Susan Pellegrino
April 2026 - It's Gator Feeding Time in the Swamp
About the Image(s)
I visit the Saint Augustine Alligator Farm every March to take photographs in the rookery. The best photos taken on my iPhone were at the gator feeding, not of the birds.
I cropped this one and then brightened it up in mobile Lightroom. The legs of the spectators on the boardwalk bug me. Are they a distraction?
9 comments posted
Exciting image - sounds like a place worth visiting! Those alligators sure look hungry. I agree the legs above are a distraction - in part, because they are bright. Can't really crop them out, because you'll be too close to the woman's head. I darkened the upper part, upper right and lower right (see image and illustration of the 3 masks). I might have done too much, but our gaze is drawn to the bright areas - in your image that means away from the subject of interest. Posted: 04/02/2026 14:59:50
Posted: 04/02/2026 15:02:36
Thank you so much for the edit and sharing the process you used. I never thought to darken the area where the legs were a distraction. Posted: 04/02/2026 17:20:24
What a difference Steven's edit made! That is a good image of feeding time. Posted: 04/09/2026 17:01:14
Thanks. Always fun to experience. Posted: 04/10/2026 02:58:27
Nice moment captured Sue, and although Steve did a great job on the edit, I would have just cropped down a little, the people up there don't contribute to the scene. It's a nice photo journalism shot. Posted: 04/10/2026 01:29:16
Thanks, Jack. I think even adding a little dark vignette might have helped. Posted: 04/10/2026 02:59:11
Hi Susan,
Great story-telling shot! The alligators look hungry and aggressive that make me nervous to watch this scene. They can be fast and powerful, capable of injuring the feeder too.
Nice composition, and very sharp image with 3 big alligators jumped up high from the swamp. I wonder how feeding rats can provide enough food to them?
I'd prefer to crop tighter to eliminate the spectators' legs from the boardwalk. Posted: 04/16/2026 21:25:06
Great story-telling shot! The alligators look hungry and aggressive that make me nervous to watch this scene. They can be fast and powerful, capable of injuring the feeder too.
Nice composition, and very sharp image with 3 big alligators jumped up high from the swamp. I wonder how feeding rats can provide enough food to them?
I'd prefer to crop tighter to eliminate the spectators' legs from the boardwalk. Posted: 04/16/2026 21:25:06
Thanks for playing with my image. I'd cropped a tiny bit. Never thought to go tighter.
These gators get gator chow (yes, that is a thing). The rats are a treat and make for more exciting viewing. Scary is when they're mating! The mating sounds shake the boardwalk. Posted: 04/16/2026 23:10:41
These gators get gator chow (yes, that is a thing). The rats are a treat and make for more exciting viewing. Scary is when they're mating! The mating sounds shake the boardwalk. Posted: 04/16/2026 23:10:41