Leighton Photography & Imaging

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  • Successfully pollinated and fruiting seedpods of the nearly impossible-to-find and leafless ribbon orchid. Not only is this orchid extremely rare in the United States, it is only found in one tiny pocket of one remote part of the Northwestern Florida Everglades known as the Fakahatchee Strand, which is its northernmost range This one was photographed deep in the Strand while standing about waist-deep in the black, slowly-moving waters deep in the shadows of ancient bald cypress trees. Luckily, it can also be found in parts of the Caribbean islands, Central America, and even in some parts of Northern South America.
    Ribbon Orchid Seedpods
  • This very common cactus found all over the state of Florida produces these big showy yellow flowers in the spring, followed by edible fruits.
    Eastern Prickly Pear
  • The large, showy flowers of the eastern prickly pear cactus in full bloom in Sebring, Florida - near Lake June-in-Winter.
    Eastern Prickly Pear
  • A southern broken-dash skipper feeding on a thistle flower in the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve in Okeechobee County, Florida.
    Southern Broken-Dash (Wallengrenia otho)
  • Pipewort growing in the Estero Bay Preserve in Lee County, Florida. It is often found growing among palmettos in dry, sandy scrub areas, especially during the wet season.
    Pipewort
  • This small clover can be found in many places - especially lawns. It can spread in to vast carpets of tiny pale pink flowers that can almost look like snow!
    Mexican Clover
  • This wildflower is often found in pinelands and open scrub in South and Central Florida.
    Roserush
  • The tiny oak toad found hunting by day in the tree shadows along the Myakka River in Sarasota County, Florida.
    Oak Toad
  • The pale meadow beauty is a regular spring and summer wildflower in the freshwater wetlands of southern Florida. This one was found in the Estero Bay Preserve of Lee County.
    Pale Meadow Beauty
  • The unusual and bright blue widemouth dayflower in all it's glory growing in a pine scrub in Estero, Fl (Lee County).
    Whitemouth Dayflower
  • An alligator with its head framed in shimmering light from the sun above.
    American Alligator
  • Alligator close-up in the Everglades National Park.
    American Alligator
  • A pair of the many white-tailed deer to be seen in the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve in Okeechobee County, Florida.
    White-tailed Deer
  • Swamp lilies growing deep in the Fakahatchee Strand. In the summertime, these can be found just about anywhere there is standing water in the Florida Everglades.
    Swamp Lilies
  • This common weed is usually found in disturbed areas, such as this one on the side of US41 in Collier County, Florida.
    Sow Thistle
  • Swamp mallows are a very common member of the hibiscus family in the Everglades, as seen here in the Fakahatchee Strand.
    Swamp Mallow
  • The rare and exquisite ghost orchid photographed just after dawn in its natural environment.
    Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii)
  • Fakahatchee beaked orchids growing in the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Collier County, Florida. These suddenly appear all over the area when the swamps are low or dry in early April.
    Fakahatchee Beaked Orchids (Sacoila ..ola)
  • Young alligator warming up in the fall sun by a pond in Jefferson County. This one was about four feet in length.
    American Alligator
  • Young alligator warming up in the fall sun by a pond in North Florida. This one was about four feet in length.
    American Alligator
  • Alligator swimming in the Everglades National Park.
    American Alligator
  • Alligator close-up in the Everglades National Park.
    American Alligator
  • American Alligator in the Sweetwater Strand area of the Florida Everglades. This was taken in the beginning of mating season, when they tend to get a little aggressive.
    American Alligator
  • Extreme close-up of the detail of a wild American alligator.
    American Alligator
  • Adult caiman found in the Big Cypress National Preserve. Caimans are found in Central and South America, and this photo generated some interest with Florida Fish & Wildlife. Not a great photo, but the only one we got that day.
    Spectacled Caiman
  • Mother and baby alligator basking in the morning sun. Photographed in the Fakahatchee Strand in Collier County, Florida.
    Mother Alligator and Baby
  • A crocodile on a canal bank in Flamingo on the southern tip of peninsular Florida on the edge of the Keys and the Everglades. Note the flat and long head - much different than an alligator.
    American Crocodile
  • An alligator swims by slowly in the Sweetwater Strand with a great blue heron in its mouth.
    American Alligator with Great Blue Heron
  • Alligator close-up in the Everglades National Park.
