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Night Falls on the Everglades
Night Falls on the Everglades
yakatme


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Hidden Gem -- 1,000th Challenge! (Advanced Editing VII*)
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX
Location: Everglades, Florida
Date: Jan 20, 2007
Aperture: f/9
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/30
Galleries: Landscape, Animals
Date Uploaded: Mar 5, 2009

 To answer some of the questions that were asked many times in the comments:

1) Yes, I was very close, about two feet this time.
2) I used a wide angle lens.
3) I came out of this with all of my limbs intact.

This shot was taken during the same shoot as my yellow ribbon entry in the Wildlife III challenge and a specific account of this photo shoot is detailed there.....



Again, this was taken within a couple of feet from the alligator at almost water level using a wide angle lens. That little adventure is described in the details section of the picture above.

This is a photo that I processed but for some reason never uploaded to my portfolio. Here is the original processed version....



The big difference in post processing between the two versions resulted from a rework of the original by JDubsgirl after she responded to my plea for help in deciding between my final four choices for entries. She choose two of the four and sent me her version of this shot along with her post processing steps. I followed her instructions more or less and after nine variants I finally finished with this one. Thanks very much Katherine.

Thanks also to rox_rox for reviewing my final four and helping me to decide which one to enter.

What score do I expect from this entry? Very tough to say with this unique challenge. I oversaturated the colors like most DPC voters prefer, but there are going to be a ton of better entries. My yellow ribboner scored a 7.8 so I will make a wild guess of 6.8 for this one.

Post Challenge I am disappointed in my choice of post processing even though the version that I submitted was my twelfth. My doubts were confirmed immediately after voting started about not making this image pop more with contrast. I was attempting to make the image seem like it was taken almost at night but with good lighting on the alligator by darkening everything but the gator.

Here is another version that might have scored better...



Considering my faults in post processing, I am surprised that this scored in the 86th percentile among all of the other fantastic images. Thanks to everybody for all of the comments, votes, and favorites. To the person who put it on their wish list: PM me. I don't have any images on DPC Prints yet.

Statistics
Place: 153 out of 1129
Avg (all users): 6.2399
Avg (commenters): 7.3099
Avg (participants): 6.2830
Avg (non-participants): 6.0127
Views since voting: 1250
Views during voting: 709
Votes: 496
Comments: 76
Favorites: 3 (view)

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AuthorThread
 Comments Made During the Challenge
03/17/2009 11:36:11 PM
Wow. This one is amazing. Great DOF and subtle color.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/17/2009 10:55:35 PM
Cool shot. I would be afraid to get this close. Nice shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/17/2009 10:23:06 PM
Love that still, clear water. I can see how someone could easily mistake it for a log.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/17/2009 10:07:38 PM
Another great croc shot from. It's really amazing how close you go to this dangerous creature.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/17/2009 02:09:03 PM
Amazing capture. Love the colors.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/17/2009 10:42:07 AM
Cool shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/17/2009 10:17:36 AM
Wow, be careful! Ha, this is cool, great composition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/17/2009 09:59:20 AM
Fascinating image. Very unusual take on this. Well done. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2009 08:22:19 PM
hope it will be a peaceful one ... great shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2009 05:35:58 PM
Nice, leading lines converging etc - great shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2009 03:31:18 PM
Scary. Very awesome shot. Glad you lived to tell the tale! ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2009 01:12:55 PM
Great capture!!! Awesome work!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2009 08:53:21 AM
great shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2009 03:08:48 AM
Rather you taking this photograph than me :)
Great perspective.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2009 02:10:04 AM
A superb photo diminished only slightly by the fact it's a litle muddy. Maybe a little more contrast and saturation for the top half?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/16/2009 12:39:49 AM
Calm waters. Looks like you were right on top of the gator. Nice shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 10:51:10 PM
Cool, but creepy shot. Hope you came out of this one unscathed :D
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 10:38:22 PM
Great perspective. Well caught and framed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 09:07:09 PM
Wow! That's close! Cool capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 06:23:37 PM
Going through and giving at least the same amount of comments I am receiving on my entry. Love the intimacy of this photo. Up close, personal, and above all it shows your dedication to capturing a sight that most people do not get an opportunity to see. Being from Florida I understand how difficult it must have been to have captured this photo. Alligators are skittish creatures ;)
Im upgrading my initial vote of an 8 to a 10 due to you have captured a shot that I could only have dreamed of getting myself. Good luck.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 05:10:48 PM
i still feel this is a tad dull, but concerning the lighting situation it is still very pretty.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 04:57:38 PM
Scary look here with this closeup. Hope you're alright.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 04:39:19 PM
Seem abit dark, but I really like this shot. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 03:30:28 PM
A little dark... but a good photo neithertheless
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 01:29:32 PM
That eye sure adds a surprise element!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 12:01:48 PM
this is really fine, drama, color, and excellent pov
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 10:20:53 AM
Very nice image. It's good to see a few "great" images. This is a perfect reflection of your abilities as a photographer.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 10:03:33 AM
This is so cool, how close were you?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 05:22:00 AM
gee! could be brighter but still nice and sooo scary!
cheers, brano
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 03:48:00 AM
nice effort, needs a little more "pop" here to go to the next level, 6
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/15/2009 01:55:43 AM
I looked at the eye for a long time and I felt that the tiniest bump in brightness in that area (subtle, not strong) would benefit the pic. But the longer I looked, the more it grew on me.

