I study the landscape, look for signs, choose a spot, and wait. Sometimes I return to find nothing. Sometimes wind or moving plants trigger hundreds of photos. Other times, I get a surprise. That surprise keeps me curious.
Camera traps have changed how I see nature by revealing that every moment in the wild—even the quiet ones—shows how deeply everything is connected. Water, plants, weather, and wildlife constantly shape one another. Recognizing these connections is essential to truly understanding nature. That is especially true in the Everglades. Water shapes conditions vital to plants and animals. Birds need healthy wetlands. Predators need prey. Even the smallest creatures matter.
For me, photography is a way of paying attention. Camera traps are a way of listening. They reveal parts of the wild that many people never see. Each time I check a camera trap, I am reminded of the Everglades’ hidden stories and of nature’s constant, unseen activity—proof of how much is happening around us, whether we notice it or not.
