alligators Resting on the Edge

I am debating whether I should have shot this as a vertical. Any

thoughts?

 

All ratings and critiques are welcome.

 

Thanks!

I think you are right on with the vertical Katherine, and maybe a little closer or zoom in some more, don't get to close. Have a nice day.

Katherine, I don't always like a vertical shot with so much 'empty' space to one side. But in this case I think it looks fine and in fact the alligator's sinuous shape is mirrored on the right side by the line in the mud (made by another alligator?). So it's actually balanced (in that way) IMO.

Thanks to both of you for the constructive feedback.

 

I know that this isn't really a strong wildlife image. The alligator isn't doing anything particularly interesting. Its not zoomed in very close. I couldn't get any closer without going off a 12 foot drop down where there was this gator and about thirty of his friends. I love the color of the water and the contrast of the light brown of the shallows against the dark brown of the deep. I like how those colors are in big graphic blocks that are offset by the curves of the gator and the patterns in the sand. I don't mind the empty space but I wish that I could have put the gator on the other side. There was another one to the left so it wouldn't have worked. I still like this photo, but it's not really a favorite. I have some more from this sequence I haven't edited yet that I think are better. Hopefully I can post one of those today.

 

Thanks!

Katherine