    American Alligator
  • Very young hatchling alligator in the Shark River Valley of the Florida Everglades. Singled out of a clutch of about thirty chirping babies, this one sat still enough for me to get this image, until the mother appeared and gave me a direct warning to leave them alone.
    Baby Alligator
  • Alligator swimming in the Turner River, Collier County, Florida.
    American Alligator
  • Spectacular sunset over Lake June-in-Winter in Central Florida.
    Boathouse Sunset
  • White-tailed buck photographed in the Fakahatchee Strand. These are often seen here and other places in and around the Everglades.
    White-tailed Deer
  • White-tailed buck photographed in the Fakahatchee Strand. These are often seen here and other places in and around the Everglades.
    White-tailed Deer
  • Eastern ribbon snake lunching on a treefrog in the Florida Everglades. Just in the right place at the right time for this shot!
    Eastern Ribbon Snake
  • A juvenile cottonmouth warming up in the morning sun on a dirt road near the Corkscrew Swamp in Naples, Florida.
    A Flick of the Tongue
  • A juvenile cottonmouth warming up in the morning sun on a dirt road near the Corkscrew Swamp in Naples, Florida.
    Juvenile Cottonmouth
  • Florida ivory millipede in the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve found under an oak canopy in Okeechobee County, Florida.
    Florida Ivory Millipede
  • Pitted stripeseed wildflower photographed in the Big Cypress National Preserve.
    Pitted Stripeseed
  • The prickly pineland acacia growing in the Everglades National Park. This plant can be a "surprise" while trying to travel through the rough spots in the 'Glades! Ouch!
    Pineland Acacia
  • This is a very common member of the St. John's-wort family, growing here in the Big Cypress National Preserve.
    Marsh St. John's-Wort
  • Everglades daisy photographed in the dry season of the Big Cypress National Preserve. Look for them in large numbers in the spring!
    Everglades Daisy
  • Deering's partridge pea growing in the Everglades National Park, where they will flower year-round.
    Florida Keys Sensitive Pea
  • A sabatia flower in bloom in one of the deepest and darkest parts of the Fakahatchee Strand in SW Florida.
    Sabatia
  • A sabatia flower in bloom in one of the deepest and darkest parts of the Fakahatchee Strand in SW Florida.
    Sabatia
  • The incredibly spikey purple thistle is a very common and often very tall wildflower seen in any disturbed areas in all of Florida, this one on Long Pine Key.
    Purple Thistle
  • The very pretty flowerbud of the purple thistle about to open in the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails of Collier County, Florida.
    Purple Thistle
  • Close-up side view of one of the world's most famous orchids!
    Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii)
  • Vanilla orchid photographed in the early morning in the Fakahatchee Strand. Timing is important here because the flowers last only a couple of hours and wilt by midday.
    Oblong-leaved Vanilla Orchid (Vanill..tha)
  • The rare and exquisite ghost orchid photographed just after dawn in its natural environment.
    Ghost of the Fakahatchee (Dendrophyl..nii)
  • Close-up showing the amazing detail in this fantastic orchid. This photo was taken in a tree in the Fakahatchee Strand. Sometimes climbing is necessary to get close to these beauties!
    Night-Fragrant Epidendrum (Epidendru..num)
  • Largest of the native epidendrums, this orchid is very frustrating to photograph, because it seems that the only ones that are found low enough to shoot easily wilt before opening.
    Night-Fragrant Epidendrum (Epidendru..num)
  • The night-fragrant orchid is easy to find, just due to its huge size. It is not uncommon to find these plants reaching two or three feet from the tree it is attached to.
    Night-Fragrant Epidendrum (Epidendru..num)
  • This unusual orchid has a very large flower that is almost impossible to find fully open. It has a scent emitted only at night and is always found in the thickest parts of the swamps. Some tree climbing and a big zoom lens were used for this shot.
    Night-Fragrant Epidendrum (Epidendru..num)
  • Pine-pink orchid growing out of a floating log deep in the Fakahatchee Strand. They are almost always seen in large colonies and are truly one of the most beautiful terrestrial swamp orchids that can be found in southern Florida.
    Pine-Pink (Bletia purpurea)
  • Pine-pink orchid growing out of a floating log deep in the Fakahatchee Strand. I've noticed that the ones that grow in standing water seem to bloom first, followed by those on dry land a couple of weeks later.
    Pine-Pink (Bletia purpurea)
  • The beautiful and tiny red-waisted moth feeding on wildflower nectar in the Fakahatchee Strand. This daytime moth is very common in the middle of summer in South Florida.
