Bill Keogh
Bill Keogh has lived in the Lower Florida Keys for more than three decades and has made his living on or in these waters as a photographer, author and backcountry guide. His photography has been published in books and magazines worldwide including National Geographic, World Wildlife Fund and The Nature Conservancy, referring to his photography as 'inspirational' about the beauty and complexity of the natural world.
Bill is the recipient of The Nature Conservancy's esteemed "Conservation Colleague" award for his photography and he recently penned The Florida Keys Paddling Guide that describes kayak and paddling routes and the creatures found in the unique Florida Keys watery ecosystems.
Bill and his dog "Scupper" reside on Big Pine Key and he launches his backcountry excursions from the Old Wooden Bridge Fishing Camp & Marina near No Name Key Bridge.
Q & A
What makes the Florida Keys special for photography?
Florida Keys guidebook author June Keith best described the Lower keys as "A Land that is mostly water and a sea that is mostly sky." This really speaks to the fact that the Keys are an ocean lover's paradise.
If you love the ocean and where the ocean meets the shore then you will find a photographer's paradise in the Florida Keys. There is literally "water, water, everywhere," as you cross the bridges traversing these ancient coral islands exploring their unique and colorful inhabitants.
Tell us about your favorite shooting location in the Florida Keys?
Being in or on the tropical waters of the Great White Heron & Key Deer National Wildlife Refuges gives some of the best points of view for great photo opportunities; but my all time favorite place to photograph the Keys is from 500 feet above in a helicopter.
Other locations you'd suggest?
Bahia Honda is a spectacular state park with great photo opportunities along its beaches or on the old railroad bridge.
What is your favorite time of day to shoot pictures in the Florida Keys? Why?
Although sunset and sunrise offer the sweetest light for photographers the high overhead tropical sun is my favorite shooting light for aerial and scenic shots of these tropical seas, as this permits the maximum contrast and color saturation in the shallow waters.
Can travelers shoot decent pictures with a simple point-and-shoot camera in the Keys and what tips can you offer for people with this kind of camera?
If you can "be aware, and be there" you can make great photos happen, even with a simple waterproof point and shoot camera. One of our kayak clients just happened to do a slow drift over a giant sea turtle feeding in three feet of water and captured a great full frame shot of the creature by sticking his camera just a foot underwater and clicking!
For serious amateurs, who have digital SLR cameras, what advice can you give them about lens selection (and other equipment) when traveling to the Keys?
As a photographer traveling in the Keys I would be lost without three items: a nice wide angle zoom lens to capture the big sky and big water scenics, a good fill-flash for the harsh tropical shadows and a polarizer to make the clouds pop on a blue sky and the water sizzle with clarity.
If you could impart only one piece of advice for a traveler shooting photos in the Keys, what would that be?
To get the most out of your photography opportunities in the Florida Keys you really must dive under them, boat on them and fly over them.
