Big Cyprus Flora View Larger)

The sun was about fifteen minutes away from rising as I set up my

tripod. I had a elevated position over the water and noticed movement

in three different places in the otherwise very still water and the

objects were moving in my direction. Thw water is full plant tannins

which makes the water a very dark, almost black color shade of brown.

The alligator's back is black and in this water makes him virtually

invisible. Now in the low light, all that was visible to me was the V

shaped waves moving toward me. As the sun rose and the light improved,

I saw clearly what was just below me. Three gators, a fifteen footer

and a couple of smaller six footers. Needless to say, I was very

careful to keep my balance. I took several photos before the sun rose

enough to start lighting the plants. Though I find those images quite

beautiful and worth some further examination the sunlight bought this

serene scene to life. In all the chaos that that the swamp seems to

be, if you look closely, there, there is an underlying beauty.

All right! Leo you're shooting Florida! This shot is great and your reflections are mirror-like. As always your explanations gives us great detail. And I'm glad you have great balance! (Scout and Bry would miss ya) Super post Amigo! Well done...Lefty

 

It's always dangerous shooting alone but we all do it. Anything can happen and of course even if someone finds you it's still a long way back to civilization. But the rewards can be so satisfying as they were for me here.

This is fabulous! I cannot get over the incredible plant diversity that you've captured in this composition; and the mirror reflection is just gorgeous. I can see the ripples from your alligator friends too. This has real "Wow" factor, and must be viewed larger! I have a feeling that this would make a super 11x17 print! Great stuff, Leo! I am glad to see you getting out in your neighborhood too. Cheers! Chris

Thanks Chris, I am very thrilled with this image and I have just begun to set this up for printing in the 11x17 size.

Really gorgeous and well worth the early rise and the always present danger. The gators are somewhat predictable, it's those cottonmouth moccasins that give me the willies! Mike

 

 

 

How right you are. The cottonmouth or water moccasin will actually stock you were most other snakes just run away. This is especially dangerous to the photographer as he's not paying attention to his surroundings and where his feet are. On another image I was moving my tripod with the camera attached and paying more attention to my intended image and my camera that I didn't noticed that I had stepped into a huge fire ant colony. What made me aware was the ground was very soft because of the the extricated sand and my foot sunk into it. By the time I looked down hundreds of those devils were swarming all over my boot. I beat most of them off and only got stung a few times but I could have been eaten alive. It's so very hard to pay attention to where you are stepping when the excitement of a good capture has got a hold of you.

This is a lovely serene image. that's a gator bottom right of the frame right? Cracking stuff!

Hmmm... I'm already beginning to rethink this "lets photograph the swamps of Florida" notion that I had. Gators, cottonmouths, water moccasins, fire ants...

Thanks John, yes ,just one of the three awaiting a meal. I'm attaching an photo taken as I was packing up to leave. This was about a six footer. I adjusted it as much as possible to show his body under water. I kept hearing , "here photographer, a much better picture down here by the water...here photographer...I won't bite you I promise."

We also have mosquitoes the size of a Volkswagens. It's nothing more than the dangers you face in California from killer trout, rogue pollen and run away boulders. Seriously you'll be fine, besides II need someone to lure the gators away from me. That's right Chris, over there closer to the water, now that's a good shot, set up there and put one foot in the water!

Good Lord, Man! That's a great shot of the gator too! And all this time I thought Gators were who the 'Noles played in the Swamp on bright Saturday afternoons in Gainesville. Sure shows how much I know! ;>)

 

I still love this detailed photo the best I think. I have gone back and forth, back and forth; and this composition is just rock-solid. Beautiful color palette and post-processing work, Leo. Just be careful out there; you don't want to leave Scout and Bry-Bry in the lurch! Cheers! Chris

So my daughter never told me about them snakes when I visited her in Florida a few years ago. I knew about the skeeters and gators. Seen a few rattlers out here in the desert but they leave you alone. Still would love to photographs some alligators in there natural environment. I must say the gator farm up in St. Augustine was pretty cool...Lefty

The snakes here chase you Ray. Did you see the picture of the gator I posted?

Wonderful reflection and atmosphere. Ciao.

Thank you so much for your comment! Chao