When dawn's first light breaks over the Everglades, or when the sun sinks low, painting the sky with fiery hues, the marshes and waters awake with a raw, fierce energy. To translate this magic through your lens, your settings must work alongside the Everglades’ shifting light and dynamic environment. Start with your camera in manual mode to control exposure precisely. Early morning and sunset light is soft but quickly changes—iso 100 to 400 works best to keep noise low without sacrificing clarity. Aperture around f/8 to f/11 strikes the right balance between sharpness and depth of field, ideal for capturing expansive landscapes where sharp details in both foreground sawgrass and distant islands matter.

Shutter speed demands attention. Early morning mist or rippling water can call for slower speeds (1/15 to 1/60 second), so a sturdy tripod is essential—especially when aiming to track the subtle movements of wading birds or reflective surfaces. For handheld shots, bump shutter speed to at least 1/125 second to avoid blur. Use a remote shutter release or timer function to minimize vibration.

White balance can make or break twilight shots. Set it to "cloudy" or "shade" for warmer tones that emphasize the sun’s golden light breaking through cypress trees or skimming the water’s surface. HDR mode may come in handy if the contrast between shadowed mangroves and blazing sky feels harsh, but take care not to over-process and lose natural texture.

Focus strategies differ at these times: manual focus allows pinpoint accuracy on subjects resisting autofocus in low light—think herons or dragonflies settling into reeds. Burst mode can capture fleeting moments when wildlife emerges under the dawn or dusk glow.

Lastly, track weather closely. Clear skies highlight vibrant colors, but scattered clouds can add drama by diffusing and bending light unpredictably. Arrive early to scout your vantage points—boardwalks like Anhinga Trail offer low and close wildlife encounters, while Shark Valley’s observation tower presents sweeping flooded prairies glowing in the golden hour.

Packing polarizing and ND filters will give you control over reflections and light intensity—vital for crafting crisp, vivid shots under the Everglades’ unique light conditions. Hydration and sturdy, waterproof footwear are must-haves; terrain can shift from dry trails to soggy marsh edges as morning dew evaporates or tidal waters change.

Photography here is an exchange with an environment fiercely itself, not a backdrop to simply capture. Approach with patience and respect, and your images will hold the Everglades' dawn and dusk not just in pixels, but in feeling.