Crucial Moment

[Fabs Forns]

I guess everyday incidents can be still shocking to us. But Nature knows best and we must accept it as is. The crucial moment the he was going to swallow the Soft shelled Turtle after having it in the mouth for about an hour. Actually I thought he was going to let it go, as Ive seen them do, but this one was small enough for him to swallow without having to break the shell. Oh, well....
Light was beginning to get harsh and he is back-lit, but action is action. I used an inverse curve as described here:

http://birdphotographers.net/forums/...ead.php?t=6756

Date: 3/14/09
Time: 9:476 AM
Model: Canon EOS-1D Mark III
Firmware: Version 1.2.3
Frame #: 1410
Lens (mm): 500
ISO: 500
Aperture: 5.6
Shutter: 1/1250
Exp. Comp.: 0.0
Flash Comp.:
Program: Manual
Focus Mode: AI Servo AF
White Bal.: Auto
ICC Profile: sRGB Profile

[Robert Amoruso]

You did good handling the contrast. Good positioning on the gator getting the forward body in a diagonal. I like all the duck weed. Even good a pretty clean BG.

[Beth Goffe]

Fabs, this brings back not necessarily pleasant memories of an alligator eating a much larger soft-shelled turtle at Wakodahatchee a couple of weeks back. It may have been a small blessing for this one to have eventually been swallowed whole. The turtle I saw was not so lucky. I haven't been inclined to process any of mine yet. :(

This one has great action and you can actually just see the turtle's eye, which adds to it. I also like the duckweed surrounding the 'gator. It's a nice complement to the animal's hide. The inverse curve did a nice job in taming the harsh lighting. Is his eye completely open?

[Fabs Forns]

Fabs, this brings back not necessarily pleasant memories of an alligator eating a much larger soft-shelled turtle at Wakodahatchee a couple of weeks back. It may have been a small blessing for this one to have eventually been swallowed whole. The turtle I saw was not so lucky. I haven't been inclined to process any of mine yet. :(

This one has great action and you can actually just see the turtle's eye, which adds to it. I also like the duckweed surrounding the 'gator. It's a nice complement to the animal's hide. The inverse curve did a nice job in taming the harsh lighting. Is his eye completely open?

Thanks, Beth. I saw one having to let the turtle go, he couldn't brake the shell.
The membrane is half way over the eye, I guess from concentration.

[denise ippolito]

Fabs, This is a great moment captured. I feel sorry for the little guy! The duck-weed gives a nice soft green to the image!

[Alfred Forns]

That was on amazing sequence, the initial attack was very loud and after that it wasn't pretty !!! Sure like how you handled the back light conditions Just perfect !!!

[Beth Goffe]

The turtle I saw was very large and it took the 'gator some time to orient it properly. He finally did manage to crack the shell. Sounded like cracking a lobster claw. Did your turtle scream? I can still hear it... :eek:

Judy put some perspective on the soft-shell turtle. She said she'd seen them eat bird chicks, so there certainly is a cycle of life element to this. It's still a bit disturbing, though. :o

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Fabs,
You have got some nice action. I don't feel disturbed as this is nature. If you stop him from getting this one, then the fellow has to find another prey.

The diagonal position works well. The weed adds to the image. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Steve Canuel]

I like the way the darker arc in the BG/sides surrounds the lighter center of action here.

[D. Robert Franz]

Excellent capture of a natural history moment Fabs.....

[Nate Chappell]

Great action and comp Fabs.

[DanWalters]

Great detail and action. Did not know they could just swallow those turtles!