take #5

Awesome shot! I love the mood of it, and the way that it almost holds it's own just as a landscape image with a surprise lurking below... very cool! Oh and I really like the cool tones!

This is fantastic. Not a shot I would think is easy to pull off especially being that close to the gator. I like the blue tones throughout the image, it makes it feel more mysterious and makes me think the gator has some bad intentions. I love good use of wide angle in wildlife photography.

Wonderful image, love the composition.

Ray

You & him must be big buddies by now. I really like this Paul; great use of WA and I like how the light bottom makes the entire gator stand out so well. One minor mprovement IMO would be a sliver more room at the bottom. But perhaps you have since this was shot as a vertical. Why did you shoot as a vertical btw? To minimize distortion perhaps?

Paul,

A touch of deja vu in my comment, interestingly different shot, I agree with Vincent on a little bit more room at the bottom if possible.

Thanks guys. No room at the bottom. Vincent, I meant no cropping top and bottom. It was a horizontal. The obstacles to overcome are not angling down too much and getting terrible distortion on the horizon. My "trick" is pre-focusing at about 2', which is about where his eyes are and inching the tripod ever closer with live view on. I have the front 2 legs very short and vertical, and the rear leg is long and extends back, as a guidance. This keeps me about 3-4 ft from him typically and a prolly false sense of security.

So far he has only had me running for the hills twice. So in the end, yeah, I agree a touch more room at the bottom, which I can prolly clone easy enough.

Paul, I really like these wide-angle gator shots you have been doing! Definately gives a neat view of the animal in its environment!

hooolllly crap , awesomlllly scary.......what a great shot!!!

Wonderful perspective Paul, I also love the blue tones running through the entire frame. Very nicely done!

Very interesting perspective here. The blue tone creates the mood in consonance with the dark clouds. I really like the use of the wide angle in wildlife, if this is a regular hangout for the gator worth trying a half under/over shot.

Beautiful cool, blue tones throughout, your choice of wide angle and narrow aperture, and the proximity to the gator, all make this a fantastic capture! I am especially interested in your choice of shutter speeds and the blend. Could you elaborate?

intersting image - nice concept.
Congrats on the EP!
Sandy

Congrats on the Weekly Pic - Well deserved

simply amazing !

Come on admit it: You place your rubber gator where you like him to pose for your shots... Just kidding.

Fantastic work, a well deserved pick!

Wow. This is unique. I'm still trying to figure out how a shot like this could be safely pulled off? I'm assuming he's alive and notices you...

Paul, wonderful image, what have you done?? Would I do it??? I don't think so!!