Swimming Lesson

Here is an overhead view of an alligator in the water which will give you a good idea of how they swim. Their legs are not used for swimming and instead dangle loosely at their sides. They use their strong tails only for propulsion. Generally they take a leisurely cruise around the marsh pond but if a big guy starts to chase a little guy those tails can get them moving very fast through the water. Their acceleration is quite impressive!

Although it is tough to judge size from this photo, it was about a 7-8 footer. I used a 16-35 lens for this so it’s a real wide shot.

54 thoughts on “Swimming Lesson”

Jon Rista on March 21, 2013 at 6:10 pm said:

Wow, what a great shot! The detail in its skin texture is amazing. How did you get directly above it?

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:27 am said:
  
  Thanks glad you like it!
  There is a wooden walkway that extends about 12-15 feet out and over one of the marsh ponds. When I saw this alligator come gliding in and I realized it would pass practically right under me I leaned over with the camera and grabbed this shot as it went by.
  
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Clanmother on March 21, 2013 at 6:13 pm said:

You do go where angels fear to tread!!! Remarkable! Every time I come by, you remind me what an amazing world we live in….

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:29 am said:
  
  Well I’m very happy you stopped by and glad to know you enjoy the photos!
  
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  - Clanmother on March 22, 2013 at 5:11 pm said:
    
    Always – can’t miss a post!!!!
    
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lylekrahn on March 21, 2013 at 6:14 pm said:

Nice perspective. How did you get above him?

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:27 am said:
  
  Thanks.
  There is a wooden walkway that extends about 12-15 feet out and over one of the marsh ponds. When I saw this alligator come gliding in and I realized it would pass practically right under me I leaned over with the camera and grabbed this shot as it went by.
  
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roughseasinthemed on March 21, 2013 at 6:18 pm said:

It looks like a newt! Are you basically saying they are just floating and using the tail to move them slowly along? Sounds a bit like me going up and down the swimming pool using arms or legs only.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:30 am said:
  
  Yes they basically do just glide or float along using only the tail to propel them. You would be shocked at how fast they can swim though using this method if the need arises.
  
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sallywoodphotography on March 21, 2013 at 6:26 pm said:

Quite scary beasts…….

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:31 am said:
  
  Nah, they are cute and cuddly. 🙂
  
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janmasyn on March 21, 2013 at 6:54 pm said:

Wow Phil, a close encounter of the 3th kind, Wonderful shot my friend. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:31 am said:
  
  Thanks very much Jan, so glad you enjoyed this alligator photo!
  
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HansHB on March 21, 2013 at 7:06 pm said:

Awesome photo!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:31 am said:
  
  Thanks Hans, I appreciate it.
  
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pixelspielerei on March 21, 2013 at 7:09 pm said:

Oh, I didn’t know this informations. Thanks for telling!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:32 am said:
  
  I’m happy to know you found the info helpful, thanks for looking!
  
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Laurie MacBride, Eye on Environment on March 21, 2013 at 7:30 pm said:

Yikes, not only a wide shot, but a close one as well judging from that lens! Very brave of you. Great image.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:33 am said:
  
  Yes a wide shot at 16mm but it was just right under me. Not a good time to drop the camera, can’t see myself jumping in to get it. 😯
  Thanks for checking this out.
  
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Susan Sohl on March 21, 2013 at 7:58 pm said:

Nice view from above! We’re you on the gazebo?

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:34 am said:
  
  Thanks Sue, I was out on the walkway looking down.
  
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Charlie@Seattle Trekker on March 21, 2013 at 8:25 pm said:

Of course you are wearing some kind of press pass so he understands you are not supposed to be bitten or chewed.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:35 am said:
  
  I always carry my Official Alligator Photographer credential! They see that and automatically know I’m fully authorized. 😀
  
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Fergiemoto on March 21, 2013 at 8:58 pm said:

Interesting to learn that. Thanks for sharing the information.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:36 am said:
  
  Thanks for looking and glad you liked reading the info!
  
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Gunta on March 21, 2013 at 10:39 pm said:

I’m curious how you managed this, too?

