Had to crop this down a bit - I was a good 100' away, 55-300 PLM @ 300.

[MikeNArk]

Great focus. That's a crooked smile and I wouldn't trust a gator. You got a very good shot from a hundred feet. Thanks for posting.

[K2 to K50]

Had to crop this down a bit - I was a good 100' away, 55-300 PLM @ 300.

I suspect you might have been a bit closer than that. But whatever, that is a good pic, even after heavy cropping. You certainly wouldn't want to be getting too close to this big fella!

[5ks]

Exciting photo! And better to crop than take the risk of being chopped, er?

[OrchidJulie]

"Step into my parlor," said the 'gator to the guy... Excellent capture, you were right to keep your distance! They lumber, but fast!

[CBM]

Exciting photo! And better to crop than take the risk of being chopped, er?

"Step into my parlor," said the 'gator to the guy... Excellent capture, you were right to keep your distance! They lumber, but fast!

Thank you both - they do lumber - unless they are after something to eat...I didn't want to test who was faster!

[angkymac]

Catching him from the dark side and at ground level really makes his contours and protrusions stand right out.
Something between elegant and just flat out ugly!
Angky.

[CBM]

Catching him from the dark side and at ground level really makes his contours and protrusions stand right out.
Something between elegant and just flat out ugly!
Angky.

I was thinking I should go over to the sunny side, but didn't want to cross his bow (forgive the nautical metaphor)...anyway, here's one giving me a bit of stink eye today!

[angkymac]

I was thinking I should go over to the sunny side, but didn't want to cross his bow (forgive the nautical metaphor)...anyway, here's one giving me a bit of stink eye today!

Right! Crossing the path of a loaded torpedo isn't smart!
This last shot doesn't give me the "elegant contours" that I liked in the previous shot.
But you sure picked up the ugliness!!!
And it almost appears that he thinks the same of you!
Very excellent, if insulting, shot of that lizard!
Angky.

[OrchidJulie]

I was thinking I should go over to the sunny side, but didn't want to cross his bow (forgive the nautical metaphor)...anyway, here's one giving me a bit of stink eye today!

Funny, how well even adult 'gators can be so well camouflaged, despite the adults being nearly black in color. Maybe it's because their water lairs are often nearly black, too. Great capture!

[CBM]

Funny, how well even adult 'gators can be so well camouflaged, despite the adults being nearly black in color. Maybe it's because their water lairs are often nearly black, too. Great capture!

Here's a collection of young gators hanging out catching some rays - I am no expert, but if I were the little guy I'd be a little worried about the big guy next to me...with the teeth (leaf over his left eye).

[MikeNArk]

You have turned this into a series. Thanks for adding extra photos to view. All are nice.

[CBM]

You have turned this into a series. Thanks for adding extra photos to view. All are nice.

Thanks Mike - I hope I haven't worn everybody out yet! I just had to finish this with a baby gator I saw today, couldn't have been more than a foot long, sunning himself on a galvanized drainage pipe. All of these are from the same location - Arthur Marshall Federal Wildlife Refuge right on the eastern edge of the Everglades, near Loxahatchee.

[nonpigliounoshoot]

Nice job.

[OrchidJulie]

Here's a collection of young gators hanging out catching some rays - I am no expert, but if I were the little guy I'd be a little worried about the big guy next to me...with the teeth (leaf over his left eye).

Yes, they prey on one another, I think, if other food is scarce. Given the size difference, these may be from different nests. Great capture!