A couple of years ago, in an attempt to quench my photographic thirst, I started driving west on the Timiami trail. This road, that bears many names, Calle Ocho, SW 8th Street and U.S. Highway 41, crosses the Everglades from East to West.
Smack in the middle of the trail is Big Cypress National Park, careful attention to the road unveils Loop Road; an oasis for wildlife, and wild souls. Plenty of alligators, Ibises and Roseate spoonbills complement this most unusual ecosystem.
During my first visit I stopped at one of the few houses in the road; neon signs and a plethora of odds and ends drew me in. I remember asking for a Coke; and much to my surprise got it in one of those old bottles; I paid and went my way. Back in January, as usual, asked for a Coke-in-a-bottle, but a tall bearded guy told me: “We don’t sell them anymore; my wife says it is a rip-off; so now we sell them in cans”. Heartbroken I bought my Coke and hit the loop once more.
Yesterday afternoon I stopped to get “the can” before heading into bird-land. Sitting in the porch enjoying a glass of wine where Maureen and Lucky Cole, owners of my “Coke-Pit stop. Lucky Cole, photographer extraordinaire, and Maureen his wife, ex belly dancer have been coming down here for more that 30 years. “ After 127th, there was NOTHING”, just imagine my face when he pulled into this road”. They have lived in this house for 15 years. Lucky’s pictures adorn every corner of this eclectic porch. His specialty, glamour pictures of women surrounded by the murky beauty of the region. “She is my muse, my only addiction,” tells me Lucky referring to wife Maureen. “It is not cigars, or beers, but her; although, a good scotch is another story”.
After a few shots I engaged on a “remote flash” conversation with Lucky, soon enough another customer, dress in a jacket, walked in. The light was fading fast so it was time to go and make some pics. I shall be back. You can visit Lucky's website by clicking here
Smack in the middle of the trail is Big Cypress National Park, careful attention to the road unveils Loop Road; an oasis for wildlife, and wild souls. Plenty of alligators, Ibises and Roseate spoonbills complement this most unusual ecosystem.
During my first visit I stopped at one of the few houses in the road; neon signs and a plethora of odds and ends drew me in. I remember asking for a Coke; and much to my surprise got it in one of those old bottles; I paid and went my way. Back in January, as usual, asked for a Coke-in-a-bottle, but a tall bearded guy told me: “We don’t sell them anymore; my wife says it is a rip-off; so now we sell them in cans”. Heartbroken I bought my Coke and hit the loop once more.
Yesterday afternoon I stopped to get “the can” before heading into bird-land. Sitting in the porch enjoying a glass of wine where Maureen and Lucky Cole, owners of my “Coke-Pit stop. Lucky Cole, photographer extraordinaire, and Maureen his wife, ex belly dancer have been coming down here for more that 30 years. “ After 127th, there was NOTHING”, just imagine my face when he pulled into this road”. They have lived in this house for 15 years. Lucky’s pictures adorn every corner of this eclectic porch. His specialty, glamour pictures of women surrounded by the murky beauty of the region. “She is my muse, my only addiction,” tells me Lucky referring to wife Maureen. “It is not cigars, or beers, but her; although, a good scotch is another story”.
After a few shots I engaged on a “remote flash” conversation with Lucky, soon enough another customer, dress in a jacket, walked in. The light was fading fast so it was time to go and make some pics. I shall be back. You can visit Lucky's website by clicking here
