Wetlands

These photographs of Floridaís endangered wetland areas date from 1975-1978, when Mr. Leavitt was living in Florida and spent time camping, hiking, exploring and photographing the Florida wilderness. The photographer writes in regard to his interest in the Florida Wetlands: "It is a flat, hostile, all but impenetrable landscape comprised of muck, thorned plants, tangled roots, heat, humidity and insects. It is also the most ecologically sensitive and perhaps the most important acreage in our country. Not only is it a storm barrier, but its red mangrove system provides a marine nursery for important links in the food chain, and it is the only nesting ground for many species of our most exotic and beautiful birds. It is a primeval land of ancient and complex relationships between land and sea life."

"The wetland environment is very special, and it must be rendered in its own terms. My intention in photographing the wetlands was not so much to document this environment as it was to interpret it. For me the gray scale has little relevancy here, and I chose to disregard it in favor of higher contrast and shadows void of detail, which prove more truthful to the mood of this landscape. 

My involvement with the wetlands has taught me of an environmental harmony that works with remarkable efficiency and should continue to do so as long as it is not tampered with. For this reason I intuitively inhibited the viewer from "entering these images through the use of natural obstacles, while at the same time allowing one to appreciate the wetland's rich aesthetics".

The Florida Wetlands is part of the John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art's permanent collection, and in it's Circulating Exhibitions Program.  

The wetlands collection consists a of a suite of seven prints plus 10 individual prints. This special edition is limited to 35,  11x14 silver prints of each image. They are signed, numbered, mounted and matted on 16x20  white rag board.