It was really pretty bizarre being way out in the middle of the swamp in nearly complete darkness, animal sounds all around and the stars overhead. On the way out, the moon had not risen and my flashlight broke. I had to take it apart and reassemble it just by feel. In the end it was just a burnt bulb, but if I hadn’t been able to get it working again I would have spent the night out in the swamp that night.

Also, in some places the reed beds were so thick and tall it was really impossible to keep any sense of direction. Even with the light there was really no way to see through; every direction just more reeds, and I was sure at any moment some hungry animal was gonna find me. It was a wild adventure, but in the end totally worth it. I got some great shots and it sure helped ease my mind. (I know walking knee deep in swamp mud for a mile in the middle of the night to a deserted light house isn’t most people’s idea of therapy.) For me, it’s about solitude… It’s just nice sometime to be alone with my thoughts.

This shot was done just before moonrise (around 10:30 or so), and it was still pretty dark. So, I stopped down and left the shutter open for 1025 seconds. That’s a little over 17 minutes for you watch-wearing people.