Gators Galore | Young Gators This image was captured on the fly. I happened upon a couple of juveniles in the ditch along the road in Everglades NP. Their mother was nowhere in sight. So, after a couple of quick clicks, I hastily kept moving down the down the road. You just don’t want to be between a mom and her kids. For the whole story with all images, see Gators Galore | a 7 Image Story.
Gators Galore | Old Gator This gator was the largest photographed on the trip and one of the largest in the area. For the whole story with all images, see Gators Galore | a 7 Image Story.
Gators Galore | Eye of the Gator This eye just seemed to have such character. It came from a 60+ year old alligator. For the whole story with all images, see Gators Galore | a 7 Image Story.
Gators Galore | Road Gator A nice warm road near the water with a little sun and a little shade; what more could a gator with a full tummy ask for? For the whole story with all images, see Gators Galore | a 7 Image Story.
Gators Galore | Gator Party Everglades NP obviously has plenty of American Alligators. Looking down from the observation tower, they sometimes form geometric patterns. As you can see, American Alligators are black not green. For the whole story with all images, see Gators Galore | a 7 Image Story.
Gators Galore | Gator Too Close Meet the American Alligator up close and personal; eye to eye. Oh, sure, I was close, but not too close. The 70-300mm set at 70mm is still 189mm after the Nikon 1 V1 crop factor. This guy seems middle aged. American Alligators are black; all black. Although they generally move rather slowly, they can really move fast. Keep a safe distance. For the whole story with all images, see Gators Galore | a 7 Image Story.
Gators Galore | a 7 Image Story The American Alligator resides in the southern United States particularly in the Everglades near Everglades NP. Clearly, the Everglade’s environment is an alligator’s playground. It remains the iconic animal of the Everglades and is the top of the local food chain.
Everglades NP obviously has plenty of American Alligators. Looking down from the observation tower, they sometimes form geometric patterns. Please note; American Alligators are black; some folks apparently think some are green. Gators must keep their internal body temperature at 82º F so it’s a water and sun life.
To meet an American Alligator eye to eye means getting up close and personal with a long lens, but not too close. Several images were captured by laying on the ground with several gators in the area. Although they generally move rather slowly, these guys can really move fast. Always keep a safe distance and have someone watching your back. And, never get between a mom and her kids.
These images were captured from the bottom of an air boat and/or on the ground by a Nikon 1 V1 with a 70-300mm lens. The V1 2.7 crop factor makes 70-300mm yield 189-810mm. I didn’t get “too close” for any of the images.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Gators Galore.
Click any image below for a slide show!
Eyeball to Eyeball Well, not really; I was using 300mm lens on a Nikon V1 giving an effective 810mm focal length. With a 35mm lens, this image would likely be a once in a lifetime event. So, whose eye are you looking at? Yep, an American Alligator in the Everglades.
