Diamondback Terrapin

Cool perch and the lighting on the turtle looks good - though it's hot on the barnacles.

Nicely posed with good light on the face of the terrapin. It would have been even better if some of the warm color reflection on the left side was shared by the water on the right side! The perch is interesting and makes me want to know more about it and local habitat.

Luke - The barnacles are hot in the web version, but they are not in Photoshop. I'm working on figuring out a true color managed workflow.

Lon - I love the orange glow at the top, but it was from a covered dock next door, so no chance it would be reflected out farther. Too bad. The diamondback terrapin is known to grow larger in this specific area than anywhere else. At least that is what I was told by a researcher who called me after I sent in a terrapin carcass (minus one leg) that I found in my yard a while back. The habitat is basically a large lagoon, but it has been modified by man (surprise) in that the water flow to the north was cut off by the construction of a sub basin and set of locks decades ago. The health of the lagoon, in terms of water clarity and sea grass area, has declined ever since, but these terrapins continue to thrive. They are pretty tough.