Chrissy Martinez Photography

Wishing you a wildly beautiful day! 🌾🦬❤️

Watching the wild Bison slowly make their way out of the wallow back into the forest for the night!

Photographed on the ancestral lands of the Timucua, Miccosukee, Mascogo, and Seminoles.

Wishing you a magical Monday! Watching the moon touching the spine of a tree branch in the space between where dreams live reminded we are here just for a glimmer what ripples do you want to leave behind?

I photographed this one evening walking around my neighborhood just a few hundred feet from my house.

October 7, 2022!
95% Full Waxing Gibbous in Pisces

Photographed on the ancestral lands of the Timucua, Mascogo, Miccosukee and Seminoles!

Alligator on a mission to rest and warm up on the bank. Photographed this past winter on a cold Florida day! It was fun to watch how the gators would make space for each other in the sunny snuggle pile along the bank.

Photographed on the ancestral lands of the Timucua, Miccosukee, Mascogo and Seminole nations.

I thought I already faced the biggest fear driving non stop to the bottom of the state. It wasn’t the driving for a long time that was scary but dealing with other cars after the motorcycle accident. This was my first big solo drive to a place I had never been. The last hour the rain came down like a flash flood so heavy I couldn’t see the road and had to pull over.

Finally I arrived at the campsite in the Everglades just a few hours later then I wanted to. It was night time when I arrived. I sat for a moment in the car trying to find the courage in myself to get out and set up my tent. The car was so packed I would have had to sleep sitting straight up if I didn’t get out. Finally the skies began to clear and I got to see the Milky Way from the car window just as clear as the sun or moon. Tempting me with a most spectacular view from my window. Shortly after I stepped out with my camera into the night, I set up camp had dinner and finally got to photograph the Milky Way under a true dark sky.

Facing many fears to share the light from stars with you!

Photography on the ancestral lands of Calusa, Seminoles and Miccosukee.

I rode my bike for over an hour and walked a few miles to be greeted by the presence of the Wild Bison on the Prairie. They were resting in the same way that I wanted to rest and cooling off in the wallow. The wallows are very important parts of the prairie ecosystems not only serving as a place for the them to cool off but also creating depressions that can serve as water reservoirs for other wildlife to benefit from.

I did not roll around in it even though it looked quite compelling. I watched from a distance in gratitude and admiration.

Photographed on the ancestral lands of the Timucua, Mascogo, Miccosukee and Seminoles.

Wishing you a most magical of Mondays. Click on the image to see the most magical part of the photo at the bottom.

I was feeling ready to curl up for bed but the feeling of curiosity pulled me from the house out into nature to see if I might be lucky enough to see the Northern Lights in Florida! The sounds of the wild ones that own the night echoing across the water back to my ears as hundreds of bugs swarmed my face while walking into complete darkness away from the sounds of the ever growing city. Alone at night on land within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

The night struggles to be seen because of all of the light pollution. I never realized how bad the light pollution was here until I had the chance to see and document the Milky way Galaxy in the Everglades and the Florida Keys last September.

Hours went by and still no sight of the Northern lights as I was a day late for the peak night but still just on time for one of the most magical nights of my life.

I decided to focus my energy on the Milky Way Galaxy and run a Timelapse of it. The warm humid Florida air quickly got cold and I was relieved to find a rain jacket in my bag to keep me a little warmer. Just as I was about to pack up and go home I made a few more images and noticed that I was joined by one of the most ancient and resilient wild ones of Florida. So I stayed until the alligator swam away and well beyond my bed time to share this image with you. Where the gators meet the stars. 🐊🌌

Photographed on the ancestral lands if the Timucua, Mascogo, Miccosukee and Seminoles.

Which image do you like the most?

Wishing you a wildly beautiful Wednesday! Watching the sunrise up over the water that covers the prairie. On extra windy days I like to pretend I’m looking out over the ocean!

Photographed on the ancestral lands of the Timucua, Mascogo, Miccosukee and Seminole nations.

I’m taking you to the place where the ocean and rainbows meet! I photographed this during my first time in the Florida Keys! I spent every night in a tent mostly awake because of the intense thunder and lightning storms that happened for hours every night and half of the day working and half the day playing and getting to know my new underwater camera housing.. the buttons and configuration were much different than my old one. So many new options to play with.

I was also here for a reset and reconnect because life had become more than I could handle. I was in complete awe of every fish, crab, coral fragments and thankful in looked up just in time to see this little glimmer of rainbow… 🌈

Do you feel like rainbows come to you when you need them the most? If so this glimmer is for you!

Photographed on the ancestral lands of the Tequesta and Calusa!