    Red-Waisted Moth
  • A squirrel treefrog (individuals can change their color from green to brown based on their environment) found among the cypress knees in the Fakahatchee Strand in SW Florida. These frogs are most active at night.
    Squirrel Treefrog
  • A well-fed green treefrog perfectly camouflaged among the cattails in a wetland in Sarasota County, Florida.
    Green Treefrog
  • A green treefrog waits for night in the Fakahatchee Strand in SW Florida.
    Green Treefrog
  • Close-up of Florida's threatened and endangered gopher tortoise. This old male in Estero was the biggest we've ever seen.
    Florida Gopher Tortoise
  • This cheerful alligator was photographed late this afternoon near the St. Marks River in North Florida. It was very photogenic, and even gave me a big smile and hiss before I clicked the shutter! :-)
    American Alligator
  • A young adult alligator with a freshly caught great blue heron. An incredible sight to see in person!
    American Alligator with Great Blue Heron
  • Close-up detail of a ghost orchid bud at night in the Fakahatchee Strand! Probably not recommended for the bravest of orchid hunters, the Fakahatchee Strand in SW Florida is an especially busy time at night! This bud opened a few days later.
    Ghost Orchid Bud
  • Ghost orchid bud I was monitoring over the space of a couple of weeks deep in the Fakahatcheee Strand. Luckily they are hard to find and grow in often difficult-to-access areas. Out of the 88+ individuals I've found over the years, many of them have been stolen by orchid poachers.
    Ghost Orchid with Bud
  • Ghost orchid bud at night in the Fakahatchee Strand! Probably not recommended for the bravest of orchid hunters, the Fakahatchee Strand in SW Florida is an especially busy time at night! This bud opened a few days later.
    Ghost Orchid with Flower Bud
  • Prairie milkweed growing out of the marl of a dried-up bog in the Everglades National Park near Long Pine Key. These draw all kinds of butterflies!
    Prairie Milkweed
  • Barred owl in the oldest and largest mohogany hammock in the Florida Everglades. When still, it can be easily overlooked because of its camoflaged pattern - like this one almost was!
    Everglades Barred Owl
  • The terrestrial or semi-aquatic horned bladderwort growing in Monroe County in the Big Cypress National Preserve. This  small carnivorous plant can catch small animals with tiny contracting bladders that suddenly open upon contact and suck in the prey by an inrush of water or air, and trapping it within with a flap-like membrane. These bladders are located among the root-like leaves.
    Horned Bladderwort (Utricularia cornuta)
  • The creeping vole (also known as the Oregon vole or Oregon meadow mouse) is the smallest of the Pacific Northwest vole species and can be found from British Columbia to Northern California, west of the Cascade Mountains.They are so small that a full-grown adult weighs around two-thirds of an ounce! This was one found by sheer chance on a chilly autumn evening at the beach in Des Moines, Washington on the Puget Sound.
    Creeping Vole
  • The creeping vole (also known as the Oregon vole or Oregon meadow mouse) is the smallest of the Pacific Northwest vole species and can be found from British Columbia to Northern California, west of the Cascade Mountains.They are so small that a full-grown adult weighs around two-thirds of an ounce! This was one found by sheer chance on a chilly autumn evening at the beach in Des Moines, Washington on the Puget Sound.
    Creeping Vole
  • The creeping vole (also known as the Oregon vole or Oregon meadow mouse) is the smallest of the Pacific Northwest vole species and can be found from British Columbia to Northern California, west of the Cascade Mountains.They are so small that a full-grown adult weighs around two-thirds of an ounce! This was one found by leisurely walking among the fallen autumn leaves near the beach in Des Moines, Washington on the Puget Sound.
    Creeping Vole
  • The creeping vole (also known as the Oregon vole or Oregon meadow mouse) is the smallest of the Pacific Northwest vole species and can be found from British Columbia to Northern California, west of the Cascade Mountains.They are so small that a full-grown adult weighs around two-thirds of an ounce! This was one found by sheer chance on a chilly autumn evening at the beach in Des Moines, Washington on the Puget Sound.
    Creeping Vole
  • The creeping vole (also known as the Oregon vole or Oregon meadow mouse) is the smallest of the Pacific Northwest vole species and can be found from British Columbia to Northern California, west of the Cascade Mountains.They are so small that a full-grown adult weighs around two-thirds of an ounce! This was one found by sheer chance on a chilly autumn evening at the beach in Des Moines, Washington on the Puget Sound.
