Portrait of Alligator mississipiensis
Uploaded: April 09, 2008
It was not very smart shooting this photo. Sometimes, one's passion for photography gets in the way of common sense. I was about 12-15 feet away. I think next time I will move away like the rangers instruct. I was pleased, however, with the detail and texture in the image helped by favorable lighting.
f/9, 1/250, ISO 200, AWB, spot, lens Canon EF 400mm L, handheld, Orlando Easterly Wetlands, FL, 3/12/08.
Exif: F Number: 9, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/250 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 200, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 400.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 40D
Robert G. Stalnaker April 09, 2008
Alligator attacks have a higher death rate for the victims than shark attacks, 4.3% vs. 1.5%.In 2006, three Florida women were killed in separate attacks all in the same week.
Not all attacks occur in the water. One of the three women was a jogger near a canal. A man was killed in 2001 at an internationally favorite for photographers, the J.R. Darling NWR on Sanibel Island, FL. He was killed on land between two wetland areas.
Alligators are agile on land and can run swiftly for short distances. That is why it was not smart to shoot this photo, and why we hear about people getting attacked on land.
I was happy to see the detail of the markings and patterns on this alligator. From a distance, you don’t realize they have these markings. I entered this into the “Details and Macro” category for the details.
#897464
Jennifer Burt April 10, 2008
Beautiful capture Robert, you are a very brave man.Robert G. Stalnaker April 10, 2008
You phrased that well, Jennifer--I too feel that when I have that camera around my neck, it is like I have the right and the ability to do anything to get that photo. If I did not have the camera, I can assure you that I would have made a wide turn around that alligator. I don't think I was "brave" as much as I felt that camera gave me (psychologically) a degree of impunity from harm, which can be a dangerously false feeling. #5770646Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.
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