: (207) 288-3340 www.friendsofacadia.org

It is always a joy to be surrounded by people who care about their environment. The Friends of Acadia do such a wonderful job of taking care of the Park. The community is very fortunate to have them in their midst.

The opening took place at the Blum Gallery on the college campus. We had a wonderful turn-out and met so many great people.


We spent several days in Acadia, however I didn't take many pictures because I was still on a time-lag from Europe. (I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a month in Europe with my daughter, Jackie, and granddaughter and her history class. Had a great time!)

While we were in Acadia National Park we stopped to visit Monty. It is always so good to visit with him! Monty Trainer is on the board of the Coconut Grove Art Festival in Florida and has been involved in the festival for a VERY long time. It is such a great art festival and one of the best in the United States. It's always such a pleasure to see so much great art in the wonderful atmosphere of Coconut Grove. The festival has a special place in our heart.


Anyway, Monty is a fun person and we're always amazed at the interesting people who gather around him. We ALWAYS meet fascinating people when we visit. During the summer Monty travels north to Otter Creek where he owns the Otter Creek Inn and Otter Creek Market. The Otter Creek Inn is centrally located inside Acadia National Park and has all the modern conveniences you could want. It's a great place to stay...and in case you should decide to visit just tell Monty we sent you! Phone: 800-845-5852 or www.ottercreekme.com

Clyde and Monty

Monty's Chuck Wagon

Otter Creek Market always has freshly prepared Lobster. When we stopped by to say howdy to Monty, he offered to feed us...who could resist!?

Tim Colbertson tying a bib on Clyde in preparation for the messy/delicious Lobster meal

Two very satisfied customers! Yummmmm....that Lobster was great!

Books & Books

Rick, Sophia and Clyde

Having been raised in the shadow of Stanford University, books have always been a part of my life...as have wonderful book stores. I LOVE the smell of books! When we first moved to Florida I searched in vain for the kind of books store I had back home. It wasn't until I walked into Books & Books in Coral Gables and the smell of the printed page wafted through the air that I knew I had found HOME!

Since that day, Books & Books has been a special place to me. It is also a special place to the community of Coral Gables and Miami. It is what a book store is suppose to be...involved with the community. A great place!

They invited Clyde and Rick Cruz to give a talk. I was so excited...well, not about the talk so much, as I was at being able to spend time meandering through rows and rows of books!

BUT...the talk went well and we had a great time. At the end of the talk Sophia, a cute shy little girl from a local school, honored Clyde & Rick with a special thank-you for coming.

Best of the Road - Rand McNally

When we opened the mail we were surprised and amazed that Big Cypress Gallery was chosen as a "Best of the Road" destination from Rand McNally. They even gave us a free "PR" page in their guide book! WOW! Thanks Rand McNally!