Meet Diego Terzano, our October 2018 #DryTortugas Photo Contest winner. We had the chance to ask him a few questions about his experience at the Dry Tortugas National Park. Read on to learn how he captured his amazing photo!
1. When did you visit the Dry Tortugas National Park? Did you arrive by seaplane, the Yankee Freedom ferry or another way?
I arrived at Dry Tortugas on August 24th for a 2-night camping adventure with a friend of mine on the Yankee Freedom.
2. If you arrived by the Yankee Freedom, how was your ferry trip?
It was terrific! The journey was smooth and the ferry was very comfortable and spacious, breakfast was quite convenient and welcomed. The staff was very polite and educational throughout the trip.
3. How did you capture your winning photo? What inspired you to take it? Did you use any cool camera gear?
Since I camped, I had the opportunity to take gorgeous sunrise and sunset images of Fort Jefferson and the beautiful surrounding scenery and wildlife. I highly recommend camping to anyone visiting Dry Tortugas to fully appreciate everything it has to offer. However, I have already seen some amazing images of Garden Key and wanted to see if I could capture something a bit different. We took a tandem kayak on the Yankee Freedom and my friend and I decided to row the 3 miles out to Loggerhead Key one morning. It was a great experience, we capsized in the process (dry bag was a savior) and got quite sunburned but we got rewarded with stunning beaches, unforgettable views and a desolate island that for a moment felt like our own private retreat. When I took the image, I felt like I earned it and the journey was worth it. The sky was dramatic, the wind was blowing and the lighthouse was simply there, grand and imposing, showing its signs of age but standing tall despite the adverse conditions it faced over the years. I used a Sony RX100 III that has a 24-70mm lens.
4. What made your trip to the Dry Tortugas memorable?
The entire experience was memorable. Camping on this location is such a unique experience, coupled with and incredible night sky, snorkeling in such clear waters and imagining what it took to build such an amazing structure so far out to sea was quite a treat and definitely memorable. I am glad I was able to share that with a great friend even though I would have loved for my wife to have accompanied me (she is not the camping type)
5. What do you plan to do with your National Park Annual Pass? Which national park would you like to visit next?
The pass could not have arrived more timely. My wife and I are planning a trip to Zion & Death Valley National Park for Spring 2019 and possibly a return trip to Dry Tortugas for the day!
