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See You Later Alligator
2nd PlaceSee You Later Alligator
Gatorguy


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Never Seen on DPC! (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED
Location: Shakopee, MN
Date: Jun 21, 2009
Galleries: Humorous, Animals
Date Uploaded: Jun 24, 2009

Not as dangerous as you would think. This gator has been with me for 17 years now and has put up with a lot from me over the years - photographically speaking. Shes 7 feet long and about 125 lbs.
We simply dressed her, no drama or fear or anything else. It's very cool having that kind of a relationship (alright, not THAT kind of relationship!) with an alligator and being able to interact without fear on either side.
As for the shot, it's not too far from being out of camera. I saturated the sky a bit as it was too white. I applied some vignetting to the sides to focus the attention to the center, and I cloned out a small segment of a leash she was wearing that extended to the left. The most fun part of the shoot was that we took her to what we thought was a pretty remote area in the country, and it turned out that there is a nature preserve further down the road. The double takes we got as people crossed over the tracks and saw what we were doing was truly priceless.
Here is a link to some of the other photos we've done with her over the years.
//www.pbase.com/mngatorguy/smileys_xmas_cards

Thanks for the votes.

Statistics
Place: 2 out of 110
Avg (all users): 7.0412
Avg (commenters): 8.2353
Avg (participants): 6.6154
Avg (non-participants): 7.2288
Views since voting: 8222
Views during voting: 531
Votes: 170
Comments: 66
Favorites: 16 (view)


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AuthorThread
09/28/2010 11:42:02 AM
TRULY never seen on DPC before. You'd be a killer parent for Show and Tell... Such a marvelous image.

Edit to add: would LOVE to hear how you came to have such a unique relationship.

Message edited by author 2010-09-28 11:45:39.
07/19/2009 06:33:35 AM
I just love this shot. Very cool man. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/08/2009 10:39:47 AM
If you can get him to do Gatorade commercials, you've got something there.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/07/2009 05:42:25 AM
Great shot! I also love your X-mas cards. Very original.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/04/2009 04:59:28 PM
Very unique!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/04/2009 02:10:19 PM
OMGOSH!! I could never compete with an alligator image LOL
Great idea and execution!

Debbi
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/04/2009 07:31:33 AM
Ths was my fave, love the idea, the composition..everything...I gave it a 10, wish I could have given it ten 10's! Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/04/2009 02:31:17 AM
should have been first. It's exposed well, composed well, and the depth of field is perfect. I'm sure that gator is fairly lengthy and keeping him (her?) all in focus could be a challenge. Instead, the tracks fall off 30-40 feet ahead and just in the foreground as well. I'm not super crazy about vignetting but it was the smart play on this one.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/03/2009 09:08:01 PM
I'm thrilled to see this one on the front page! Warmest congrats on a well-deserved ribbon!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/03/2009 04:08:24 PM
That is pretty amazing....had a look at the pics in the link too. Congrats on the ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/03/2009 02:12:59 PM
Congrats Bill. She's getting so big now. Did you have to make a new box for her yet. Hope all is well with you all.

Shanon
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/03/2009 01:36:02 PM
Great job on the ribbon. I chuckled when I saw this in voting. It's definitely something "never seen before" on DPC! Great job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/03/2009 12:25:39 PM
Cool Christmas card link.

Nice set of shot's - congrats on the ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/03/2009 12:23:54 PM
You really are the gator guy! I always thought your username meant you were a Florida Gator fan. Sweet shot. Do you get alot of phone calls if a neighbors dog is missing? :)

Congrats on the ribbon, well deserved.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/03/2009 11:54:56 AM
Interesting shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/03/2009 08:09:49 AM
Unique for sure, now and forever. I doubt that someone could ever execute or copy a shoot like this
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/03/2009 07:12:41 AM
Congrats on your ribbon. Very original and excellent quality!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/03/2009 05:23:06 AM
Just awesome! Congrats, Bill!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/03/2009 12:59:11 AM
I LOVE TRAINTRACKS
haha i made this account ONLY to comment on this photo and to say how much i love it!! :D
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/03/2009 12:43:42 AM
Love the little back-pack. excellent take on the challenge and congrats on your ribbon, Bill.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/03/2009 12:27:51 AM
nice take, congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/03/2009 12:25:22 AM
Wow what a story, make sure she's well fed once she gets older!. The shot is excellent, love the tilt and the fact that you have a gator for a pet and dressed her up is enough to fit the challenge, congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/03/2009 12:16:28 AM
lol i loved this. sorry my vote didnt count, i forgot to go and continue voting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/03/2009 12:11:41 AM
OK OK, how you'd get him (her?) to do it that then, promise of a dead chicken or something?

