I have been fortunate enough to travel and photograph landscapes in a variety of countries. Many of these places have stunning scenery that inspires and rivals some of that found in America. At the same time, eight generations of my family have called Florida home, and this has given me a sense of place that continues to fuel a passion for capturing natural Florida in photographs. While not all the photographs contained in this site may be considered worthy of portfolio status, none the less they represent the natural beauty of Florida.
Florida’s natural areas have been called priceless by many and yet that beauty is fading in many of the last remaining pockets of Florida’s undeveloped wilderness. Very little of Florida’s coastline remains undeveloped and it is estimated that nearly 300,000 acres of rural and natural areas are lost each year to development in Florida.
At the same time, thanks to the efforts of many who have worked to save some of natural Florida, it is not just a home for large theme parks and expanding cities. Florida is also home to some of the nation’s best state parks, wildlife management areas, and nature preserves.
The continued health of Florida’s rich ecological diversity depends on these remaining natural areas as does the health of Florida’s human inhabitants. Florida’s natural areas provide those of us who make Florida our home a place to unwind, a mental break from the chaos. My photography is dedicated to visually sharing this rich ecosystem and my hope is you will enjoy these images as much as I do.
R.A. Thomas