Wildlife Photography
The Great Egrets are in full display. The plumage and mating dance is like nothing else I have ever seen.
Each bird does the same ritual moves, but they all have their own moves. Which is probably why I have photographed this hundreds of times.
This image is the primary display of the breeding plumage. Stretching and dancing are also part of the display.
How could a little girl Egret resist.
Wild pigs have been present in coastal South Carolina since they were released by the Spanish in the 1500s. Their historic range was geographically limited to floodplains of major river systems. In the mountains of the state, Eurasian wild hogs were introduced in the early 1900s.
We came across 2 but only photographed this one. We have seen hogs in this same marsh location before.
This one was most interested in the warm sun. However, a few minutes later heard us and moved back into the tall grass.
While they will run when seeing people I don’t really want to bump into any while out on the dikes…which is almost right behind the hog.
Click, or double tap, any image to view the full size gallery.
The national news has been filled with an image of a poor Alligator breathing through a hole in the ice. South Carolina has a few right in the Charleston area.
Here is a photograph taken in the Donnelly Wildlife Management Area. This particular Alligator had a spot large enough for his head.
As expected, every time we looked specifically for this bird…nothing. Not entirely true, several times we heard it and ‘maybe’ saw a flash of color.
Here I was hurrying to find a better vantage point to shoot some Wood Storks. I caught the colors by accident.
The male was alone and striping seeds from inside the grasses along the edge of the trail.
Since I was standing out in the open there was no option to get closer or more light. I followed rule # 1…get the shot.
Maybe a dozen quick shots and he was gone. Still this is more than I have had before.
The photographs of the Alligator gathering still fascinate me. Better yet, I haven’t even looked at the second set taken from a different location.
Black and white film is perfect for this type of raw image. Having given up film a long time ago I use digital filters that look the same as many of the traditional film ASA and manufacturers.
This image is a standard Kodak 400. About as basic B&W and there is. I plan on creating an article using various B&W films as an example of the digital options available.
The ‘trunk’, or flood gates, were opened to allow this section of a marsh to drain and clean out grasses. Of course it was also an opportunity to go fishing while the water rushed out.
It was very simple to stand on top of the dike and have the water drain underneath our feet. Directly below us was a congregation of Alligators like never before. No long lens here, only portrait or wide angle since it was so close.
The photograph above was taken at 50 mm, the same as with the naked eye. About 25 adults are in this image, the ones straight down were out of view.
The local wading birds were not about to be left out either.
Amazing but not a single Alligator went after another, a few scuffles, nothing else. More so was the birds. They poked around just barely out of reach. A few Alligators snapped, but not even trying really.
Anything in the streams on water was fair game though.
I did go to another vantage point with a long lens later on. All these images were shot between 35 – 70 mm. Basically at portrait length.
A passing shot, but one not to be missed.
Terrible light, I think that was the plan.
I made a comment to a friend that an Alligator didn’t bother me until ‘I can hear them breath’. Well, guess what…
Loud and clear.
I think he was convinced there was a female on the other side of this cypress grove. He was doing that deep bellow, groan sound that can really get your attention.
Only the big guys can make really make this sound, and once you have heard it you can’t forget it.
