He is one of the bigger ones in this swamp, and likes this old ramp. I think it’s a good assumption this is the same Alligator I see sleeping here often.
If he cleaned himself up a bit I could be sure. Wearing a suit of algae and duck weed makes it much harder.
While out the other day I carried a second camera and a short lens.
I made a point of walking dikes and a dirt road along several marshes shooting only with ‘landscape’ gear. The photographs always give an entirely new perspective of the natural beauty there.
Taken from the opening of a small trunk. It’s always a good spot for the locals to hang.
ACE Basin, South Carolina.
Getting what little sun was available.
Looks like he is going to fall over into the water.
These guys don’t move around much in February. It’s the deep of our winter. Though not much by northern standards Alligators don’t much like it.
Here he was fairly dry so I think there is a deep mud hole in those reeds. Also I had walked this same path an hour before and he was not there.
The sun came out, so did this guy. Warming himself before night comes along.
I had just told two people all the locals (Alligators) were down the trail at the rookery. They were from out of town and had probably walked down the road from the the plantation looking for Alligators. The ‘Chicago Cubs’ sweat shirts gave them away.
Yet they no sooner moved off and…
he was a few steps away in the duck weed.
It’s too bad. This guy was certainly close enough to have been a highlight of their trip. A 5 footer (1.5 meter) is a nice size to see.
People who visit always want to see an Alligator. They are also completely amazed they are not behind a fence, or even bars, but simply sitting right there.
We usually tell them no one bothers them, and besides, they were here first.
note; we say these things very casually, like it’s no big deal. But ‘it’s really way cool!!!’ Only 5 years ago I was thinking the same thing.
Charleston, South Carolina.
And he doesn’t care.
One that should be viewed large. The reflections between Alligator and water are almost transparent.
I published this because it’s actually a common photograph we capture. When the water is clear and the light soft it’s really impressive. But I don’t think I have done a dark B&W before.
