Street Photography
There aren't many places in North America
that offer better or more frequent opportunities for street
photography.
Mallory Square, at the west side of the island at the end of
Duval Street, is the site of the Sunset Celebration, where crowds
gather for each night's sunset. The event has become somewhat
of a ritual in Key West. It includes lots of street theatre,
including jugglers, musicians and animal tricks. Food and refreshments
are sold, and plenty of other street commerce will be going
on. It's like the east coast version of Venice Beach. Get there
at least a half hour before sunset.
Fantasy Fest
is a highly attended Halloween festival held in late October.
It includes a pet parade, a costume competition, a masquerade
ball and scores of public outdoor costume parties and festivities.
If you're driving in, get there early in the day; traffic on
the lower end of Route 1 is terrible during the festival.
Hemingway Days Festival: Held in July. Highlights include a
Hemingway look-alike contest; a "running of the bulls,"
wherein Hemingway look-alikes are chased by dressed-up barrels;
and a party on the lawn of Hemingway's house.
Cuban American
Heritage Festival: Held in June. This event features: About
50,000 participants; a conga line across the island; the Duval
Street Fiesta; a Latin concert; cigar parties, a boxing exhibition
at Mallory Square; and other festivities.
Wildlife
The animals are wild, albeit momentarily
captive while recovering from injuries: the Wildlife Rescue
Center. Call 305-294-1441.
Key Deer (an endangered species) can be seen around dawn and
dusk in the lower keys, especially Big Pine Key. Alligators
can be found in various places; check at Blue Hole in Big Pine
Key. Also check out the nature trails at Bahia Honda State Park
on Big Pine Key for birds and possibly other wildlife.
Lighthouse
The Key
West Lighthouse is now a tourist stop. It's also difficult
to photograph, since it's in the middle of a neighborhood with
trees around the property. From 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. the tower is
open for climbing. There is an admission fee.
Nancy's Secret Garden
Little-known quiet spot
near downtown. The 1-acre rain forest garden is located on a
former dump and includes over 100 species of palm trees, along
with aroids, cycads and orchids. (Directions: From Duval Street,
walking south, turn left onto Fleming Street, then right onto Simonton
Street, then left down an alley named Free School Lane. The garden
is through the wooden gates.)
1847 Cemetery
The
cemetery is part of the island's character. Resting place
of people who chose such photogenic epitaphs as "I Told
You I was Sick," "Devoted Fan of Julio Iglesias"
and "At Least I Know Where He's Sleeping Tonight."
Stacked tombs and pet graves beside their owners'. Entrances
are on Angela Street and Margaret Street. Open daily from dawn
to dusk.
Silly Stuff
The "Southernmost Point in the Continental
U.S." is marked by a giant buoy. If you go to photograph
this, you will not be the only one; it's a busy tourist spot,
despite being well off the beaten path of other popular spots.
Besides that, it doesn't make a good creative image, unless
you're trying to photograph tourists at a tourist spot. At the
corner of Whitehead and South Streets.
The "End of the Rainbow" is marked by a sign at Jackson
Square. The significance? It's the southern end of the 2,200-mile-long
Route 1 (the northern end is in Maine). Not as busy as the buoy.
Also …
Marinas: Full of restaurants,
shops and, of course, boats. The marinas are more accessible
than most in the U.S., and offers good opportunities for maritime
images. New, replica and restored old boats and ships. Plenty
of stereotypical Keys characters around, too.
Historic architecture: Lots of grand, old houses west
of Duval Street.
Official Parks: Dry
Tortugas National Park (reachable only by boat or seaplane;
call 800-950-2FLY) and Fort Zachary Taylor State Historic Site.
Being an island, it's great for sunrises and sunsets, and the
warm beginning- and end-of-day light will hit just about anything
you want to photograph. However, sunset on the west side of
the island is generally the better option for silhouettes (of
marina boats, etc.), because the east (sunrise) side of the
island is mostly just barren beach and private property.
|
