Main Page | Discography | Biography | How to Order | Reviews | Schedule | Links | Nature Sounds

About Making River Cane Flutes

Behind the Scenes
Since November 2007 I have been working with documentary filmmaker, Elam Stoltzfus to film and document the Big Cypress National Preserve and the surrounding natural areas.   

I have been recording the nature sounds of the landscape for the documentary soundtrack and composing music for the musical soundtrack.

Here is a link to Elam's website with information about the progress of our efforts:  Big Cypress Swamp: the Western Everglades

Below are some photos taken in the Big Cypress Basin during the filming.

---

Sammy and a giant cypress tree in the Fakahatchee Strand

Miccosukee/Seminole style Coconut Shell Rattle made especially for the soundtrack from a coconut found on Panther Key of the Ten Thousand Islands

At dusk the water moccasins appear on the graded roads--a reminder that we are in their habitat and should be very careful where we tread!

Filmmaker Elam Stoltzfus and Photographer Rick Cruz filming in the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve

Elam Stoltzfus filming along the Gator Hook Slough Trail during February

Composer Sammy Tedder and Script Writer Jane Atkins on Clyde Butcher's Swamp Walk Trail

A reminder that we are in Panther territory

Elam Stoltzfus pushes through wet ferns along the trail into the Fakahatchee Strand

Our photographer/guide Rick Cruz plants a stick pointing the way out of the swamp--Fakahatchee Strand

Elam and Sammy Filming in the Big Cypress Swamp - August 2008

On break Photograph by Rick Cruz

Smoke from a prescribed fire in the Big Cypress Swamp adds color to the winter sunset

River cane flute music by the campfire--Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve Photograph by Rick Cruz