Today, we’re featuring a beautiful Florida Keys travel story from film photographer Madalyn Yates. Here is more from Madalyn about visiting the island of Islamorada…
There is something about film photography that really forces you to slow down, and it’s something special. My family and I recently traveled down south to Islamorada, which is one of the first islands of The Florida Keys. Islamorada is one of the smaller islands and is one of the most beautiful ones and has incredibly blue waters. It got its name in 1513 by the Spanish explorers and means “purple isle.” At sunset, you can see purple skies, and, then, there are a lot of purple bougainvillea on the island.
While there, we explored by bike, boat, and by foot. So many beautiful views including historical homes, wildlife, and gushing blue waters. One of my favorite things we did was a sunset charter tour! It was absolutely magical. Our tour guide told us all about the history of Islamorada and shared some secret spots including a bird sanctuary and a view of what the locals call Million Dollar Row, home to the wealthiest of the island. It was insightful to see the diversity of architecture that the island embodies.
Photographing the trip on film was the best decision I made! The depth, the colors, and the stories that come from the images are priceless. Enjoy!
Analog cameras and films used: Pentax 645 (Find at KEH Camera or on eBay), Nikon N65 (Find on eBay) | Kodak Portra (Find on Amazon), Kodak UltraMax 400 (Find on Amazon)
Connect with Madalyn: Website | Instagram
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