Some of my wildlife Wild Florida Photos will be on the big screen today at University of Florida Performing Arts I'm excited about this collaboration with the Danscompany of Gainesville. Click on the link if you want tickets. I believe children under 10 get in free.

https://performingarts.ufl.edu/events/spring-concert-and-state-of-wonder/

When the prize egg turns out to be a baby alligator. Swipe right for the prize egg! 🥚🐊🦟

Mama alligator helping her hatchlings out of the eggs! I watched her dig up mouth fills of earth and eggs with just the perfect pressure she helped many of them hatch in her mouth! Alligators can create around 3,000psi with their mouths at full strength does anyone know what the psi is for helping a hatchlings out of an egg? Amazing how with such incredible strength they can choose to be so gentle with their babies!

Also bonus points if you saw the mosquito!

Photographed in the wild on the ancestral lands of the Timucua, Miccosukee, and Seminoles!

While looking through some images for another project I’m working on I stumbled across this image and along with an entire album of alligators making interesting faces. While this one is looking like it’s got the cutest smile I’m pretty sure it is doing the half mouth open thing that they sometimes do when they are fishing in an area that is heavily full of fish, with the moth half open waiting for a fish to bump into them! Alligators use the least amount of energy needed to hunt!

I have also seen this look happen as a reflex when another alligator catches a fish the gators close by will sometimes open and clothes their mouths as if they gave also caught something!

If you enjoyed this post I’d love to see your impression of this smile and send it my way. 🐊😬🦷✨🐊😆.

Photographed on the ancestral lands of the Timucua, Miccosukee and Seminoles!

Sharing a moment between a great Blue Heron and its catch. A moment on the Prairie when there was an abundance of fish. Where I even saw a few Herons toss their fish back in the water to catch a different one. Watching the ebbs and flows of nature where no moment will ever be the same moment. When I return to this part of the Prairie again I know it will look different and how much I have changed since I made this photo and witnessed this moment. I’m looking forward to my next moments here and witnessing the changes within myself as well as the Prairie.

Who will I meet, what will it smell like and look like and how will I share my experience of this place with you all.

Deeply grateful you all and this ever changing landscape without and within! 💚🌱💚

I’ve got so much in the world to share with you all!

Photographed on the ancestral lands of the Timucua, Miccosukee and Seminoles!

I was out on a date when the moon last night and spent a few hours on the Prairie went to bed for 3 hours and woke up to my alarm at 3 am and many snoozes before crawling out to my front porch where I sat with the cat and a racoon that kept peaking at my from the stairs I was sitting on.

I was up for the penumbral lunar eclipse and might have stayed in bed if I had realized how subtle it would be in looks but still grateful to be awake and reminded of my passions and how so quickly the breath of the moon woke me up even before coffee while billowing clouds rolled between us and I was so overfilled with joy that I decided to commit to the day and had my coffee at 5 am and went back to the prairie and watched the moon go to sleep as the sun came up as sounds of grackles, semis and a beautiful eagle perched on top of the industrial polls that line the road.

Taking in the morning with still just enough time to make it to a much needed yoga class before heading home. Now off to celebrate my dad’s birthday!

I’m working on a moon reel that I will share with you all soon with my favorite images I made last night and this morning.
Wishing you the best day during this beautiful worm moon in Libra!

Photographed March 25, at 3:53 am on the ancestral lands of the Timucua, Miccosukee and Seminoles.

Hiking in Florida near my house this is often a normal scene! There are moments where I wonder if some people forget that they are not at Disney world and there is no barrier between the humans and wildlife and that these are still wild alligators! Growing up here I have had the opportunity to witness the extremes of people who seem to have no idea of what this apex predator is capable of and get way to close with their children and pets and also illegally feed them as well as people who are at the other extreme and fear them. I used to be at the other extreme and deeply feared them growing up.

The more I have learned about them the more my love has grown for them and the safer I feel around them because I understand their behavior etc. The easier it has gotten for me to notice when the behavior is a bit off and that I’m most likely near a fed alligator etc. I have also learned a lot from the birds and the alert system that happens on the prairie and will share that story on another post.

I share this to celebrate one of the most resilient and beautiful creatures in the state. Alligators are some of the most protective and loving mothers out there. Many other animals are also dependent on them as they create mud holes that often become water sources when we go through droughts etc.
Wishing you all a wildly beautiful weekend! 🐊💚🐊

What are some of your favorite things about alligators?
Photographed on the ancestral lands of the Timucua, Miccosukee and Seminoles!

I didn’t feel officially home until taking my first dip back in the springs. I picked up my sister last week to head to the spring by her house. I threw on my wetsuit bottoms and took the extra time to put my camera in the underwater housing even though the spring was pretty packed and not the optimal time of day.
About 45 minutes in my sister was waving at me from the other side of the spring so I swam over and she said a manatee had just swam in underneath a bunch of people. I spotted the manatee and to my surprise it swam back over to the spot I had just come from and layed down right where I was standing to sleep.

I decided to stay an extra distance away and just observe. I was beginning to regret not putting on my wetsuit top as the cold was starting to go beyond my threshold but I stayed as long as I could and it eventually ended up swimming right up next to me and swam down to the bottom of the spring just below my feet resting on pillows of algae as the sounds of boats breaking speed barriers filled the river close by.

