Gator - A close encounter
p.1 #1Gator - A close encounter
This is an older photograph from a couple of year ago. Due to heavy rains the local State park was flooded and was full of gators. A big one had been out of the waters and taking Sun. I went as close as possible and got a ground level shot of it's head. Hindsight, it was a stupid decision but I lived, got my photograph and a story to tell.
© guywithgas 2025
Mar 03, 2026 at 10:41 AM
p.1 #2Gator - A close encounter
Be careful brother! These creatures can move VERY fast quickly! 
That is ONE mean lookin' gator!!
Dan
That is ONE mean lookin' gator!!
Dan
Mar 03, 2026 at 01:08 PM
p.1 #3Gator - A close encounter
Danpbphoto wrote:
Be careful brother! These creatures can move VERY fast quickly!
That is ONE mean lookin' gator!!
Dan
Dan, that is what exactly I meant when I said my decision could have been "stupid". I am not going to repeat that feat ever again
Sreedhar.
Be careful brother! These creatures can move VERY fast quickly!
That is ONE mean lookin' gator!!
Dan
Dan, that is what exactly I meant when I said my decision could have been "stupid". I am not going to repeat that feat ever again
Sreedhar.
Mar 03, 2026 at 01:17 PM
p.1 #4Gator - A close encounter
Great shot! Or is that Great Scott!? Heh... I am afraid to ask what focal length lens, how many pixels did you start with and how much it was cropped... because I have a feeling the answer will make it even more scary. 
Nice work... now don't do that ever again!
Eric
Nice work... now don't do that ever again!
Eric
Mar 03, 2026 at 02:08 PM
p.1 #5Gator - A close encounter
Erictator wrote:
Great shot! Or is that Great Scott!? Heh... I am afraid to ask what focal length lens, how many pixels did you start with and how much it was cropped... because I have a feeling the answer will make it even more scary.
Nice work... now don't do that ever again!
Eric
Eric, thanks!
You are bang on the point. It was 500mm lens and I was about 25 feet from the gator. Just a tiny bit was cropped around the edges (may be less than 5%) to get the eyes leveled. The moment it started walking towards me, I jumped and ran. I know I am not going to repeat this feat, one of those times that we take stupid choices in life
Sreedhar.
Great shot! Or is that Great Scott!? Heh... I am afraid to ask what focal length lens, how many pixels did you start with and how much it was cropped... because I have a feeling the answer will make it even more scary.
Nice work... now don't do that ever again!
Eric
Eric, thanks!
You are bang on the point. It was 500mm lens and I was about 25 feet from the gator. Just a tiny bit was cropped around the edges (may be less than 5%) to get the eyes leveled. The moment it started walking towards me, I jumped and ran. I know I am not going to repeat this feat, one of those times that we take stupid choices in life
Sreedhar.
Mar 03, 2026 at 02:37 PM
p.1 #6Gator - A close encounter
That's close Guy! I thought the one I had was close yet this is another dimension. Did you tickle it's nose?
Morris
Morris
Mar 03, 2026 at 07:14 PM
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p.1 #7Gator - A close encounter
morris wrote:
That's close Guy! I thought the one I had was close yet this is another dimension. Did you tickle it's nose?
Morris
... that's funny Morris. Had I tried, I'd have been it's meal. I was on the ground laying and was about 25 feet with a 500 mm lens, just focusing on the eyes and hence that perspective.
Sreedhar.
That's close Guy! I thought the one I had was close yet this is another dimension. Did you tickle it's nose?
Morris
... that's funny Morris. Had I tried, I'd have been it's meal. I was on the ground laying and was about 25 feet with a 500 mm lens, just focusing on the eyes and hence that perspective.Sreedhar.
Mar 03, 2026 at 08:18 PM
p.1 #8Gator - A close encounter
guywithgas wrote:
That is ONE mean lookin' gator!!
DanDan, that is what exactly I meant when I said my decision could have been "stupid". I am not going to repeat that feat ever again
Sreedhar.
I will just convey a circumstance that happened to me on a business trip to Florida many MANY "moons" ago.
Another person and myself were having a sandwich on a picnic table near a small Florida pond on the premises.
My back was to the water. My friend was across from me but my body blocked his view behind me.
We heard a huge loud "hisssssss"..I turned and dam if there wasn't a gator, mouth open 10ft behind me. We froze!!!
It hissed again...I threw half of my "samich" right into his mouth, he chomped down turned around and went into the water.
Of course no camera, just needed a change of underware!
The next time we ate there we both faced the water!
Stay safe brother!
Dan
Danpbphoto wrote
Be careful brother! These creatures can move VERY fast quickly! That is ONE mean lookin' gator!!
Dan
Sreedhar.
