Sanibel and Captiva Island Nature Photos

Photographing the Islands

Sanibel and Captiva Islands are a special place on Florida’s west coast. Just a short drive across the Causeway Road from the mainland and suddenly you are in a completely different world – a nature wonderland! You will wonder at the island’s lush green tropical foliage and the assortment of different nature habitats and local creatures ripe for the camera lens.

From seaside to the depths of Ding Darling’s Nature Preserve you will be surrounded by Sanibel & Captiva photo op’s whether high up in the trees or even under water. Your endless assortment of models will vary from the feather clad to the glistening smooth silver skin of a bottle-nosed dolphin. Even tourists are good targets as they come in every size and shape and wear wild tropical colors while on vacation.

The images gathered here for our gallery were created by one of the area’s resident photographers, Roberta Schuldenfrei. She has been capturing the area’s tranquil beauty for over a decade.

Please take a moment to relax, and browse through her gallery of photographs.

About Roberta Schuldenfrei

A Florida native who has spent most of her adult life both in front of, and behind the camera. In the early ’70s, Roberta had the pleasure of being one of Flipper’s Trainer/Handlers, which quickly developed into a successful modeling career. She also graced the cover of Newsweek Magazine July of 1976.

Living and working in Sanibel/Captiva’s resort industry has perfected her camera skills, and provided generous amounts of nature and wildlife subject matter.

Roberta’s Tips & Tricks

Well here’s a few words to the wise to ward off some common problems while trying to get the perfect shot:

  • Early bird catches the worm? Early morning time is great for wildlife photography. The lighting is great, there is less chance of rain clouds, and there are many species of birds and other animals that hide out in the late afternoon heat.
  • Tread as quietly as possible as to not scare away your subjects. Wildlife is very timid. Especially be conscious on wooden boardwalks as heavy footsteps will scare everyone away.
  • Snap now – Crop later. Think quick and hit the shutter as soon as you see a good shot because wildlife does not ever sit still very long and they always seem to have somewhere to go. One out of 10 pictures will be the gem (if you’re lucky!). Almost as bad as taking baby pictures.
  • Remember that the climate here promises late afternoon showers in the summer season, so don’t get caught in the rain.
  • Our climate tends to be higher in humidity, esp. in the summer, so I keep a lot of zip lock bags handy to keep film and other equipment dry.
  • Don’t leave camera, equipment or film in cars. They get incredibly hot locked up in there resulting in all kinds of damage.
  • Conveniently, there are several film processing places on Sanibel including Arundel’s, CVS, and Bailey’s Center amongst others.

Favorite Photo Taking Spots

It wont be hard to find subjects on Sanibel or Captiva Island. One of the absolute favorites is our fantastic sunsets. The sun goes down over the water here in all kinds of amazing colors. Every day is a new experience. The following are a few great sites I particularly love:

  • Lighthouse Beach: view of causeway and gulf with a lot of great water sport activity.
  • Blind Pass: unique for shore birds and sea shells along sea wall.
  • Ding Darling Nature Preserve: Has walking, biking and driving trails with nature lookout points. Plenty of gators!
  • Causeway bridge: Water water everywhere! (Sorry about the bridge construction this year)
  • Catch a boat tour out of Captiva to Usepa Island: great for dolphin shots and sometimes also manatees.
  • Have you noticed how great beach shots look if you make sure to get some of the sea oats in the foreground? Try on any beach on the island.
  • Lighthouse Pier: great for fishing shots both the human and pelican kind.
  • Try the beach in front of ‘Tween Waters for the “long stretch of beach that never seems to end” type picture.
  • Bowman’s Beach: I love the driftwood and cormorants.

Nature Trails & Parks

Click here to view some of Roberta’s favorite Sanibel & Captvia photography spots.

View galleries of Roberta’s pictures below:


couple biking on sanibel island

The Top Sanibel and Captiva Island Beaches

If you’re looking for the ultimate island paradise, you’ll find it on Sanibel and Captiva Islands in Florida. These two islands offer a little something for everyone and are the perfect place to vacation or call home. No amount of time spent in Florida would be complete without visiting the best local shores! That’s why we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide... Read More »


Bird flying across the sanibel island wildlife refuge

Explore Sanibel and Take the Wildlife Refuge Tram Tour

On your next trip to Sanibel Island, you’ll be right near some of the best attractions in the area. But what if you’re looking specifically for family-friendly activities in Sanibel? Are there going to be enough attractions that you and your kids can all enjoy together? Don’t worry! Sanibel Island is full of family-friendly activities, no matter what you’re interested... Read More »


wonderful darling national wildlife

Everything You Need to Know About J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge

If you’re searching for things to do in Sanibel Island, be sure to put the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on your itinerary. This refuge is a family-friendly spot that holds enough for an entire day (or more!) of activities. You can spend hours enjoying the incredible weather in Sanibel and exploring all the best nature of the Sunshine... Read More »


father and son hiking

Nature Lovers Favorite Hikes in Sanibel Island

When you’re spending time on Sanibel Island, there are plenty of ways to get into nature. You can stroll down the shore and spot some birds, bike through town, or kayak in the waters to observe the stunning marine life. To get up close and personal with nature while getting your exercise in, consider a hike! There are Sanibel Island... Read More »


kids

Sanibel Sea School Day Program

Traveling with young children is never easy. While it can be tons of fun spending a few days with your little ones playing on the beach and soaking up the hot Florida sunshine, after a little while, you may start yearning for some peace and quiet. Luckily, there are a few excellent children’s programs on Sanibel Island. Your child will... Read More »


birds in florida on sanibel island

Top 3 Animals You’ll Find at the J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge

J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Sanibel, Florida, is home to thousands of animals. It has a habitat that can only be found here and nowhere else, as many of the animals are endangered species. If you are planning on visiting, then you may want to know what you can expect to see. Here are the top 3 animals... Read More »


woman watering house plants

Florida’s Top Fall Plants to Spruce Up Your Home

Do you love getting out and exploring nature? There are few better places to explore Florida’s vast biodiversity than Sanibel Island and the surrounding area. J.N. “Ding” National Wildlife Refuge is a must-see, protecting more than 2,619 acres of land and hundreds of species of wildlife in one of the country’s largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystems. But when staying in Sanibel,... Read More »


hog fish

10 Animals You Can See in an Artificial Reef on Sanibel Island

The artificial reef is one of the last major bastions of varied, epic, and pristine marine life. The artificial reef is a world treasure and we need to respect it and care for it. While seeing this gem of the Earth, you can find some amazing creatures. Some of them seem pulled right out of a fairy tale, yet here... Read More »


seashell display

How to Create a Seashell Collection Display

Collecting take-home seashell souvenirs represents the essence of your beach vacation experience. Seashell collectors roam the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva, on the lookout for that perfect and intact specimen. Sanibel and Captiva seashell collecting is a popular activity for numerous reasons- anyone can do it and you never know what you’ll find! While seashell collecting is fun, seashell organizing... Read More »


Pink Flower Sanibel Island

Top 10 Flowers to Identify in Florida

If you’re thinking about moving to a new area, it might be fun to identify the local flora and fauna, which is what this article is all about. It also might be fun to vacation in the area to try it on for size – and see the wildlife and plant life up close and personal. Sanibel and Captiva Islands... Read More »