I wondered where is the closest food source as this manatee was also on the thinner side with no vegetation to eat as far as I could see.

Still trying to learn to distinguish when the manatee are thin enough and hungry enough warrant support. Looking forward to the day that they don’t even have to go hungry enough to question. The part that has me concerned for This particular manatee is the dip behind the head is looking more on the p-nut shaped dip etc.

Photographed on the ancestral lands of the Timucua, Miccosukee and Seminoles.

Juvenile Black Crowned Night Heron reflecting on the edge of the water as the sunset shifts colors and creates mirrors and opportunities for me to reflect as well. They are most often found hunting at dusk and night time!

While this image was made a while back I am reminded of the importance of getting out and reflecting with nature. It took time to line up this image as any small stir of the water would disrupt the reflection so I waited until it was completely still to compose this image.

Do you enjoy reflecting when your out in nature?
Photographed on the ancestral lands of the Timucua, Miccosukee and Seminoles.

My first day back hiking in Florida and the baby swamp dragons were playfully crawling over each other and taking turns at hunting. Baby alligator hatchlings will often form pods together until they are 1-3 years old and the moms are often lurking close by for up to 2 years and are incredibly good at hiding in plain sight often hiding under mud, sticks and duckweed.

Photographed on the ancestral lands of the Timucua, Miccosukee and Seminoles.

I nearly stayed up all night with excitement for my first time to see the manatee in the middle of winter on a freezing cold day. I have spent a lot of time with them on warmer days but was curious to see them all gathered up in the winter. I laid out my cheap thrift store wetsuit (while waiting for my more insulated wetsuit to be shipped to me) and all of my clothes and gear prepped for the next day to spend the whole day on the water. I stepped out into the darkness and packed my board as the light pushed through thick clouds.

I didn’t know that I would be freezing within 15 minutes while tears filled my mask and take hours to warm up enough to get back in. I didn’t know yet that my excitement would quickly turn to heartbreak. But I stayed the whole day.

Freezing on the edge of my paddle board trying to take in any bit of sun the skies had to offer. It has been too painful for me to revisit the images from this day and still difficult now. The story even harder to tell.

For now I leave you with this image and a question. What does it mean to love? How do you show your love for our state mammal the manatee and what is your greatest dream for them.

Photographed on the ancestral lands of the Timucua, Mascogo, Miccosukee & Seminoles

Watching an eagle preparing to drop down for a fish.

Photographed on the ancestral lands of the Timucua, Mascogo, Miccosukee and Seminoles.

Vultures filling the sky as the sun goes down on the Prairie!

Photographed on the ancestral lands of the Timucua, Mascogo, Miccosukee, and Seminoles.

Alligator soaking up the last bits of sun that broke through the clouds. While it might look like it’s smiling it’s letting out an excess of heat to help regulate its temperature.

Photographed on the ancestral lands of the Timucua, Mascogo, Miccosukee, and Seminoles.

I held my breath for a moment walking out into the darkness before morning preparing myself to ride my motorcycle in the sub 32 degree with just a half helmet and the type of gloves that always left my fingers feeling like frozen crinkle cut fries leaving me with just enough flexibility to grip the clutch and brakes. Just minutes into my 45 minute ride I could feel the burn of the cold stopping the natural bends in my fingers and it required some screaming and singing into the wind to push through.

There were many moments where I wanted to pull over to warm up my hands and photograph the rolling landscapes covered in frost but I had to keep going because I had an appointment to create some photos with someone at the springs.

I arrived early and while my hands were still barely thawed I pulled out my camera and was able to photograph a few moments just before the sun came up and as the mist was rising off of the 72 degree springs.

Witnessing this moment made it all worth it. Days like this the springs can feel warm when the outside air is 40 degrees colder. Would you go in?

This image is one of two images that will be available for purchase this weekend at the Florida Springs Institute in their Juried Art Exhibition! It’s a signed print, 16x24 on metal! Photographed in 2015. I will share the second image with you tomorrow!

The opening will feature many other artist who love and care for Florida Springs! Hope to see you there! This Friday 6-9pm. Will you be there? If so leave me a comment below. There are many of you on here I haven’t had the chance to meet and this will be a great way.

Photographed on the ancestral lands of the Timucua, Mascogo, Miccosukee and Seminoles nations.

Bundled up from the brisk Florida winter air and hearing the pre-historic sounds of a Great Blue Heron flying over this group of alligators searching for the perfect twigs for its nest! Walking through here feels like home.

What places feel like home to you?

Photographed on the ancestral lands of the Timucua, Mascogo, Miccosukee and Seminoles nations.

Watching an Egret standing confidently amidst a pile of wild alligators! It’s been close to 7 years since the Prairie looked like this. It’s one of my favorite things about living here! To witness the forever changing magic of Payne’s Prairie!

Photographed on the ancestral lands of the Timucua, Mascogo, Miccosukee, and Seminoles!

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