Alligator (captive)

[Robert Amoruso]

American Alligator from Gatorland in Florida.

The water had a sickly looking green that I just could not correct in RGB so went to LAB color, did a good job of getting the water to look like what I wanted and then converted back to RGB. In RGB I desaturated various colors to get the final look - steely water and a slightly blue gator.

My first posting from the Nikon D300 and at ISO 1600 w/o noise correction.

Nikon D300
200-400mm @ 280mm
420mm (in 35mm film)
1/640 sec, f/5.6
Mode: Manual
ISO: 1600

[Alfred Forns]

Welcome to the Dark side Robert !!!!! Love your equipment !!!!!! :):):)

Excellent visualizing this image !!! Simple and effective !!! Love it !!!

[Bob Ettinger]

Love the rain creating the ripples and the colors you finally achieved.

[Steve Maxson]

I like the composition and the raindrops make this one special, Robert. The gray tones work well for this image. My one nit is the odd blue-green look to the eye.

[Todd Frost]

I like it. Nice job with the noise reduction. I have found the file to clean up nicely on the D300 as well. Nice comp with the rain drops coming down. Color rendition works well.
Todd

[Robert Amoruso]

Todd,

I didn't do any noise reduction. Noise was not bad so I did not touch it as I did not want the detail/sharpness of the raindrop ripples to be diminished.

[Todd Frost]

My mistake, I misread your post! My eyes must be getting old along with the rest of me:D.
Todd

[Roman Kurywczak]

Hey Robert,
I really like the crop you chose and the rain drops. As far as the "Dark Side"....... I'm definitely not getting into the equipment debate..........I feel the photographer overcomes all........ as in this case! I've been really dark for a long time.........not Nikon.........but Sigma...........(hey...I'm not above pandering for sponsorship!),
Roman