Photo Archives - Luci Westphal

sunset sky, Florida, gulf coast, Caladesi Island

Photos of Caladesi Island State Park: One of Tampa Bay’s Best-Kept Secrets (Florida)

What makes Caladesi Island State Park on the Florida Gulf Coast so special isn’t just its natural beauty, but also how uncrowded it is.

Flock of terns flying with shadows, Honeymoon Island, Florida

Trail and Beach Photos from Honeymoon Island State Park (Florida)

Honeymoon Island quickly became one of my favorite places as soon as we moved to the Florida Gulf Coast. Let me show you some views from the beaches and trails.

orange and black butterfly with white dots on purple flower, Monarch Butterfly on Lavender, life cycle stages

Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle Stages Photos and Videos

Photos and videos of the monarch butterfly life cycle stages, from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly, all in my Florida backyard over the course of just a few weeks.

nature photo postcards by Luci Westphal, pink flamingo, snowy egret, raccoon, colorful birds, pink blooms, tufted titmouse, aligator, Florida, available via Happier Place

Shiny New Nature Photo Postcards + Satiny Folded Greeting Cards

Exciting news! A whole brand-new batch of shiny, sturdy, sustainably-sourced nature photo postcards featuring my photography are now available via Happier Place! TweetShare147SharePin10Share157 Shares

sandhill cranes flying above palm trees, migration, winter in Florida

Winter Photos from Paynes Prairie State Park (Florida)

Paynes Prairie in North Florida is famous for the flocks of sandhill cranes that winter here among the local birds, wild horses, and bison.

Baby gator sleeping on a log in Shark Valley, Everglades, National Park, Florida

Everglades National Park Photos – Part I: Shark Valley

The Everglades National Park is a wildlife and bird photographers paradise. All these photos I took along just one trail: the Shark Valley Loop.

Roseate Spoonbill, pink, bird, animal, Florida

Featured Photo: Roseate Spoonbill

This Roseate Spoonbill, I photographed on my 2020 birthday in April.

Photos from the Weeki Wachee River and Springs State Park (Florida)

One of the best places in Florida: Weeki Wachee Springs State Park and the Weeki Wachee River and its manatees.

Spring Blooms and Chicks

This spring, I got to travel to North Carolina and various places around Florida. Naturally, I took lots of photos. Over the next few weeks, I plan on publishing several posts (either here or over on Happier.Place) dedicated to specific locations, e.g., Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Photos of Florida Gulf Coast Birds

Since moving to the Florida Gulf Coast in June 2018, I’ve found real pleasure in admiring and photographing the local birds. At times, it seems that my camera is drawn mostly to waterbirds – but then I spent over an hour just standing near a bald eagle’s nest in hopes of seeing a white head.