Fort de Soto

60 min / 90 min / 2 hours / 3 hours

Tampa, Florida | USA

Session Length Options: 

Tampa, Florida| USA

60 min / 90 min/ 2 Hours

Session Length Options: 

Fort De Soto offers pristine Gulf Coast beaches with white sand stretching for miles, historic military ruins, and diverse coastal ecosystems perfect for varied photography. The preserved fort's concrete batteries and vintage cannons create dramatic architectural elements against the beach backdrop, while the fishing piers—including the 500-foot-long pier and 1,000-foot-long pier—extend into Tampa Bay providing leading lines and sunrise/sunset vantage points.
The park's multiple beaches each offer unique character: the North Beach with calm waters and mangrove-lined shores, East Beach facing Tampa Bay with views of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, and the Gulf-facing beaches with rolling waves and shell-covered shorelines. The historic fort ruins provide textured concrete walls, arched doorways, and weathered structures that contrast beautifully with the natural surroundings.
For variety, the park includes kayak trails through mangrove tunnels, a dog beach with playful action shots, and numerous nature trails showcasing coastal hammock forests. The campground area offers palm groves and twisted oak trees, while Mullet Key Bayou provides protected waters reflecting dramatic skies. Bird photography thrives here with frequent pelican, osprey, and shorebird sightings, particularly during migration seasons when the golden hour light illuminates both the historic structures and pristine beaches.

Photos: Dessie in Orlando Florida