About the Image(s)
Everglades Tour
Nikon D810, Nikkor 200-400 f4 lens @ 280mm and f5.6. ISO 800, 1/350. The camera was set on manual mode with auto ISO activated and live view turned on. When in the kayak I usually attach a cable release.
It was early on a dreary and cloudy spring morning as I launched my kayak into a meandering waterway in the Everglades. I knew at this time of year the wading birds would be in search of locations to build their nests and my hope was that I would come across someone beginning nest construction and manage a few images. As I floated past a bend in the waterway I came upon a local real estate agent taking a potential client (or meal) in search of a water front property. The pair were completely oblivious to my presence as I sat motionless watching them slowing swim by. As you can see by the 280mm focal length they actually came quite close and with my tripod mounted on bow of the kayak and using live view I was able to line up several quick shots. Because they were so close to my kayak I had to shoot this as a vertical, but I think the composition worked out quite well. The pair continued their morning tour at least until they were out of sight. From the time I first sighted the pair until they vanished was at least a minute and a half. I’ve seen birds land on a gator’s back for a few seconds but I have never before witnessed one ride for such a long distance.
In post I only removed a few dust spots, lowered the highlights and slightly opened some shadows on the gator with some localized dodging using Lightroom’s adjustment brush.
Dr Isaac Vaisman
(Groups 4 & 15 & 58 & 59 & 72)Larry, everybody likes a free ride !! I have a similar image but not at the Everglades National Park, but at the Alligator's Farm in St Augustin. It is sometimes incredible the coexistence between species. Your image is sharp, and the vertical (portrait) format works well. It is sharp and there is detail in the feathers. Non distracting background. Posted: 05/05/2021 08:40:35
Larry Treadwell
Thanks for the compliment. As you noted, nature can truly be amazing. This is just one of those odd happenings.
Posted: 05/05/2021 11:35:38
I agree with Isaac. If I were there, I'd want to be hitching a ride.
Love the perspective of nature moving as one and the connection between the predetor and the potential prey. Beautiful contrast with the dark greens and the white of the bird. Posted: 05/06/2021 07:59:48
Larry Treadwell
Well, I'm not hitching a ride! I've seen these gators move when they want to. Posted: 05/10/2021 11:57:49
Bud Ralston
Great shot, Larry! I find it incredible too how little fear herons and egrets have of alligators. I assume it's because they think they are faster to flee than an alligator is to charge. Not sure that's true but I have shots of a little tri-colored heron taking a long bath in the alligator pond at the Alligator Farm. I kept waiting for him to get snapped up but he didn't. They keep their alligators well fed. You getting this shot in the Everglades is really special. Well done! Posted: 05/10/2021 09:30:00
Larry Treadwell
Thanks for commenting. What interested me the most was not that it happened, but rather how long the ride lasted. I seldom see a gator swim unencumbered on the surface for 90 seconds or more, but this guy just drifted along without a care in the world. Posted: 05/10/2021 12:01:14
such a cool shot. I love the cocky expression on the egret. Posted: 05/12/2021 19:57:23
Larry Treadwell
Well, I guess I'd have a smug look too if I could steal a ride ona gator's back, and live to tell the tale. :-) Posted: 05/13/2021 06:27:36
Michael Weatherford
A unique and beautiful shot. The dark environment really makes the egret and gator stand out without blowing out the detail in the bird. I recently bought a kayak with the thought of exploring the bayous and oxbow lakes here in South Arkansas. We have gators here and I'm a little apprehensive about getting in the water with them. But it must be safe, since you are still with us (you are still with us, aren't you?). Also, I'm curious about how to set up a tripod in a kayak. I've got one of those sit-on-top fishing ones, ten feet long that I can fit in the bed of the pickup. Posted: 05/23/2021 16:56:29
Larry Treadwell
A kayak lets you drift right up and it doesn't seem to bother them a whole lot. I don't take the kayak out with the gators during mating season---then they will run over anything to get at the female. The rest of the time they are not a problem.
My Kayak came with rails on the edges and so I just use clamps to to attach the legs to the rails. I hae not seen any of the new kayaks with similar rails.
I am still hanging around, but I'm minus a hand. Seems some croc wanted my watch. At least now he tic-toks so I can hear him when he is close. Posted: 05/23/2021 18:08:12
David Kepley
What a great moment and very well captured! You have great shaprness on the bird and the gator! I'm especially impressed with the level of detail you got on the bird. A white bird is hard to photograph. The camera's sensor has triuble reading the correct exposure for bright white against a dark background. Well done! Posted: 05/24/2021 08:44:19
Larry Treadwell
Thanks David
I always shoot white birds in manual and use single point. I expose for the highlights (the whites and let the rest fall into shadow. For white birds, the camera gets put away once it gets bright out side. Posted: 05/24/2021 11:42:02
Richard Matheny
I'm Back Larry . My computer took about a 2 1/2 week lunch at the HP repair Store. Was using an old unit I had and it would not allow me to much freedom. Anyway to the subject of your image of the Egret and Gator friendship. I have seen that happen a few times. The Egrets and Herons seem to know when the gators are not looking for dinner. It does happen though. I have also witnessed that event on more that one occasion. Wonderful photo and you certainly got the story told of the interaction of this pair. Image is nice and sharp as always and I like the little bit of motion in the water. Good Work. Posted: 05/30/2021 19:17:24