    Creeping Vole
  • This fast little warbler was seen in the Florida Everglades foraging along the edge of a pond.
    Palm Warbler
  • A young great blue heron just beginning to get its adult coloration in the Sweetwater Strand in the Big Cypress National Preserve.
    Juvenile Great Blue Heron
  • A cormorant dries its wings at Everglades National Park. Since they do not have waxy feathers, this enables an incredible underwater mobility which is used to chase down and catch fish, but in return results in waterlogged plumage that needs to air dry.
    Double-Crested Cormorant
  • Cormorant on Sanibel Island with a big mullet. I couldn't believe my eyes as it swallowed the whole fish! It was funny watching it try to fly afterward!
    Double-Crested Cormorant
  • You never know what you will see when driving through rural Florida. This alligator head - probably a leftover from poachers - was being picked clean by vultures in Hendry County.
    Black Vulture
  • A male anhinga dries his wings in the early evening in Fort Myers, Florida after a long day of fishing.
    Anhinga
  • Freeze-frame photo of a double-crested cormorant  shaking water from its feathers just after a dive on Sanibel Island, Florida.
    Double-Crested Cormorant
  • Double-crested cormorant with beautiful turquoise eyes during breeding season, Florida Everglades.
    Double-Crested Cormorant
  • The creeping vole (also known as the Oregon vole or Oregon meadow mouse) is the smallest of the Pacific Northwest vole species and can be found from British Columbia to Northern California, west of the Cascade Mountains.They are so small that a full-grown adult weighs around two-thirds of an ounce! This was one found by sheer chance on a chilly autumn evening at the beach in Des Moines, Washington on the Puget Sound.
    Creeping Vole
  • Brilliantly red and yellow, the inflorescences of most species of Tillandsia air plants are very striking and beautiful, such as this cardinal airplant in the Fakahatchee Strand of Southwest Florida. Before long, thin, tubular purple flowers will emerge from this member of the pineapple family.
    Cardinal Airplant
  • Close-up of the inflorescence of the cardinal airplant, photographed here deep in the Fakahatchee Strand of Southwest Florida. You can just see a few of the purple flowers emerging.
    Cardinal Airplant (Tillandsia fascic..ata)
  • This massive yet common airplant in the wilder parts of the Florida Everglades blooms in the winter among the cypress groves and hammocks of the swamps.
    Cardinal Airplant
  • A stand of coconut palms grow on the beach on Estero Island in Southeast Florida.
    Coconut Palms
  • A healthy and delicious papaya-lime smoothie on a white background.
    Papaya-Lime Smoothie
  • United States Bankruptcy Courthouse in Tallahassee, Fl.
    United States Bankruptcy Courthouse
  • A favorite food source for hummingbirds, butterflies and moths, the western trumpet honeysuckle is a beautiful flowering vine found throughout much of the western United States, including British Columbia in several types of coastal to lower-elevation mountain habitats. This particular one was found growing in wild profusion in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest on the eastern side of Washington State's Cascade Mountains.
    Western Trumpet Honeysuckle
  • A favorite food source for hummingbirds, butterflies and moths, the western trumpet honeysuckle is a beautiful flowering vine found throughout much of the western United States, including British Columbia in several types of coastal to lower-elevation mountain habitats. This particular one was found growing in wild profusion in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest on the eastern side of Washington State's Cascade Mountains.
    Western Trumpet Honeysuckle
  • A close-up view of the interesting fused leaves that form a disk around the honeysuckles flowers (or buds in this case). This native vine is found all over much of the western United States, including British Columbia in several types of coastal to lower-elevation mountain habitats. This particular one was found growing in wild profusion in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest on the eastern side of Washington State's Cascade Mountains.
    Western Trumpet Honeysuckle Buds
  • A close-up view of the interesting fused leaves that form a disk around the honeysuckles flowers (or buds in this case). This native vine is found all over much of the western United States, including British Columbia in several types of coastal to lower-elevation mountain habitats. This particular one was found growing in wild profusion in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest on the eastern side of Washington State's Cascade Mountains.
    Western Trumpet Honeysuckle Buds
  • The giant helleborine orchid (Epipactis gigantea), also commonly known as the stream orchid and even chatterbox is found sporadically throughout the western half of the United States, with a northerly range just barely reaching into Southern British Columbia. It is also the only helleborine native to North America.  Nearly always found in wetlands in a highly variable range of habitats from conifer forests to sagebrush deserts, it also seems to tolerate a wide range of soils. These were found just south the Dry Falls area of Washington's Grant County in multiple places in the Sun Lakes, just at the edge of the water. On this day more than five thousand orchids were in bloom on a scorching hot spring day, most of them (but not all) sheltered by cottonwoods.