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:28 am said:
  
  There is a wooden walkway that extends about 12-15 feet out and over one of the marsh ponds. When I saw this alligator come gliding in and I realized it would pass practically right under me I leaned over with the camera and grabbed this shot as it went by.
  
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  - Gunta on March 22, 2013 at 3:08 pm said:
    
    That’s pretty amazing!
    
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WinstonePhotography on March 21, 2013 at 11:47 pm said:

awesome, love this… a lot.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:36 am said:
  
  Thanks I appreciate your kind comments!
  
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Shutterbug Sage on March 22, 2013 at 12:30 am said:

Love this perspective!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:36 am said:
  
  I’m happy you enjoyed seeing this shot!
  
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Andrew on March 22, 2013 at 2:50 am said:

A good candidate for a go pro cam. Alli-Cam?

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:38 am said:
  
  I’ve had thoughts of getting an RC helicopter with bottom facing camera and sending it out over one of these guys.
  I figure I would more then likely lose the copter in the marsh though and I’m not going in to fish it out. 🙂
  
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mariayarri on March 22, 2013 at 6:52 am said:

I learn more about gators from you, than i ever learned in my school years …
I like your photos as well as your informative text // Maria

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:39 am said:
  
  Well I am glad you are enjoying the photos and the information, thanks very much Maria!
  
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adinparadise on March 22, 2013 at 10:03 am said:

What an amazing photo, Phil. Were you perched on a tree branch? 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:41 am said:
  
  Thanks much Sylvia, glad you liked this alligator pic! No tree branch I was just on a walkway overlook in the pond. But I’m going to remember your tree suggestion for next time!
  
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  - adinparadise on March 22, 2013 at 11:55 am said:
    
    Oh goody, but please don’t hold me responsible if you fall in. 😀
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 12:08 pm said:
      
      If that ever happened, I guess no one would ever know it was your suggestion. 😯 So you are in the clear. 🙂
      
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      - adinparadise on March 22, 2013 at 2:35 pm said:
        
        Phew!! 😀
        
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Bella Remy Photography on March 22, 2013 at 10:12 am said:

You’re right, that wide angle fooled me. I thought it was a baby gator just floating along.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 10:43 am said:
  
  Yeah that’s why I figured it would be a good idea to mention the size and lens perspective. The wide angle lens was required to get all of this boy in the same frame. 🙂
  
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Chillbrook on March 22, 2013 at 12:21 pm said:

An interesting shot Phil. I too was curious as to how you captured this shot but the comments cleared that up. I guess this would be quite a small gator?

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Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 12:29 pm said:

Thanks for checking this out Adrian. At 6-8 feet (approx. 2.1 meters) long this would be a fairly typical size pond alligator we would likely see. Any smaller then 5 feet we consider ‘babies’ and the larger ones at 8-12 feet, when they come out, would be the head gator in charge and pretty much have the run of the entire pond and marsh area.

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Cowboys and Crossbones on March 22, 2013 at 1:52 pm said:

This alligator looks like he’d make a good floatie for me to be lazy in the water this summer. Fantastic shot!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 22, 2013 at 4:49 pm said:
  
  Oh he would be perfect for that! He is just like a big squishy pool toy anyway. 🙂
  
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Maggie Davey on March 23, 2013 at 1:24 pm said:

The more I read your stories, the more I realise I have to learn about the creatures we share our world with! Thank you Phil!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 23, 2013 at 5:37 pm said:
  
  Well I’m very happy you have been enjoying the photos and the little stories I provide with them!
  Thanks Maggie!
  
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theforagingphotographer on March 23, 2013 at 7:06 pm said:

Beautiful detail on his scales there, and I love the lazy way of swimming. Hi Mum, by the way; I’m posting underneath you again! 😀

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- Phil Lanoue on March 24, 2013 at 12:19 pm said:
  
  Thanks much Lucy so glad you enjoyed the photo of our friend Mr. Gator!
  Nice to see you and mum together! 😀
  
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crazytraintotinkytown on March 27, 2013 at 5:32 am said:

I learn a little more about your neighbours every day – cheers Phil

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Sid Dunnebacke on April 3, 2013 at 8:32 pm said:

Great perspective, Phil – different from the usual. They certainly are remarkable creatures.

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