Great work...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/03/2009 12:03:24 AM
Gator Guy!! So this was not dangerous as i thought... The portraited is your cousin!
=P
Congrats on the Ribbon!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/03/2009 12:03:18 AM
Okay, I was wondering whose this was. Now I'm smacking myself on the head, saying, "DUHHHHHHH!"
I love it! :D
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
07/02/2009 11:50:34 PM
neato, howja dooit?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/02/2009 11:31:11 PM
7 for making me chuckle.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/02/2009 04:32:01 PM
The winner!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/02/2009 02:08:59 PM
Hahahahaha....10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/02/2009 01:22:05 PM
ok, definitely nothing I've seen before! fun idea
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/01/2009 05:19:31 PM
Oh my goodness! This is awesome!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/01/2009 03:06:05 PM
I have no idea how you got it, but it is indeed unique and I think a great title with shot. The bold colors on his back plus the location all make for a great shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/01/2009 10:10:53 AM
This is awesome! Nice perspective, and truly unique.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
07/01/2009 07:44:08 AM
i.m.o. i would have desacherated the red. 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/30/2009 09:43:56 PM
love it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/30/2009 08:47:48 PM
I want to know how you did this! Great colors and I love how the gator looks like he's smiling :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/30/2009 04:28:35 AM
Brilliant! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/29/2009 04:19:07 PM
In awhile crocodile! How many of these comments are you getting? Excellent shot 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/29/2009 12:41:52 PM
wow!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/27/2009 11:59:22 PM
wow i love it what do you have a alligator as a pet?
love how the train tracks are leading off into the distance
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/27/2009 10:41:57 PM
First the nude nature walk, now this. Lol - very creative. I really like the low angle and composition. Definitely unique too. Best of luck in the challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/27/2009 10:33:55 PM
brilliant!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/27/2009 08:14:52 PM
Nice. I love his little pack and for once I love the angle of the photo. I'm not usually a fan of the angled perspective. The railroad tie makes for a nice divider.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/27/2009 04:55:44 PM
comment only.

lol, the only thing I think would improve this is if the croc where walking toward you. but then the title wouldn't work so scrap that. Am not finished commenting yet but for me this should be a ribbon winner and I'd love to know how this was done 0 great shot and I wish you good luck with the voters.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/27/2009 04:52:48 PM
hope that its real.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/27/2009 04:17:11 PM
goooood
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/27/2009 01:07:36 PM
LOL! Cute. How in the WORLD did you get this shot posed? Difficult, I'm sure. Still, the tail's details are so lovely, that when I get to his face, I still want to see that detail and it's a bit washed out. Advanced editing would have allowed you to dodge/burn his face to accomodate me, I think. *grin* (not voting)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/27/2009 12:47:06 PM
This is awesome. Technically stunning, I love the depth and richness of the colors. And.... how do you get an alligator as a prop ?!?!?!?!? If this isn't a ribbon-winner, I'll just fall over in shock.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/27/2009 10:49:19 AM
this is just way to cute...well done...so is this your "pet" gator???
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/27/2009 12:20:54 AM
how did you get the outfit onto the gator? made me laff. I like the dof and the comp! 8/10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/26/2009 10:44:48 PM
great idea and made even better by the angle, great sense of humor too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/26/2009 10:15:20 PM
Great (and probably dangerous) idea! Beautiful light! Just dont think that the tilt was the best choice for this... Anyway... good job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/26/2009 06:31:23 PM
very creative. very original. I get that the title works better with the gator walking away, but I would like to see more of the face. I love the hobo bag. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/26/2009 03:20:05 PM
Judi? Must be! This is very cute and creative.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/26/2009 03:07:12 PM
Back to comment... I would have loved to see you wrangle that gator into them clothes! ROFL! This got you a 10 from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/26/2009 02:54:58 PM
LOL now how did you convince Mr Gator to cooperate here. he even has his head turned perfectly. lol i love it
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/26/2009 12:24:43 PM
Awesome.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/26/2009 10:21:27 AM
Very nicely composed and shot. Excellent DOF, angle, composition along the rail. Now as far as the subject, how on earth did you get this without losing an arm? Can't wait to see the details. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/26/2009 09:37:53 AM
Great concept and humor. Some funky burning in the sky, but the is rest is excellent. 7 for now.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/26/2009 08:04:20 AM
Clever!! Love the knap sack. LOL Love the tilt.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/26/2009 02:17:53 AM
Love it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/26/2009 01:01:02 AM
lol, you sold me 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/26/2009 12:59:16 AM
haha, very cute idea!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/26/2009 12:24:03 AM
All right I wanna know who dressed up the aligator for you.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
06/26/2009 12:17:18 AM
How the heck did you do this?
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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