Highway to Sunset

US-27 highway, Tamarac, FL.

The US-27 route is one of the longest highways in Florida. It goes all the way down from I-69 at Fort Wayne, Indiana, to US-1 in Miami. And a considerable part of this highway crosses the Everglades. Several international initiatives have recognized these wetlands as globally significant, including the World Heritage program, the UNESCO Man & Biosphere program, and the Ramsar Convention. As a result, the section of the highway that crosses Florida had to be carefully designed and built to preserve this delicate and essential ecosystem by minimizing its impact on the surrounding Everglades.

In the middle of 2019, I flew over this area while collaborating on a documentary about the wildlife in the zone. Then, I noticed an endless stretch of highway finishing far into the horizon.

It was the midpoint of the storm season in Florida when you might only witness two types of sunsets: dark cloudy or gold and gorgeous.

I decided to travel to this spot for several consecutive days in pursuit of the perfect golden hour. So I pulled over one shoulder of the highway and got my drone into the skies looking for the perfect shot. Sooner than later, I got this breathtaking sunset, full of gold, warm hues topped with dramatic clouds, and the blue gammas of a darkening sky.

The final aerial panorama gracefully captured the water canals mirroring the stunning sky, creating a mesmerizing reflection. While at the same time grabbing all the charms of this breathtaking sunset and the endless road seamlessly blended into the Everglades as it stretched towards the golden horizon.