Baby croc

[Mike Poole]

In all honesty, more of a record shot than anything too serious, but in the spirit if 'themes' heres something a little different.

It was one of those situations where everything was against you - harsh light from the wrong direction, subject a little in the shade, bright overpowering BG, poor head angle, and most importantly, 12 foot 'mum' was somewhere in the area...

It was after my Osprey session at Lake Blue Cypress when my guide pointed me towards a little canal and assured me ''mum' wouldn't be in that area.

Still, this was as far as I was prepared to push my luck. I had good visibility and no sign of any adults, but nerves / sense got the better of me and stoped me actually setting foot in the water. If I'd had perfect light etc, well I dread to think how stupid I could have got!

Anyway, far from perfect but a different species

Canon 1dx
500mm f4 + 1.4x
ISO 2000
1/1250th f7.1

Mike

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Mike - Always good to see something a bit different and appropriate for the theme. You did well under the circumstances and I don't blame you for being cautious/nervous. I would be too.

TFS,
Rachel

[Gemma Watson]

Honestly, you did well in that circumstances. Kudos.

[Gabriela Plesea]

Dear Mike,

Interesting colouring on the little croc, yellow lip especially and those reddish scales. I like the way the subject blends in with the vegetation.

Well framed. Good techs and exposure not bad at all for such difficult lighting conditions.

I quite like this. Thinking you could spend a little more time on it and reduce the bright HL here and there. I would even go further and play with the colours a bit to achieve a softer, more "uniform" BG.

A keeper IMO. So glad you did not step into the water. Not sure about "gators" but our crocs here are lethal. I'd rather walk the dunes in the Kalahari and risk bumping into a lion, than dip my toes in croc infested water.

Have a lovely evening, post some more please!

Kind regards,

[Glenn Pure]

Mike, I think you've handled this difficult lighting very well. IQ, tones and crop are all great. And an interesting subject too! My only disappointment is that I didn't think of it: I have a young croc from the Chobe River in Africa that would have fitted the monthly theme but it didn't even occur to me.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Mike, even as a 'record shot' as you put it, I like it, but just wished the head was more towards camera rather than away. Probably if the HA was towards you the DoF would have been spot on, as it's just tailing off as presented. I think just darkening the bottom LHC will help.

If I'd had perfect light etc, well I dread to think how stupid I could have got!

We've all been there Mike, and as someone once said to me, 'if it's not good then you are not close enough!!!'

TFS
Steve

[Mike Poole]

We've all been there Mike, and as someone once said to me, 'if it's not good then you are not close enough!!!'

TFS
Steve

Cheers Steve - thats the exact mantra of underwater photographers the world over! Funny - I've no hesitation going nose to nose with sharks or eels and the like as I have a little knowledge of them, but when you don't know your subject that well, time to back off a little!

Mike

[Steve Kaluski]

LOL Mike, I guess we all have our pet fears, but there are also times to be respectful too. The great thing is, you came back and were able to share this with us.

[Stuart Philpott]

I've smiled much reading this Mike,dances with sharks but not in the water with a baby gator . Ahh mate i'm sorry but this has brought many smiles here.

Love the duckweed,Oh I know HA bit mike the detail is lovely the duckweed adds so much but the biggest thing for me is that green reflected to the lover jaw. It makes me feel tropics and humidity Mike. the image conveys to me where a young gator grows up. i'm also a bit mesmerized by the detail in that eye almost like a mosiac ,HA accepting like this alot mate,i'm really glad you shared it

stu