10 photography travel journalS
- You can’t say You’ve been to Florida if You’ve never been to one of its beaches: enjoy emerald water, white sand and probably some music coming from nearby clubs! Wake up early to shoot without too many people in Your frame and don’t forget sunscreen: there’s a reason it is advised to go for a minimum of SPF30 . Also, You are in ” The Sunshine State “, dear. I got burnt since I am as pale as a ghost and I sprayed myself so badly I had stripes like a zebra ( except they were red and painful XD ).
2. Going to the Everglades is a memorable experience to enjoy nature, to spot alligators and to try an hovercraft tour visiting this extraordinary National Park. Wear comfy clothes and bring both a tele and a wide angle lens with You to be able to photograph animals and the landscapes. Pull Your hair back unless You want to be continuously slapped by them in Your face, during the ride. Guess who didn’t bring an hair band and learned a lesson back then?
3. Key West is such a peculiar spot that deserves a visit. Shop in its pretty boutiques where shells are everywhere and in every form. Also old people with hawaiian shirts are all over the place but I pretended they were not there. Seafood here is fresh and You can enjoy a cocktail watching unforgettable sunsets by the sea. Just don’t go heavy on that or You might miss Your coach. Photograph houses, souvenirs, tourists and local historical buildings and create Your own postcards of a place that seems frozen in time.
4. Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum: since You are already there, head to 907 Whitehead Street in Old Town Key West. The writer lived and wrote in this house for almost 10 years. You can have a guided tour and take photos of the rooms. Also, I’ve enjoyed the company of the many cats living there ( the Nobel Prize winner was fond of this animal). Despite my allergy. Don’t miss the gift shop where, of course, I bought more than I could afford. The home was built in 1951 and it’s in Spanish Colonial style. The pool was the first in-ground ever built in town. Don’t forget to grab a drink at his favorite bar too, Sloppy’s Joe, where he wrote many of his books.
5. When walking around Miami, have fun taking photos of its beautiful art deco buildings: the Art Deco District has 1930s vibes that will enchant You. As an official neon-light-maniac, I spent most of the time looking for signs to photograph ( and stumbling too, of course ). So get there at sunset to get both daylight and night-time images.
6. Visit Little Havana not only to get colorful photos but also to grab amazing food and to enjoy its cultural flavor. Calle Ocho is its main street. You will hear Latin music playing at almost every corner ( so remember your earplugs if You are not a fan; you’ve been warned ). I didn’t take many photos there, since I forgot to drink water with the straw and the rest You can imagine.
7. Stop repeating Yourself ” I’m not for popular places, I’m a smart traveler!! ” and go to Ocean Drive. Enjoy Your average tourist status because, honestly, it’s worth it. I advice You to bring a beer from the sup since I paid 45$ for a Caipirinha. Yeah, You owe me one now. But the rooftop view was epic.
8. Bayside Marketplace: time to grab souvenirs that will prevent You to close Your luggage. But people come here mainly to sit on the bench in front of the BUBBA GUMP SHRIMP and have their Forrest moment. I am guilty too but I have the decency to have my photo taken only by mobile. You don’t waste Your shutter for this.
9. Install UBER on Your phone and avoid to get a taxi unless You’re financially more than happy. Enjoy the many art galleries around when the weather will get worse ( it will happen, trust me ). At least it will be like having a warm outdoor shower, so nothing like the average traumas You’ve already had in Your life. Also, if You’re a skyscraper fan, this place will satisfy You very much. Helicopter tours are ideal for photographing them even better!
10. Leave Your expensive camera at your hotel and go to a club to have those images You don’t really want Your relatives to see. But, no worries, lots of coffee places or pizza shops that will help You with the hangover. PRs will approach You on the beach to offer You fancy limousine rides and other low-profile experiences. Up to You and Your wallet. I still don’t know how me and my friend ended up in this place that looked like a club ( dj, music, bars, people with clothes ) but also had strippers hanging on 10m poles. BTW, people were throwing dollar-paper-planes from balconies to the dance-floor and that was one of the most Miami moments I got. Still, I’d rather take alligator pics but I might be simple-minded.
Of course there are many other things You can photograph in this pretty State but I didn’t have much time. I have been to Orlando at the Universal Studios and let me give You a huge advice: unless You want hybernating, bring a sweater and a raincoat with You. The weather suddenly changes ( at least in February, when I went) and the air conditioning in coaches, restaurants and shops has unbearable levels ( especially when outside it’s 30 degrees ). But if You are a penguin, You’ll be Ok.
Miami is expensive so try to eat at home or make the most of grocery stores.
They told me the Ocean was cold but it wasn’t; it has, indeed, often big waves so not ideal if You plan to swim. If You have time You can still cruise to the Bahamas ( but I can’t advice You on this, because we didn’t – no time ).
It took me a couple of days to get used to people going to the sup with their tiny swimsuits but then I kinda like it ( still wearing pants ).
Overall, Florida was an interesting holiday so much nicer than I thought ( I feared it was all about partying and laying on the beach like a turtle ); I’ve instead discovered incredible nature, music through the streets, stunning sunsets, healthy food and chilled humans. Feel free to comment if You want to know more and thank You for reading and tolerating my sarcasm.
Useful links:
sunscreen 
camera
Nikon D600 Fotocamera digitale reflex 24.7 MP [Versione EU]
raincoat
K-Way
Hemingway’s bio
Ernest’s Way: An International Journey Through Hemingway’s Life [Lingua Inglese]
Cover for your lens when it’s raining
Linghuang Coperture Parapioggia Professionale Impermeabile per Canon Nikon Pentax DSLR Camera Lens Hood Fotografia SLR Camera Rain Cover
Lonely Planet Florida
Florida
Sunglasses, please
Ray-Ban Havana/Brown, 49 Unisex
Clean Your lens with this portable kit
Carl Zeiss 2096-685 kit per la pulizia
Save Your photos on great quality memories
Sandisk Extreme Pro Scheda di Memoria da 64 Gb, Velocità di Lettura Fino a 170 MB/S, Classe 10, U3, V30
Best case to preserve Your SDs
Valigetta professionale porta memory card Gofriend®, impermeabile, Compact Flash Travel Protector Storage Case per SD SDHC SDXC con moschettone e lettore di schede
To take nice photos when light gets tricky
NiSi Polarizzatore Circolare Multi Coated HUC CPL PRO Slim Nano Coating (82mm)
10 photography | francesca pradella 