A lurking monster

[Dazyl]

I was out for a hike along a bayou yesterday, and I paused for a few minutes to look at the water. I didn't see this guy for the longest time...



There's a much larger version at Flickr.

To my eyes, he blended in very well with the color of the bayou, and I had to work with the levels and contrast to get him as clear as he is. I've never tried to photograph anything just below the surface of the water, and I'm not sure I did the best I could with it. Thoughts or ideas?

[Englishteacher]

It's too late now, but in the future you could use a polarizer when you are outside. It will shut down the lens about 1 stop, but it would have cut the reflection to nearly nothing. As an added bonus, it would deepen the blues in the skies ... and enrich most colors as well.

[Dazyl]

Englishteacher -- How funny. Now that you say that, I can't remember whether I had the polarizer on when I took this shot or not.

[Englishteacher]

That is an amazing critter. Have you ever caught one? They fight like nothing else!

[PnwGuy]

Originally Posted by Englishteacher

That is an amazing critter. Have you ever caught one? They fight like nothing else!

I moved down south of Baton Rouge many years ago and stayed down there about a year. I had never heard of nor had I ever seen an Alligator Gar. I went fishing in the little bayou out behind the house and got one on the line. Man was it a fight! I expected to pull out a 20 pound whatever...but when I got him reeled in some I saw an average sized fish with a long snout like an alligator, and teeth. I cut the line. I didn't know what it was but I knew I didn't want any part of it. I felt bad the hook was still in him but my intention was to keep all my fingers.

It was a great experience down there. I love the people.

Dazyl, Nice shot and I agree with English Teacher on the polarizer.

[Dazyl]

Englishteacher -- not only have I never caught one, I had no idea what this was at first, other than a very strange fish. Oddly, my 10-year-old took one look and told me not only that it had teeth, but that she's seen them in the local bayous also.

I may very well go back out and try again with this type of shot. It was interesting, to say the least.

Thanks, y'all.