Some points to consider when you are writing your caption

Was it easy to find, Was it difficult to shoot? Were the animals hiding or out in plain site? What wildlife was easier to find? Were you searching for a particular shot? What about the facilities, hotels etc.? Difficult hiking?

From Emily Mabee

My friend Jessica and I met at Garden of the gods area around 8AM. We were the first except for another photographer and a couple of people with him We shot some around the Garden area. It's always delightful there because of the light on the exposed rock formations with lots of color from the various minerals and the lichens which grow on them. I am always amazed by the tenacity of the trees which extend their tangle of roots for many yards between the rock to find their earthy destination. I always include shots of the roots.
Next we went to the Bell Smith springs area. We had a time wandering around as the roads are not marked and even with a Hiking Indiana map we were not sure we were headed in the right direction. (I have no GPS as that takes all the fun out of finding places.) We hiked several trails of moderate difficulty in the springs area. By this time the sun was getting high so not as many photo ops. We saw just a few Spring Beauties and some Wild Phlox but nothing compared to some of the trails in Audubon State Park which I had hiked last Friday.
I saw one Wild Turkey but no other wildlife to speak of. We had left her car at the Garden area and got back there around 4PM to find the place loaded with cars and people. We saw some folks at the springs area but not that many and only passed a few on the trails. I cannot remember the specific names of the trails. I thought they were not marked very well as you could start out on a trail with yellow marks and end up on one with another color. If you were more familiar with the springs area it would be easier.

The Shawnee National Forest is always on my list of favorite day photography treks. We did not have time to do Rim Rock trail which is located off ILL Hwy 1 before the Garden cut off. I think it's my favorite short hike.

he rookeries were hard to find. I have a friend in Chokoloskee, south of Everglades City, well not really a city! I was as far south as one can go by automobile on the West coast of Florida. My friend lives in one of two mobile home parks on Chokoloskee Island, a shell pile from the decades of use by the indigenous people of south Florida. He is also an avid birder and photographer and took my by boat to the place where the rookeries are. we had to go to google earth to find the place where the spoonbills were alleged to be. We were in the Ten Thousand Islands area of Everglades National Park. Strange to me, I saw almost no birds except the ones we searched out. I lived in the Sarasota area for 4 years and birds were every where. Yes, I was searching for spoonbills. and yes, it was difficult especially from a small boat. It's a very interesting area with an interesting history.

There are accommodations in Everglades City and some good food. I stayed in a trailer of a friend on the Island. Everything closes up down there in May - Fall. I saw no tourists. Restaurants that were open were closing soon. Most people go to that area to fish. Snook fishing was closed because of the season and lack of fish from the previous cold winter. but if you like seclusion this is the place in May before the mosquitoes and the humidity.
You must visit Clyde Butcher's photography studio if you go down that way. See www.clydebutcher.com.