89 of 272

|

Beautiful light falls on the Florida prairie during the winter. Clouds composed of ice crystals form in the sky. This area is part of the largest dry prairie remaining in the U.S. Considered to be a globally imperiled community, less than 20 percent of the original dry prairie remains in Florida. The virtually treeless landscape has an acidic sandy soil and a hard packed clay subsoil which briefly floods during summer rains, but remains dry the rest of the year. The ecosystem depends on fire, which suppresses the invasion of adjacent woodlands. Hammocks of live oak, sable palm and pine grow in the drainage areas of the prairie (seen in the background of the photograph). A variety of birds can found here including crested caracaras, sandhill cranes, hawks and the endangered grasshopper sparrow. Among the other residents are deer, bobcats and the endangered Florida panther. This photo was taken at Triple N Ranch W.M.A. in Osceola County.

Chris was born in southern Delaware in 1960. As a teenager he began studying maps of Florida and dreamed of exploring the state and it’s natural treasures. In the early 1980’s he moved to Central Florida. During his travels throughout the state he discovered the beauty of it’s swamps, prairies, springs, rivers and lakes. This led to an interest in photography and it’s ability to document his adventures. He also developed an interest in astronomy. He studied the work of Ansel Adams and his “zone” system as well as the works of the his colleges in the “f 64 club” of art photographers. It became apparent that researching the accomplishments of painters would also be beneficial. Chris began to establish his own style, a fusion of art and...