    Giant Helleborine Orchid (Epipactis ..tea)
  • The giant helleborine orchid (Epipactis gigantea), also commonly known as the stream orchid and even chatterbox is found sporadically throughout the western half of the United States, with a northerly range just barely reaching into Southern British Columbia. It is also the only helleborine native to North America.  Nearly always found in wetlands in a highly variable range of habitats from conifer forests to sagebrush deserts, it also seems to tolerate a wide range of soils. These were found just south the Dry Falls area of Washington's Grant County in multiple places in the Sun Lakes, just at the edge of the water. On this day more than five thousand orchids were in bloom on a scorching hot spring day, most of them (but not all) sheltered by cottonwoods.
    Giant Helleborine Orchid (Epipactis ..tea)
  • The giant helleborine orchid (Epipactis gigantea), also commonly known as the stream orchid and even chatterbox is found sporadically throughout the western half of the United States, with a northerly range just barely reaching into Southern British Columbia. It is also the only helleborine native to North America.  Nearly always found in wetlands in a highly variable range of habitats from conifer forests to sagebrush deserts, it also seems to tolerate a wide range of soils. These were found just south the Dry Falls area of Washington's Grant County in multiple places in the Sun Lakes, just at the edge of the water. On this day more than five thousand orchids were in bloom on a scorching hot spring day, most of them (but not all) sheltered by cottonwoods.
    Giant Helleborine Orchid (Epipactis ..tea)
  • The giant helleborine orchid (Epipactis gigantea), also commonly known as the stream orchid and even chatterbox is found sporadically throughout the western half of the United States, with a northerly range just barely reaching into Southern British Columbia. It is also the only helleborine native to North America.  Nearly always found in wetlands in a highly variable range of habitats from conifer forests to sagebrush deserts, it also seems to tolerate a wide range of soils. These were found just south the Dry Falls area of Washington's Grant County in multiple places in the Sun Lakes, just at the edge of the water. On this day more than five thousand orchids were in bloom on a scorching hot spring day, most of them (but not all) sheltered by cottonwoods.
    Giant Helleborine Orchid (Epipactis ..tea)
  • The giant helleborine orchid (Epipactis gigantea), also commonly known as the stream orchid and even chatterbox is found sporadically throughout the western half of the United States, with a northerly range just barely reaching into Southern British Columbia. It is also the only helleborine native to North America.  Nearly always found in wetlands in a highly variable range of habitats from conifer forests to sagebrush deserts, it also seems to tolerate a wide range of soils. These were found just south the Dry Falls area of Washington's Grant County in multiple places in the Sun Lakes, just at the edge of the water. On this day more than five thousand orchids were in bloom on a scorching hot spring day, most of them (but not all) sheltered by cottonwoods.
    Giant Helleborine Orchid (Epipactis ..tea)
  • The giant helleborine orchid (Epipactis gigantea), also commonly known as the stream orchid and even chatterbox is found sporadically throughout the western half of the United States, with a northerly range just barely reaching into Southern British Columbia. It is also the only helleborine native to North America.  Nearly always found in wetlands in a highly variable range of habitats from conifer forests to sagebrush deserts, it also seems to tolerate a wide range of soils. These were found just south the Dry Falls area of Washington's Grant County in multiple places in the Sun Lakes, just at the edge of the water. On this day more than five thousand orchids were in bloom on a scorching hot spring day, most of them (but not all) sheltered by cottonwoods.
    Giant Helleborine Orchid (Epipactis ..tea)
  • The giant helleborine orchid (Epipactis gigantea), also commonly known as the stream orchid and even chatterbox is found sporadically throughout the western half of the United States, with a northerly range just barely reaching into Southern British Columbia. It is also the only helleborine native to North America.  Nearly always found in wetlands in a highly variable range of habitats from conifer forests to sagebrush deserts, it also seems to tolerate a wide range of soils. These were found just south the Dry Falls area of Washington's Grant County in multiple places in the Sun Lakes, just at the edge of the water. On this day more than five thousand orchids were in bloom on a scorching hot spring day, most of them (but not all) sheltered by cottonwoods.
    Giant Helleborine Orchid (Epipactis ..tea)
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