In Miami, you have it all: coastal paradise, bustling city energy, and rich cultural heritage. For Trope Miami, the eleventh volume in our City Edition series, we collaborated with talented photographers who captured unique moments, angles, and viewpoints throughout the city. In Part Two of Behind the Shot, hear directly from five more photographers about the ideas and inspiration behind their images, and the stories that give each photograph its character.
View of Crandon Park Beach. Photo taken by Chas Spiros.
I moved from Virginia to Florida in 2022 and it was a move that my wife and I wanted to make for a long time. We thrive when we are near water or just the coast in general and Miami was a great landing spot. I was big into photography before moving to Miami, but this city seems to have furthered my passion for this art form. The photo of this couple was taken earlier on in my time in Miami and I think it embodies how I view this city as a place of peace and tranquility, often the opposite of how I think Miami is perceived. I had family in town and I was showing them around our local beaches, in this case Crandon Beach on Key Biscayne. I was envisioning this shot for about a minute before I hit the shutter button. I was hoping the couple would turn toward me as they were walking along the beach so I could frame them between these palms. It was a nice surprise when they did just that and I captured this photo. It just goes to show that manifesting the images you want to take has some power to it. This photo is an example of the early passion that Miami stirred in me and that continues to this day.
View of Surfside Beach. Photo taken by Chas Spiros.
Many Saturday mornings find me walking or riding my bike around Miami’s amazing beachfront. I often go before sunrise and stay out until 9:00 AM when the beaches become a bit more crowded. Some of the beaches I love visiting the most are in Surfside and Bal Harbour. Here you’ll find more sand dunes and vegetation, but also the upscale hotels that have colorful and intricate beach set-ups for guests. On this particular morning, it was a bit overcast and I had wandered for about two hours without much to speak of photographically. I also happened to be walking with a few fellow photographers, so our conversation had me a bit more distracted than normal. That said, walking with fellow photographers can often elicit new creativity. We were making our way back to our cars when I saw this shot at the same time a small amount of sun made its appearance. Knowing my preferred editing style and color pallete I knew this photograph had potential and it matched my vision for trying to pull a viewer into a scene to imagine themselves in this moment and at this place. I also loved the symmetry created by the towels anchoring both sides of the photo and hopefully leaving the viewer to imagine what might be outside of this frame. This photo has been one of my most popular to date and I exhibited it as part of Miami Art Week in 2025.
Lisa Bowman
View of The Carlyle. Photo taken by Lisa Bowman.
I had been wandering Ocean Drive that night, drawn in by the usual pulse and energy of neon that only South Beach can deliver. The Carlyle has always been one of the Art Deco hotels that stops me in my tracks. Its curves and vibrant cyan and red neon hues against the dark sky always keep me captivated.
I try to capture the Miami magic and that recognizable neon aesthetic so unique to this stretch of Ocean Drive, and this was one of those nights where everything aligned.
I found my spot just off the sidewalk, low enough to let the empty tables in the foreground lead the eye straight into the warm red light illuminating the multi-level patio. Evening diners were settling in, so I waited for the right moment, someone leaning over a table, another glancing up at the sign, until the scene felt alive. One frame, and the building’s ambient neon glow and a perfect wash of color all fell into place. I was thrilled with the result, having captured the unmistakable atmosphere of a Miami night.
View of Ocean Drive. Photo taken by Lisa Bowman.
I arrived on Ocean Drive before sunrise, hoping to photograph one of Miami’s most iconic vintage cars in a way that felt different. I had already captured it several times before, but I knew the right light would transform the scene.
I waited as the sky brightened, and just after sunrise, the light broke through the clouds and created a golden glow. For a few brief moments, the reflections on the wet pavement, the backlit palms, the brilliant blue sky, and the timeless lines of the car all came together perfectly.
Photography has taught me that patience is often rewarded. You can plan the location and watch the weather, but the light always has the final say. That morning, I got the scene I had been waiting for, and it was a reminder that even the most photographed subjects can tell a new story when everything falls into place.
Kameron Brothers
View of SLS LUX Brickell. Photo taken by Kameron Brothers.
I stepped out onto my balcony to get some fresh air. It was just before mid-day, and the palm shadows were falling straight into the pools. An hour either side and they would have fallen across the deck creating a completely different scene.
What caught my eye was the pocket of light at the corner of South Miami Avenue and SE 8th Street. The only part of the street that wasn't in shadow.
I didn't have to wait for this one. It was waiting for me. I just had to see it.
The only decision was the frame. I could have gone tighter on the pools, but two blue rectangles could be anywhere. I pulled back to take in the intersection and Fabián Burgos's mural on the SLS LUX garage, so anyone who knows Miami would recognize the location.
View of SW 8th Street. Photo taken by Kameron Brothers.
I was always drawn to this building. The whole face of it was covered in tropical foliage, and it was beautiful work.
Then, one morning there were ladders against it and men painting. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. They weren't restoring it. They were covering it.
I took this shot from across the street. You can see how far they'd gotten. The greens still holding at the left corner, the orange moving across everything else, the old outlines showing faintly through where the new paint hadn't buried them yet.
The workers gave me focal points, but the right side of the frame was empty, just the folding shutters. I waited for someone to walk into that space and balance the wall. The man on the ladder was climbing, which kept the shot from going static, and the red shirt gave me a color that wasn't already in the building.
Miami is changing quickly. I try to document the changes I see, and I knew I had to capture this one.
The building is still that one color today.
Luke Cuccurullo
View above Luijo's Island. Photo taken by Luke Cuccurullo.
I was flying my drone around Miami's South Channel, capturing ships moving through the water. Unfamiliar with the area, I took the chance to explore what was around and stumbled upon Luijo's Island. Rotating my orientation from the top-down view, I noticed that it looked like a shark's tooth from the sky. It was also very cool to see the formation of the island through the clear water, something foreign to people living in the Northeast.
Jeffery Xin
View of Brickell Key. Photo taken by Jeffery Xin.
View of the Venetian Islands. Photo taken by Jeffery Xin.
Before visiting Miami, I spent some time studying Google Maps and architecture magazines to find interesting buildings and locations. Once I was there, I explored those spots and waited for the right light and composition. I enjoy finding perspectives that people don’t usually notice, especially with a drone.
Jorge Molina
View of Bill Bird Marina. Photo taken by Jorge Molina.
I typically capture my urban photography during the late-night or early-morning hours to avoid the traffic and crowds in Miami. For this image of the Bill Bird Marina, I arrived around 2:00 AM. Since the marina was closed, I had to work carefully to avoid security. While I prefer using a tripod and professional camera for night photography, that equipment often attracts attention regarding permits. To avoid any issues, I used an iPhone in night mode and shot in RAW format, which produces clear, high-quality images.
Fortunately, I did not encounter any security during this shoot, though I remained vigilant and worked quickly. Managing these restrictions is one of the challenges of urban photography, but I am very pleased with the final result.