Battle Scar

[Mark Fuge]

This image is of our favorite gator at Merritt Island. He has always made his presence known and come close for great images. However, on our return from our recent fall trip, we stopped in to see what was happening at the refuge and got this unfortunate image of him. No longer photogenic, he apparently had a disagreement with an intruder and came out with a major wound that will never heal, having apparentlly lost his right eye in the scrimmage. We will miss the images that might have been. But we have put him here for final recognition.

Modifications in CS4 included; B&W, Photo Filter (warming and sepia), Old Photo Layer (from personally created collection), Accented Edges and other normal PS image adjustments.

Enjoy.

[Christopher Miller]

Nice work, Mark. Very effective composition with the gator coming towards the viewer and great sepia toning. I like how the frame colors are sepia too. :)

[denise ippolito]

Sad to hear about the eye. Nice looking composition. I do wish it popped a bit more from the BG but it is camouflage at it's best!

[Cheryl Slechta]

Nice image, Mark, although a sad story. I know it's nature but ..... The framing and mat compliment this well.

[Anita Bower]

It never would have occurred to me that one could have a favorite alligator! Sad about his eye, but an interesting story. Thanks for sharing.

I, too, wish there were a bit more pop to this image. It looks a bit muddy to me, but perhaps that was the intention.

[Mark Fuge]

Thanks all for viewing and comments. Appreciate it.

The frame colors come from the image, with use of the fade adjustment, which I forgot to mention. The frame is actually a mistake that worked, in my view. I had made the inner brown frame area and wanted to add to it, as I felt for an old image, a modern (thin) frame was not as appropriate. When I added the "canvas" for the frame, the darker brown was in the pallet and I liked the dimensional effect. :D Sometimes mistakes create inspiration. ;)

The pop was consumed by the effects of aging. The original is more "poppie" ;) ;) But the aging again affects the image.

As for the "favorite gator" that is because he always seemed to be available in the same area and close to the road. He was also on the side of the road away from the afternoon sun, so images like this were possible. I would guess that if we saw any gators on our trip to MINWR, we saw this one in the same place 80-90% of the time. Hence, a fovorite subject for all poses and lighting conditions that we encountered. Yes, you can love a gator ... when they cooperate with the photographer!

I would post the original for your information, but believe me it is not a pretty image of a gator, so I will leave well enough alone.