The quick sell-out of his first book, The Islander, inspired photographer Michael O’Donovan to expand his coverage of the region to include beautiful images from the entire Northwest Florida area in his new book, Florida’s Northwest: First Places, Wild Places, Favorite Places.
Florida’s Northwest is a perfect gift for wedding parties, real estate closings, or a token of appreciation from an association or business.
Florida’s Northwest showcases natural and man-made attractions such as Gulf Islands National Seashore, Seaside, Pensacola, Port St. Joe, Apalachicola, Grayton Beach, Wakulla Springs, and Destin. The 200 miles from Perdido Key at the Alabama state line and east to Tallahassee are the most biologically diverse in North America. Filled with sun and sand, forest and field, the “forgotten” coast of Florida offers scenic vistas and limitless recreational opportunities, which are captured in Florida’s Northwest. The amazing photography and brief explanations of the area’s history, lore, flora and fauna weaves a spell of enchantment for the armchair traveler, and perhaps offers insight into why much of this strip of coast is work preserving.
Co-authored by travel writer Robin Rowan, the intentions behind Florida’s Northwest go much farther than its stunning photography. The book is a jumping off point to encourage readers to get out an explore the entire region; to hike its forests, canoe its inland creeks and rivers and discover for themselves what makes Northwest Florida rank as one of the top places to visit in the U.S.
Toast colored sea oats blowing in the warm summer breeze and a golden sun breaking through morning clouds on the Gulf of Mexico are two of the many photos that made The Islander a best-selling book in 1999. The book focuses on the western tip of Santa Rosa Island at Fort Pickens, part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, to the Destin Pass in Destin.
Sold Out.
Michael O’Donovan is one of the most sought-after photographers on the Gulf Coast. His passion for photography is coupled with a deep love and respect for the region he has always called home. O’Donovan drew from his thousands of photographs of the area taken over three decades to capture the essence of Northwest Florida.
Robin Rowan has spent more than 20 years as a travel writer specializing in eco-tourism, or nature-based travel. She co-authored two editions of The Insiders’ Guide to Florida’s Great Northwest, which was the first book solely dedicated to the region.
