Tags:   landscape dawn wetland river pink mist birds egrets roosting misty Myakka River State Park Florida USA United States CMWD_purple

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Palm trees silhouetted by the sunset afterglow, banks of the Myakka River in Myakka River State Park, Florida.

Scanned from the original Fujichrome Velvia slide, November 2001.

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Tags:   landscape sunset afterglow silhouette palm tree grove beautiful nature Myakka River State Park Florida United States USA

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I was told - repeatedly - that in Florida you are never more than 15 feet from a snake. Everyone I met had a snake story. So I proceeded on the assumption that a forest like this was literally dripping with water moccasins and other species, and I watched where I stepped, had a constant eye open for the surprise drop from above, kept my hands to myself, etc.

Scanned from the original Fujichrome Velvia slide, October 2001.

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Tags:   landscape palm tree forest wild nature Myakka River State Park Florida United States USA

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AMERICAN ALLIGATOR Alligator mississippiensis, crossing path in front of visitors, Everglades National Park, Florida, USA. I had been watching this gator for a while as it slowly hauled out of a pond - stopping many times to rest - and worked its way up a small embankment. I often crouch down for a low angle when shooting wildlife. While I was focusing, I could hear footsteps behind me and to my right. A man, perhaps in his late sixties, strolling down the path. I thought he was being a little too bold, as by now the gator was right at the edge of the path, but the man showed no signs of yielding the right of way. He kept approaching.

Suddenly it dawned on me. "Sir?" But he didn't hear me. So, louder, "SIR?" And he turned around. "Did you see the alligator?" His head swung around, and he nearly jumped out of his shoes. No, he had NOT seen the alligator, although it was in plain view. We've become so urbanized that we just aren't very observant about the natural world. Maybe they should change the term "National Park" to "National Place Where You Could Be Eaten" - it might wake people up!

On another note, what a privilege to photograph a magnificent prehistoric beast such as this; we don't have 'em in Canada.

Scanned from the original Fujichrome Velvia slide, February 2002.

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Tags:   American Alligator Alligator mississippiensis wildlife reptile gator walking footpath people dangerous parking lot caution prehistoric wild Everglades National Park Florida USA United States

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Tags:   dawn glow sky orange landscape pine trees wild nature Everglades Naitonal Park everglades Florida USA United States

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