Morning Swim
Yesterday morning I saw this big boy out for a leisurely glide in the marsh pond. The grey overcast sky with no breeze gave the water a glassy appearance.
Normally there would not be any alligators in the pond at this time of year. Our boy here though must believe Spring is on the way and wanted to get an early start!
Phil Lanoue Photography 
That’s a great pic.
Thanks very much.
Stunning pic!!!!!
Thanks glad you like it!
That’s a terrific shot, Phil. You know these fellows aren’t my favourite inhabitants at the marsh pond, but he’s terrific. 🙂
Thanks very much! Yeah he’s a good old boy. Later he wandered up out of the pond and took a little stroll but I missed that. I’ll get him next time. 🙂
…. “Too cold to breed, too warm to hibernate. Guess I’ll just cruise the ‘hood”. Out of curiosity, do you have many gators in the fresh water areas? We don’t often see gators in the brackish or salt water flats down here – although there are some salt water crocs. Our gators also seem to prefer swimming pools and golf course water hazards – this *is* Florida, after all. They stay away from the beaches (costs too much to park) and outlet malls (too many fake kinfolk purses); otherwise, they look and act just like our snowbirds.
Too early for them to start eating or mating so a brief swim followed by a snooze in the sun is about all the activity we wil have for now.
This was the fresh (well really brackish) water pond, and the swamp is fresh water. But…these guys will routinely cruise over to the salt marsh side to grab crabs and such. They won’t live in the salt area but will visit.
The gators here are generally better behaved then many of the tourists.
We have them in golf courses and neighborhoods too, but they often do not last too long. People will at some point end up feeding them which is a *very* bad idea.
…. That point about people feeding the gators. That’s the ONE thing about my bumpy bros that is no laughing matter. Everybody not in the know pay attention to this PSA: if you feed a gator, you will KILL the gator. There is no relocation program for gators that have lost their fear of humans. They will be trapped, and euthanized, 100% of the time.
Right. And in other words…a fed gator is a dead gator.
Great shot Phil.
Thanks Jan I appreciate it.
Hello Phil,
this alligator does it well! I’m also waiting of an early begin of spring!!! 🙂
Wish you a nice weekend,
moni
Thank you moni so glad you liked this photo! I trust these guys. If they say Spring is coming soon I believe them! 😀
Superb. Did you get a full shot of him, or did he just show his face, so to speak? Love the reflection.
Thanks. This was all that was out of the water when I took this picture, the rest of him was under. Plus this was pretty much full frame, not a crop. I even had to back up a but just to get all the head in the frame.
Right after this he started swimming away from me so mostly all I saw was the back of his head as he swam off.
Definitely an evil-eye look.
Humm…another animal that apparently did not care for my looks. I made a couple frames and he swam off away from me. Can’t figure it out, I even got a haircut recently.
funny
now as you know Phil, I ain’t that in to crock’s but this works for me due the silhouette and reflection a different presentation which works really well
Well I’m happy you like this one Scott. You should come around here some time. By the time you are done hanging around with me and my reptile pals you will be a huge fan of them. 😛 😀
This is an incredible image Phil. I love the way you’ve captured and processed it.
Thanks very much Edith I’m happy you like this alligator photo!
Actually this is darn close to how it looked right out of the camera. I generally do only very minor tweaks in post.
Superb image Phil. Really very nice indeed!
Well thanks a bunch Adrian, so glad you enjoyed this photo!
This is just awesome.
Great photowork!
Thank you Hans! Glad you like it!
Wow ! So powerful ! ( The alligator as well )
Thanks so much! Yeah he’s a good old boy. 😀
The boy is back, the water is so calm. Super shot, Phil!
Oh he’s back alright! He was alone though. Probably disappointed there was no other of his friends that he can chase around the pond.
Ha voglia di tornare a nuotare sotto il calore del sole 🙂
Bellissimo scatto
Ciao, Pat
Si gode davvero nuotare sotto il sole 🙂
Grazie Pat
Perfect. Wow, he is really looking evil!
Thanks! Aw, but he’s cute! 😀
Awesome photo – you could put him on a t-shirt – love the reflection and the fact that he looks like he knows you are photographing him 🙂
Thanks and I’m quite sure he knew I was there. He headed off out to the middle of the pond minutes after seeing me.
He probably can’t believe I’m back agian after seeing me last summer. Maybe he thinks I never left.
Maybe you’ll strike up a friendship. Uh, no. Be careful!
*I* plan to be very friendly toward him at all times.Not sure what his plans are though. 😯 🙂
What a shot!!! I almost wish to pat him….
Thanks! And you should pat him. Give him a little scratch between his ears. If you can find his ears. 🙂
Minimalism that speaks volumes. Love it!
Thanks very much Karen, I appreciate your comment!
Gorgeous! I find them really beautiful, but then I do have a snake as a pet!
Ah well that explains it! 😉 I’m very glad you appreciate these guys as much as I do Lucy, thanks!
What a handsome guy! I really like the lighting around him. Great photo!
Oh he’s a real looker alright! It was a surprise to see the big guy in the pond this time of year. Must mean an early Spring for us. I’m hoping.
Fabulous pic, Phil. His head look like it’s floating in mist. If an alligator could be described as ethereal, he’s it. 😀