Gator Xing

[WIlliam Maroldo]

Sony A850~Sony 70-400G@330mm~ISO 1250~1/800sec~F5.6~manual exposure~overcast~HH~12-31-2020~Brazos Bend State Park,Texas~CS5~Redfield Fractalius
For a change of pace from the avian subjects, a relatively young (5ft) gator crossing the path.
Usual subtle frac treatment to bring out detail of the gator and path, but not the background. comments and critique welcomed. regards~Bill

my website (http://avianimagesource.com)

[Indranil Sircar]

Outstanding composition, Bill. Love the elevated walking pose crossing. I really like the way you used the light here. Great details. I probably would remove the leaf hanging out of the jaw, if it were mine.

ps. I had no idea there are gators in Brazos State Park!!!

[Patti Edens]

That's a marvelous shot and treatment Bill! I love the color tones and softness of the background! That looks like a low angle of shooting and at 330mm you were close! Brave soul. I've seen them run across the path and they are fast. I always wonder how long I could fend them off with my tripod. :)

[Hazel Grant]

Agree with above. Glad you separated the gator from the background in your processing. Make it stand out so well against the beautifully soft background. The underbelly glows. Nice work.

[Judy Howle]

Nice treatment! The gator really stands out. I would also remove the leaf. :)

[denise ippolito]

Nice soft color tones and comp. The gator looks like he is posing. I like how you faded out the BG a bit. Nicely done.:)

[Andrew McLachlan]

Very nice comp and pose. I like the light use of fractalius to bring out details in the path. Nice work!

[Julie Kenward]

I would TOTALLY leave the leaf...that burst of green is remarkable and really draws your attention to the alligator. Plus...it makes him almost look sweet!

I would remove the one small spot on the ground just below his jaw, though.

Lovely DOF on this...gosh, he seems almost 3D.

[WIlliam Maroldo]

Thanks everyone for the encouragement! I like the leaf, as Julie, but somehow missed the clump of dirt on the ground under the jaw. It needs eviction.
regards~Bill

[Christopher Miller]

Great pose and treatment, Bill. I love how the gator stands out from the soft BG as though in 3d. Very well done! :)