I think in the end, it could be brought up just a hair so it is slightly higher than the highlights reflected on the nose.

However, I have no doubt in my mind that it is this way by clear intention by you, and I really can't bring myself to actually call it a 'flaw'.

Bumping from 9 to 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 10:46:36 PM
damn thats close
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 09:22:59 PM
Looks like a dangerous shot...but great capture!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 07:43:53 PM
I know u - u got a well deserved ribbon from this croc - this one is good but not perfect like the other one - 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 04:56:27 PM
higher contrast would have earned a higher score, 5
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 04:48:05 PM
Amazing you got this close...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 01:30:42 PM
Creepy subject~nicely done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 01:28:05 PM
What a scarey sight. I hope you took this with a very long lens.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 01:12:08 PM
Another scary gator close-up. Great composition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 11:51:50 AM
Yikes! I like it. Color. DOF. Focus is smack on. Great!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 09:53:08 AM
Wow! That's intense! I'd love to hear the story behind this. It looks like you were up REALLY close with a wide angle lens. Do you still have all of your limbs?? I wish it were just a touch lighter overall but the darkness does set a mood. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 09:43:47 AM
I really hope that you are using a very LLLLLOOOOONNNNGGGG lens...excellent capture, really good colors very pleasing
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 09:38:43 AM
Oh, you look a little close for comfort! Super shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 08:39:59 AM
Wow! Awesome! I love that he is visible under the water. NIce positioning.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 05:49:10 AM
great shot, would have been even better with some huge teeth for drama
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 03:41:40 AM
Beautyful picture
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 02:13:59 AM
Wow!! Now that's a close-up I'd stay far away from. :) Great shot though. Colors seem a bit on the flat side but overall, very cool.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/14/2009 01:55:52 AM
Cool!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2009 10:21:06 PM
I like the tonal range in the image
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2009 08:51:41 PM
nice example of the rule of thirds, this guys a little too close for comfort, pretty sky and reflection, I like this, it's an interesting image 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2009 08:34:40 PM
cool!. i love the softness in the background and the stillness around that gator.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2009 07:07:23 PM
What a great angle and photo! Wish there was alittle more contrast.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2009 06:22:15 PM
Extraordinary picture, the colors and overall sharpness are great!! Even the crocodile looks beautiful!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2009 02:50:49 PM
Great close up of this crocodile
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/13/2009 05:29:33 AM
Great capture!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 11:24:13 PM
Voted earlier coming back to leave comments now. This is just about as -close- as I want to get to a florida gator...plus I get to enjoy it from the safety of my computer screen:-) I remember seeing this is the portfolio and admiring the dedication to get the shot but shaking my head at the same time...Love the details I see from the bumpy textures of the skin to the beady eye that just waits for us to get closer before it clamps down for a nice tasty morsel. Love how we can see some the details of the submerged body. The water was really nice and clear as glass for you not only can see more details on this gator but you have some really nice reflections of the sunset sky. Composition is wonderful too with this alligator taking front and center stage so that we really get up close and personal with it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 08:08:10 PM
nice capture ... don't mess
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 05:56:23 PM
This image feels a bit dark. I like the colors though.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 04:10:49 PM
Wow...are you kidding me? You're a lot braver than I! Looks like you're right there which is just fasinating. The croc or alligator looks wonderful. The textures are so pleasing and really glad you left the background open and didn't go with a tighter crop.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 01:07:33 PM
It is great that you can see his body under the water; great compo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 11:58:10 AM
This is too close to nature... :)
Nice work. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 10:18:25 AM
Great capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/12/2009 12:47:18 AM
Cue Jaws music! You are one brave photographer. Great nature shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 09:08:08 PM
Freaky. But really wonderful.

Not voting yet.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 06:44:45 PM
That's an interesting capture and one I'd not be willng to try ;-)
Great DOF and detail, lovely soft tones. I just hope you're using a 200mm lens for this! 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 04:56:18 PM
Very cool shot. Nicely focused and composed. Cool colors. One of my tops so far.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 04:51:51 PM
A little flat to me but I love the subject. Good focus on him.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 03:28:16 PM
Yikes! He is really giving you the eye! Very nice.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 02:59:11 PM
the light makes this a little flat, and the soft focus does not help either.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 10:49:00 AM
Nice composition...well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 08:46:58 AM
The colour seems very subdued overall.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 05:35:13 AM
This is scary. Great capture. Perfect lighting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 04:59:18 AM
well composed, good focus. lacks a bit of contrast, might be due to an overuse of shadows/highlights
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 04:28:49 AM
Great colour and reflection. It must be hard to get close to this subject.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 01:12:08 AM
Great shot. Lovely combination of alligator and beautiful environment.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/11/2009 12:50:48 AM
Great great capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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