Florida Galleries: Photography by Gerard Closset

Galleries

Africa: Big Cats

Africa: Birds

Africa: Masai

Africa: Wildlife

Block Island: Land

Block Island: Shore & Sea

Block Island: Nature

Florida: Birds

Florida: Wildlife

Greek Islands

Nature

Sequences and Motion

Underwater

Whimsical

Click to view Florida: Birds Gallery

Click to view Florida: Wildlife Gallery

I quickly fell in love with the visual beauty, diversity and abundance of Florida’s landscapes and animal life. Exploring (mostly lugging my camera equipment on long hikes and on boats) the Southern part of the state and in particular the Everglades and the Mangrove islands of the Gulf, I seek to capture the diversity and unique natural beauty of the area and find the birdlife of the Everglades and the marine life of the Gulf fascinating. I love to take Great Blue Heron photographs, Alligator pictures and real Dolphin pictures (as opposed to Dolphins in captivity). In the Florida galleries you will see some of my favorites: a Pelican taking-off roll, a Great Egret gobbling down a fish and many other wading birds such as Blue and Green Herons, Reddish egrets, Roseated Spoonbills and Great Blue Heron photographs as well as real Dolphin pictures and Alligator pictures. Raptors are abundant in SW Florida and I have observed and photographed Ospreys extensively. It’s really fascinating to watch them and to document their behavior through photos, particularly the spirited defense of their nests, teaching their babies to fly and their relentless search for fish that they bring to their nests to feed their chicks. Many other raptors inhabit the Everglades, including Bald Eagles, Hawks and vultures. I have shot some of my best Great Blue Heron photographs and Alligator pictures there. In the Great Cypress and Fakahatchee Strand preserves Alligators and wading birds search for food side by side. I often hike to a water hole “owned” by a large female alligator that raises her babies and juveniles in that hole and fiercely defends her territory, not allowing adult male alligators to even come close.

It is rare to take a boat or kayak ride in the Gulf of Mexico without encountering Dolphin in their habitat: Feeding or frolicking they are splendid animals, astonishing in their strength and sped and intelligence. You will see my real Dolphin pictures in my galleries.