Fort Myers Florida Best Photography Spots

These are my top spots for getting great photographs in the Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island area.

I travel to Fort Myers frequently and these are my go-to spots to get great photographs. The west coast of Florid is a unique spot because you can get sunset photographs of the sun over the water as you would on the west coast say in California.

Photographing and watching a sunset between 5 pm and 8 pm during cocktail hour or after dinner sure beats getting up a 5 am to see a sunrise on the east coast.

The Gear

I use Canon DSLRs and mirror-less full frame cameras with Canon’s top of the line L series lenses. But you can capture great sunset photographs with whatever you have with you including a cellphone.

One piece of equipment I don’t skip is the tripod. A tripod allows the photographer the ability to carefully compose a shot, shoot in lower light and to use long exposure techniques to smooth out the water.

Tips for Great Sunset Photographs in Fort Myers Florida

Here are some tips for better sunset photographs in the Fort Myers, Florida area and beyond.

Use a tripod for lower ISO shots, sharper photos and long exposures.
It’s difficult to focus in dim light. Use manual focus and pre-focus before it gets too dark.
Pick some interesting foreground subjects. Nothing is more boring than just the sun on the horizon.
Compose using the rule of thirds. Choose between giving the water two thirds of the space or the sky – which ever one happens to be more interesting.
Pray for clouds. Clouds great interest, drama and color in the photograph. Unfortunately low clouds can also cover up the setting sun but a sky with clouds is a whole lot more interesting than a blank sky.
Don’t pack up too early. The best color often comes out AFTER the sun has set. Bring some bug spray for the “no-seem–ums but definitly stick around for 20 minutes after the sun sets. Other people will already be in their cars, but you’ll see some amazing color.
Bracket your shots or use the manual setting to capture exposures the way you see it. Don’t rely on auto exposure which will try to brighten up the scene.

The Top Spots

Fort Myers Beach, Fishing Pier. A beautiful subject, waves and a fantastic sky full of clouds reflecting the water. Photograph by Edward M. Fielding

Classic car parked at Bunche Beach Preserve. Photograph by Edward Fielding. This over 700 acre facility is a natural tidal wetlands area located on San Carlos Bay. This pristine, completely natural area consists of sandy beach, mangrove forest, and salt flat communities, ideal for wildlife viewing. Great viewing of Sanibel Island and the bridge to the right of the parking lot.

Just over the bridge from Fort Myers is Sanibel Island with plenty of opportunities to catch the setting sun over the water. This photograph by Edward Fielding was taken at Bowman Beach on Sanibel Island.

Beyond the “Times Square” area of Fort Myers Beach and the honky tonk of bars, restaurants and hotels, there are plenty of opportunities to capture unique perspectives on the standard sunset photograph. Look for reflections at low tide for example. Fort Myers Beach sunset photograph by Edward Fielding.

Can’t find a foreground subject to make your sunsets more interesting? Bring one along. Bowman Beach photograph by Edward M. Fielding.

By controlling the exposure you can create stunning silhouette images. Sanibel Island Fishing Pier by Edward M. Fielding.

Note: This website is funded by sales of my fine art photographs, artwork, greeting card and more. See the entire six thousand image portfolio of photographs and artwork here:
https://edward-fielding.pixels.com/