"Christine Cook created “Swamp Mistress” to remind us that we all need to be gentle but strong guardians of the swamp. It was taken at the Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Estero, Florida which protects animals and wetlands from heedless development. See Christine’s website for more beautiful work at christinecookphotography.com. I am trained as a naturalist and spend a lot of time in marshes, swamps and other wetlands in the state of Florida. A myriad of plants and animals, from the rare Ghost Orchid to the endangered Wood Stork call wetlands their home. My photography is a way for me to both enjoy natural environments and to promote their preservation. I find that both journalistic and creative photography serves these purposes well. Although photographing in the varied lighting of a swamp is very challenging, it is also very rewarding. Enjoy my other works at www.christinecookphotography.com."