Erik Rosengren, FPSA, PPSA
June 2022 - Dunce Cap AM Alligator
About the Image(s)
How I did it—While walking the “Rabbit Run” trail at the Circle B Bar reserve last month, I spotted a gator bathed in early morning light that appeared almost surreal. Time was spent shooting from different angles, trying to capture the best Nature story. The leaf on it’s head was a nice touch indeed. Tools for the day, Canon 7D Mark 11, coupled with 100-400 IS f4.5-5.6 lens, hand held. In PP cropped background distractions out, increased saturation a tad to boost the yellow hue of the water and strengthen the gator reflection. A.I. Clear and darkening the edges completed the image. Auto ISO, f8 to capture good depth of field at 500th of a sec.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
7 comments posted
Good title for a photo that brought a smile to my face. You caught him or her in a good position to clearly see the feet, claws and underbelly. It almost looks like another one but it is part of the tree. You did well toning down the highlights on his back. I wonder if you brightened the face a bit would help. Posted: 06/03/2022 19:27:14
Another great nature shot from you Erik. I agree with Vella that it would be nice to see a bit more into its face. I do like the colour in the reflections. Posted: 06/04/2022 08:38:11
Erik, to my eye the colors and the sharpness really make the image jump. To me you have done a great job in capture, post or both in bringing out the various textures of the alligator's skin. The soft greens and blues of the water are, to my taste, an added benefit. Posted: 06/05/2022 15:18:06
Erik, there is no doubt that photographing alligators in the wild is more difficult than doing it in one of the controlled environment like alligator Farm in St Augustin, or Gatorland in Orlando. Alligators are native to only United States (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Carolines, Texas), Mexico and China. The image is sharp. I like the reflected colors on the water, and I guess this one must be a female since "she" already decorated herself with a nice head touch Posted: 06/06/2022 05:51:35
Erik
Come clean I suspect this shot is a set up I bet you swam over the gator placed the leaf on his head then swam back thats cheating.
Seriously Erik you take pics of grizzly bears, gators you have no fear,and produce the most amazing nature images I echo everything my learned group members have already said about this image its magnificent but the leaf on the head takes it to another level for me, bet you thought all your birthdays had come at once. Posted: 06/14/2022 15:27:49
Come clean I suspect this shot is a set up I bet you swam over the gator placed the leaf on his head then swam back thats cheating.
Seriously Erik you take pics of grizzly bears, gators you have no fear,and produce the most amazing nature images I echo everything my learned group members have already said about this image its magnificent but the leaf on the head takes it to another level for me, bet you thought all your birthdays had come at once. Posted: 06/14/2022 15:27:49
Excellent capture. Dr. Buchanan is in Cropping Mode today. I thought the foreground was overpowering. Also, the bright yellows were a visual distraction. I cropped some of the bottom and applied a gradient mask and darkened the reflection. I also selected the bright yellow area above the gators tail and brought it down somewhat. I also tried the Luminance mask in Camera Raw Filter, selected the gators back and darkened that range slightly. Posted: 06/29/2022 14:17:04
Good job Dr. Buchanan Posted: 06/29/2022 17:41:35