Mangrove Island

Location: Ponce de Leon Park — Punta Gorda, Florida

Mangrove Island - By Spencer Pullen

This body of work represents a long-term personal project spanning more than a decade. Nearly fifteen years ago, I was introduced to a unique mangrove accessible from shore via a narrow fishing trail—no wading required. Over time, this location became informally known among local photographers as “Mangrove Island.” While mangroves are abundant throughout Southwest Florida, they typically line the coast and are most often reached only by boat. What draws me to them is both their ecological importance and the intricate, sculptural quality of their root systems.

My earliest visits to Mangrove Island were made with a Nikon D300 paired with an 18–200mm lens. Finding the trail itself proved to be an adventure; after navigating through dense sea grape foliage, I eventually discovered a narrow sandy path leading to the site. At six foot four, I quickly learned another lesson—spiders frequently build webs across the trail overnight. Being the first to pass through in the morning often meant an unavoidable encounter. From then on, I carried a stick to clear the path ahead.

Initial photographic attempts were less successful, largely due to harsh afternoon light. It became clear that this was a location best suited for early morning work. On a return visit at sunrise, with the sun at my back, the mangrove revealed its full character. Although I typically favor side lighting, conditions dictated otherwise, and without waterproof boots, my positioning was limited. Even so, the focal range of the 18–200mm lens allowed me to capture the scene effectively, marking a promising start to the project.

Over the years, I returned to this location many times, documenting its gradual transformation. Southwest Florida has endured significant impact from storms, including Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Ian, Hurricane Helene, and Hurricane Milton. With each passing storm, the mangrove lost portions of its roots and branches, increasingly exposed to the elements.

The image presented here was created in 2023, prior to the impacts of Helene and Milton. For this photograph, I used a Nikon Z6 with a 28–400mm lens, along with a circular polarizer to reduce surface reflections and reveal detail beneath the water. I shoot in RAW format to retain maximum image data, which I process using a consistent workflow: initial corrections in DxO PhotoLab, black-and-white conversion in Nik Silver Efex Pro, and final refinements—such as dodging, burning, and cloning—completed in Affinity Photo using layered adjustments.

Sadly, following Hurricane Milton, the mangrove was ultimately lost. Its absence is a reminder of the transient nature of the landscapes we photograph. Photography, at its core, serves as a form of preservation—a way to hold onto moments and subjects that may not endure. It is both a document and a tribute.

Keep photographing—you never know what may soon be gone.

Keep your glass clean,

Spencer