Matanzas River Sunset

Sunset on the Matanzas

On the Thursday evening, July 11th, I went to shoot a sunset at Matanzas Inlet.  The pilings at the entrance of the Matanzas River has always been interesting to me.  On this particular evening, the sky looked threatening and it didn’t look like it was going to be much of a sunset.  But as the sun was setting, it was trying to peek out from behind the clouds giving me a hint of color.

It was a peaceful Florida evening until I was heading back to where I had parked.  I was attacked by a large swarm of tiny flying insects.  They were fast moving and very aggressive.  They chased me all the back way to the truck.  I must say, that the one thing that Florida has a lot of, is bugs!!!

Matanzas River Sunset

Matanzas Inlet gets it’s name from a massacre that occurred there in 1565.  The very word “Matanzas” in Spanish means “slaughters” in English. Jean Ribault of France sailed here to remove the Spanish from St. Augustine but a hurricane carried his ships further south and wrecked near present day Daytona Beach.  Ribault and his surviving men marched north towards St. Augustine until he was blocked at Matanzas Inlet.  Spanish General Pedro Menéndez learned from the local Indians of their location met Ribault at the inlet.  All of the Frenchmen were captured and was given the choice to convert to Catholicism, or be executed.  Most were executed on this stretch of beach, and is known as the Massacre of the French.  245 Frenchmen were killed here on two different occasions in September and October of that year.

First image:
Sunset on the Matanzas
Image #422

Second image:
Matanzas River Sunset
Image #421

Both images taken with Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II lens

©2019 Michael Mellen
Mellen Photography