By Susan Gunn
What do you think of on a hot summer day? The beach or a nice cool dip in a pool? Or maybe it’s that first delicious sip of cold water taken to cool down after some time in the sun. Many of us take that last one for granted. The majority of people in Northwest Florida might not be aware, but that clean, cool water sliding down their throats is not always that easy to come by. That precious, vital commodity is most likely provided by one of eleven natural springs in the area, otherwise known as “Floridian Aquifers”.
There are hundreds of natural springs across the state of Florida, and there is one man who understands their importance and beauty in a deeper way than most. The son of Fort Walton business owners, Trace Ingham is a native Floridian and self-proclaimed waterman. He is my friend, and I can vouch for his love of the water, both salt and fresh. The twenty-eight-year-old is a local photographer living and working in the 30A area. His first love was auto refinishing and metal fabrication, for which he received his education in Pennsylvania. Trace began shooting around this time, finding as he says, “even the broken-down hills of PA to be camera worthy.”
Trace Ingham – self-portraits. “Preparing for a night swim one of the most popular Spring System in Florida. to avoid crowds to get the clearest possible shots, we try to visit early or late in the day when most others aren’t swimming. Sometimes that means swimming in the dark.” – Trace Ingham
I met Trace a few years ago, connected through our mutual interest for night photography, in particular, the Milky Way. I can tell you that after spending time with him, I quickly learned of his natural talent. He has what we call “a natural eye” for seeing things uniquely, even more than most beautiful minds I know. This organic skill is topped only by his talent for capturing those things through his lens.
While others may work many years to render images that leave us breathless, Trace can scan a scene, meter the mood and light in his head, and produce a shot that stuns the eye.
I’ve watched him do it, and the result is sometimes magical. While Trace’s captures of our night skies are a beauty in themselves, it is his more recent underwater photographic offerings of Florida’s springs that are a true sight to behold.
‘Fallen Soldiers’ – another split shot of my favorite Northwest Florida Spring – Trace Ingham
Trace works full time in addition to feeding his water addiction, so he appreciates the time he does have to visit and photograph the springs. Whatever the day’s conditions bring, he uses the light to connect the sun and sky to the different hues of greens and blues, creating fascinating vistas of the pristine springs.
Floating gently, quietly on the surface, and always finning with care, he dives down to capture the many different species of fish and underwater life.
“Under-water Dance – Ashleigh Baird is a 75-meter diver and can hold her breath for unbelievable amounts of time. Making these artsy flowy shots easier than ever. But still never easy!” – Trace Ingham
This includes his partner, free diver Ashleigh Baird, pictured here in some of his work. Her beauty, her natural ability to move in the water, combined with Trace’s skill leaves the viewer with elegant and hypnotic underwater imagery.
“Florida is mostly known for its emerald gulf water,” he tells me, “but the best water is in the opposite direction.” He says it’s primarily the crystal clear waters that draw him there, but he feels a deep connection to the flora and fauna held in and around the springs.
“Over the waterline or under the waterline, Florida’s springs hold so much diversity and beauty, it’s quite frankly unreal.”
The bio-diversity of all Florida’s springs encompasses hundreds of species and breeds of fish, birds, reptiles, invertebrates, mammals, and plants, including the rare Bald Cypress Tree.