Karl and Kathleen Nichter Photography



This blog began in 2009, about a year after we started our photography business. People attending our photo exhibits, or our hikes and workshops, asked for details on where we traveled for photography. As naturalists we usually kept a field journal, so we used that as a basis for Field Notes.
In Summer, 2014 we took a break from the blog because our business, and lives were changing. In January 2015 the blog restarted with an expanded theme. It now contains photography, notes, and articles from all of our travels and all of our photography, not just nature themed. The posts prior to 2014 have been archived.

For more information, please click on "About Us" below.

Thank you for visiting.

Monday, June 29, 2015

Snakeskin

Karl noticed this snakeskin during a recent hike. Apparently the snake used the main made pipes and building to help it shed its skin.


Friday, June 26, 2015

Black Crowned Night Heron in the Swamp

This Black-crowned Night Heron fished quietly, watching us pass by on the nearby boardwalk. He moved a little, but not much. As long as I remained quiet and somewhat still, I had time to really compose my shot. With birds in the wild, that luxury is rare.

The fallen branch made an excellent framing device, and the duckweed-choked creek provided a clear background. I did move to get this final shot with the elements I wanted, but I did it slowly and as softly as possible. And, as this shot shows, he watched me the entire time.


Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Gallery: Everyday Things Series #3

Karl's still life series of Everyday Things was published in an earlier blog, which was archived. This ongoing project features everyday items portrayed by themselves in a black-and-white still life. Some are composed in studio, some are seen and photographed in other locations. For the next few months, each Wednesday I will re-publish the current gallery of these photographs.

 
Scissors and Twine

Monday, June 22, 2015

Summer Arrives Officially

Summer arrived officially yesterday, but a couple of days of near record or record heat made the official start of summer somewhat redundant.

Still, clear, humid, hot, sunny....all these things describe a typical summer morning for us. The breeze picks up later in the day. If the summer proves to be normal (it hasn't for several years now) late afternoon thunderstorms start to announce their presence with the occasional thunder around 3 or 4 p.m., followed not long afterwards by the dark clouds. Suddenly, drenching rain falls. Less than an hour later, the sun is back out, the sky is blue, and puddles are everywhere soon to dry up in the heat.

Still, sunny, clear summer morning with the grass and trees reflected in the water

Friday, June 19, 2015

Sandhill Crane and Two Colts

We watched the Sandhill Cranes walking their colts around all spring, as the colts went from yellow, fuzzy little chicken sized birds to the size of their parents. We were surprised to see these the other day, as it seemed late for colts this young. I checked, and breeding season here in Florida is Spring and Summer, so this is not apparently as unusual as we thought. Here they follow "Mom", running to keep up with her slow walk. "Dad" was behind them a bit.


Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Gallery: Everyday Things Series #2

Karl's still life series of Everyday Things was published in an earlier blog, which was archived. This ongoing project features everyday items portrayed by themselves in a black-and-white still life. Some are composed in studio, some are seen and photographed in other locations. For the next few months, each Wednesday I will re-publish the current gallery of these photographs.
 
Heads of Garlic

Friday, June 12, 2015

Blue Hole Springs at Florida Caverns State Park

We visited Florida Caverns State Park two years ago, and camped several days. The caverns are wonderful, and very worth the trip. Blue Hole Springs, a natural spring with water around 68 degrees year around, is part of the park. We did a lot of photography around the spring. Our favorite is one Karl took, showing the bridge beautifully reflected in the pool of water.


Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Gallery: Everyday Things Series #1

Karl's still life series of Everyday Things was published in an earlier blog, which was archived. This ongoing project features everyday items portrayed by themselves in a black-and-white still life. Some are composed in studio, some are seen and photographed in other locations. For the next few months, each Wednesday I will re-publish the current gallery of these photographs.

Group of brooms in a barn
 

Friday, June 5, 2015

Capture the Moment: A Feather Just Lost

The floating fern plants covered most of the water, and from the bridge we saw a bright, white feather, looking fresh and clean and dry. It gently rested on top of the ferns and the water, light enough not to sink. It must have just fallen off of the bird, who was no where to be seen. Soon the feather would start to absorb water, discolor, and begin to sink, perhaps sinking even faster once the afternoon rains started. People passing by even an hour later would not see what we saw.
 


Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Byways: A Moment in Cedar Key



Walking along in Cedar Key a few years ago, enjoying the day and taking photos as I saw interesting subjects, I took this shot. I liked the large rocks in the foreground, and felt the overall gray of the sky and water highlighted the melancholy of the ruined structure. On a recent trip, we found out that a storm had knocked down most of it, leaving only a few of the vertical pilings. Karl remembered us both spending time photographing it, so he searched our archives, and found this.

Monday, June 1, 2015

Last Hike of the Season

Karl and I led our last hike of the season at Brooker Creek Preserve this past Saturday. We stop for June, July, and August because the heat and humidity common those months made it uncomfortable for hikers, and who can forget the ever present mosquitoes out in force.

I take a pre-walk before the hike, to see what I can spot and also to get a good feel of the light we can expect. The quiet early morning and soft light through the tree canopy, now filling in so light is even more filtered, made the creek look so calming and surreal. I took this shot, and then stood and enjoyed the view before remembering my time and moving on.


The hike went well. We saw a lot of dragonflies, and snakes. One of the hikers spotted a pygmy rattlesnake right off the trail, and near the Education Center we saw three black racers. While the rattlesnake moved slowly, and as a result some of the hiker did get photos, the black racers moved like their name, very fast.

















At the end of the hike, this small alligator moved into the sunshine and stayed, allowing all of us to get good shot of him.











Each year we change the format and theme of the hikes. I will let you know as soon as we develop next season's plan.