A Miami Icon – The Deering Estate

By kraigsphotos on October 4, 2016

This is an article about photography

Sometimes you see a photo and know what it is without really knowing what it is.  I suspect most people who see the feature photo know it has something to do with Miami.  If you are over 40, then you probably know it from the opening of Miami Vice.  Others may have seen in in travel or tourism campaigns.

 

And technically, it isn’t even in Miami (although it is in Dade County).

 

The iconic image is actually the boat basin on the former estate of Charles Deering who was the first chairman of International Harvester.  The rest of the estate is nice, but not overly ornate – certainly not as plush as Vizcaya – the home of his brother James located north in the Coconut Grove section of Miami.  The home sits on Cutler Bay and faces due east, where the lined palms trees reflect in the water perfectly at sunrise.

 

I’ve wanted to photograph this for some time, but while the home is open to the public, that access is normally restricted to daytime hours. However, occasionally the county parks department which now owns the estate hosts sunrise photography gatherings.  Usually it fills up quickly.

 

Unfortunately, these events don’t start quite as early as I would like.  They call it sunrise photography, but by the time the sun starts coming up the best light is gone.  I like to be out shooting almost an hour before official sunrise.  The shot above is literally the third shot I took.  If you go just be prepared to shoot as soon as they let you in.  Also, if you want the sun perfectly centered over the basin, try to go in September.  My trip was in August and the sunrise was just to the left of the basin.

 

You need to sign up through the Miami-Dade Parks and the cost is $20.  Go to http://www.deeringestate.org/photography/  for more information.