This is a short wildlife documentary video of STA-5 (Stormwater Treatment Area number 5) by Josh Manring shot December 17, 2011. Footage was shot with with a Canon 7D body and 15-85mm lens or 500mm lens w/1.4 TC. Sound was recorded with a Rode Microphone. Shot on location at STA-5, Hendry, County Florida.  The lighting was less than perfect to say the least but the footage speaks for itself.  This is one of the best birding spots in all the state of Florida for sheer number of birds.  Upwards of 40,000 birds have been counted at STA-5 in one day and there are approximately 75 species in this small area. The most exciting birds of the day for me were the White-tailed kite and American Avocet.  I hope you enjoy!

This short documentary video by myself shot December 14, 2011. Fisheries Biologist Pat O'Donnell monitors sharks 3 times a month in the Rookery Bay National Estuarine. I volunteered through Rookery Bay and assisted in the process of attempting to catch sharks for research purposes. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in catching sharks this night. Footage was shot with with a Canon 7D body and 15-85mm lens. Sound was recorded with a Rode Microphone. Shot on location in the Fakahatchee Bay, Rookery Bay National Marine Estuarine, Florida.

November 2011-

Fellow photographer, naturalist and good friend, Jim Vanas, first introduced me to Las Brisas Nature Reserve in 2008.  Jim had met Erick, the owner of Las Brisas Nature Reserve, some years prior and wanted to introduce us.  At that time, I had been intermittently living in Costa Rica for three years.  I was familiar with the general flora and fauna of Costa Rica, but Las Brisas Nature Reserve brought my level of appreciation and learning for the natural world to a whole new level.  To this day, after living near the Las Brisas Nature Reserve for a total of six months in the past four years, I am not only in awe but also simply astounded by the evolution of the reserve. 

My photographic experiences at Las Brisas Nature Reserve have been nothing short of amazing. I am from Naples, Florida, and almost every time I venture into the swamp (The Florida Everglades), I encounter a unique experience. The same can be said for Las Brisas Nature Reserve, but there is one key practical difference between the two and many other hard to get to places in the world like The Florida Everglades, and that is accessibility. The accessibility to Las Brisas Nature Reserve is one of the biggest draws for me to return time and time again.  The last two years, I have rented the same villa not even 100 meters from Las Brisas Nature Reserve. I do not need to drive an hour (if not more) and then walk an hour to arrive at my destination.  From my own front door, I am where I want to be within a 10-minute walk and I am introduced to a side of nature that is almost un-comparable.

I have two favorite times of day for photography at Las Brisas Nature Reserve. The first is to wake up at the crack of dawn and experience the warm ambient morning light and the rebirth of the new day with all the birds and other creatures.  I find the morning light warmer and lasts longer than the afternoon light does.  There are two primary reasons for this; first, the mornings are less cloudy than the afternoons, and secondly, the hills block the afternoon light as the sun sets, thus cutting the light short.  My second favorite time of day to photograph is at nighttime.  Las Brisas Nature Reserve has single-handedly been responsible for my love of macro photography. Each and every subject seems to stand out at night and the intimacy with the subject in regards to macro photography is something beyond comparison to other photographic disciplines.

The wildlife at Las Brisas Nature Reserve is absolutely special. There are over 400 species of birds and a diverse population of insects, frogs, snakes, and mammals. This is where the relationship between Las Brisas Nature Reserve and the people who care for it are so important.  Erick, Santos, Juan, Felipe, Donald and many others have spent countless hours walking the trails and learning about flora and fauna. I have been fortunate to experience Las Brisas Nature Preserve with the assistance of their knowledge. If you get the opportunity to visit and spend time with one or more of the people whom are familiar with Las Brisas Nature Preserve, it is a privilege.

In conclusion, the photographic opportunities, day and night, are endless (literally) and the experience is one you will remember for a lifetime.  If you have read this far, then maybe I will see you at Las Brisas Nature Reserve one day soon.

Feel free to contact me-
Josh Manring
Adventure/Documentary Photographer
Naturalist
US. 941-405-3130
CR. 506-8779-3514
Journeymangallery.com
Journeymangallery@gmail.com