He found a nice place to rest, and he’s keeping it.
Just big enough that you might let him have it.
On A Trail, Alligator
Category Archives: Alligator
After Golden Hour, Alligator
This is another shot taken while I was watching the light quickly change for the day. At this time the sun was down below the tree line.
Not more than 15 minutes before this everything was sunny and gold, even the gator had a glow.
Now, well he is the typical Alligator with that dull, somewhat dangerous, look.
Visiting With The Locals, Alligators
A few photographs from a visit to a wildlife management area.
These guys come in all shapes and sizes out there since they have no natural enemies.
Once grown past around 3 feet (1 meter) they are fairly safe to grow as old as possible.
Based on size 60 years is not uncommon out here.
It’s Not East Being Big, Alligator
A first glance can be deceiving. While I love taking photographs of the locals in the water, you never can really tell their size.
While walking on a dike I noticed a typical Alligator moving between me and the grasses, a canal of sorts (another dike) runs along here.
I almost titles this ‘Gravity Is A Problem’, but the ‘big’ fit too. There are a large number of images here in this step by step (literally) series.
Below was the first I noticed the Alligator, he was thinking about climbing up to the other dry dike.
I got the idea he was bigger than first thought when he swam along looking for an Alligator trail rather than just jumping up.
Wow, this was a struggle getting his fat butt out of the water.
In the previous 3 photographs you can see how he needed to work those big legs.
When he finally got up there he needed a break, to catch his breath.
How big, hard to tell. But at a minimum 11 feet, maybe 3 1/2 meters. He was carrying some weight around too.
At the end he lumbered off into the reeds for a nap. At this size he has no worries about safety, who will bother him?
Golden Hour, Alligator
The first of a few shots taken playing with the ‘golden hour’ of light. This is the short time right after sunrise, or right before sunset, when the light is much softer.
Here this was right before sunset and the softer sun was causing a glow on the water.
Yes, odd to even think of using an Alligator picture. However, this came about because the gator was slowly moving around me, from sun to shade, and all through sunset. He must have wanted to be in my spot for the evening. He wanted to wait me out.
The images each have a different light, and there were plenty that showed how the sun changed how he looked.  I’ll post some when complete.
Besides, I think he looks good.
What Was He Thinking, Alligator
I know they want to get dry, out of the water. There were plenty of other options though.
It doesn’t even look comfortable.
He thought it was OK since I never did see him leave this spot. There for hours.
Pushy Bugger, Alligator
OK, this is an article with a large number of photographs. Don’t let that put you off, it’s a funny and interesting story. He really was a ‘pushy bugger’.
The following images are in order of our ‘encounter’. And really it started like any other, nothing special.
Below is PB (pushy bugger) and he was floating close to the bank in the corner of this swamp. He was pushing around in the weeds catching whatever his nose bumped into. Typically young gator feeding and he looked to be a couple of years old.
I took a few shots and stepped to the edge.
So, PB turned and look, a surprise. His tail had been hidden and based on that curve my age guess was a little off, by at least 2 years. Still at around 4 feet (1.3 meters) I knew by standing above him on the bank I looked huge to him.
Above he turned some more, looked at me, and moved his head around fishing. You can see the water he has pushed around.
Oh my…
He put on a little speed and slipped right in front of me, the shot above looking straight down. I did notice he really wasn’t swimming either. His legs were long enough to touch bottom. Perhaps another miscalculation?
About now PB was facing me, almost on the swamp bank, doing what Alligators will do. Stare up at you and float around. However, his foot was not supposed to be reaching out… toward me and the bank.
The moment of truth. I’m not new at this. Apparently neither is he.
At this point my camera can only get the top of his head in focus, and I’m staring down through the view finder…not really looking. No good perspective.
He is staring (as you can see) up into the viewfinder. I want the shot, he wants my space. For the shot… he’s coming and I’m staying.
We both shifted at about the same time. He brushed past, I turned to keep him in focus.
As you can clearly see, he was completely intimidated by me.
So concerned he turned his back on me as he almost stepped on my toes. LOL
My new friend PB took perhaps 3 or 4 steps and found the sunny spot he wanted in the first place. He dropped right down to warm up. Alligators do love their sun.
We were both winners. He found a great sun spot, no one to bother him. I got a a nice series, and kept my toes.
All in all a good afternoon.
We Have A Problem, Alligator
This little bugger tried to pushed me around. And he surprised me, bigger than I thought he was. And a little too fearless.
In this image everything points to him being maybe 2 years old, maximum. Well, he has a baby face…
I need to work on his photographs, but he was funny, yet not.
Not dangerous, but just doesn’t care one single bit about me and made me get out of his way, almost stepped on my toe.