I will just convey a circumstance that happened to me on a business trip to Florida many MANY "moons" ago.
Another person and myself were having a sandwich on a picnic table near a small Florida pond on the premises.
My back was to the water. My friend was across from me but my body blocked his view behind me.
We heard a huge loud "hisssssss"..I turned and dam if there wasn't a gator, mouth open 10ft behind me. We froze!!!
It hissed again...I threw half of my "samich" right into his mouth, he chomped down turned around and went into the water.
Of course no camera, just needed a change of underware!
The next time we ate there we both faced the water!
Stay safe brother!
Dan
Mar 04, 2026 at 10:30 AM
p.1 #9Gator - A close encounter
Danpbphoto wrote:
That is ONE mean lookin' gator!!
DanDan, that is what exactly I meant when I said my decision could have been "stupid". I am not going to repeat that feat ever again
Sreedhar.I will just convey a circumstance that happened to me on a business trip to Florida many MANY "moons" ago.
Another person and myself were having a sandwich on a picnic table near a small Florida pond on the premises.
My back was to the water. My friend was across from me but my body blocked his view behind me.
We heard a huge loud "hisssssss"..I turned and dam if there wasn't a gator, mouth open 10ft behind me. We froze!!!
It hissed again...I threw half of my "samich" right into his mouth, he chomped down turned around and went into the water.
Of course...Show more →
I'm glad it was just content with the "samich". I guess gators in Florida are as good as pets and are used to human food.
guywithgas wrote
Danpbphoto wrote
Be careful brother! These creatures can move VERY fast quickly! That is ONE mean lookin' gator!!
Dan
Sreedhar.
Another person and myself were having a sandwich on a picnic table near a small Florida pond on the premises.
My back was to the water. My friend was across from me but my body blocked his view behind me.
We heard a huge loud "hisssssss"..I turned and dam if there wasn't a gator, mouth open 10ft behind me. We froze!!!
It hissed again...I threw half of my "samich" right into his mouth, he chomped down turned around and went into the water.
Of course...Show more →
I'm glad it was just content with the "samich"
. I guess gators in Florida are as good as pets and are used to human food.Mar 04, 2026 at 10:40 AM
p.1 #10Gator - A close encounter
guywithgas wrote:
That is ONE mean lookin' gator!!
DanDan, that is what exactly I meant when I said my decision could have been "stupid". I am not going to repeat that feat ever again
Sreedhar.I will just convey a circumstance that happened to me on a business trip to Florida many MANY "moons" ago.
Another person and myself were having a sandwich on a picnic table near a small Florida pond on the premises.
My back was to the water. My friend was across from me but my body blocked his view behind me.
We heard a huge loud "hisssssss"..I turned and dam if there wasn't a gator, mouth open 10ft behind me. We froze!!!
It hissed again...I threw half of my "samich" right into his mouth, he chomped down turned around and went into the water.
Of course no camera, just needed a change of underware!
The next time we ate there we both faced the water!
Stay safe brother!
DanI'm glad it was just content with the "samich" . I guess gators in Florida are as good as pets and are used to human food.
I guess "it" wasn't THAT hungry Sreedhar!
...and it was a nice sandwich
!
Dan
Danpbphoto wrote
guywithgas wrote
Danpbphoto wrote
Be careful brother! These creatures can move VERY fast quickly! That is ONE mean lookin' gator!!
Dan
Sreedhar.
Another person and myself were having a sandwich on a picnic table near a small Florida pond on the premises.
My back was to the water. My friend was across from me but my body blocked his view behind me.
We heard a huge loud "hisssssss"..I turned and dam if there wasn't a gator, mouth open 10ft behind me. We froze!!!
It hissed again...I threw half of my "samich" right into his mouth, he chomped down turned around and went into the water.
Of course no camera, just needed a change of underware!
The next time we ate there we both faced the water!
Stay safe brother!
Dan
. I guess gators in Florida are as good as pets and are used to human food.I guess "it" wasn't THAT hungry Sreedhar!
...and it was a nice sandwich
!Dan
Mar 04, 2026 at 10:41 AM
p.1 #11Gator - A close encounter
Danpbphoto wrote:
That is ONE mean lookin' gator!!
DanDan, that is what exactly I meant when I said my decision could have been "stupid". I am not going to repeat that feat ever again
Sreedhar.I will just convey a circumstance that happened to me on a business trip to Florida many MANY "moons" ago.
Another person and myself were having a sandwich on a picnic table near a small Florida pond on the premises.
My back was to the water. My friend was across from me but my body blocked his view behind me.
We heard a huge loud "hisssssss"..I turned and dam if there wasn't a gator, mouth open 10ft behind me. We froze!!!
It hissed again...I threw half of my "samich" right into his mouth, he chomped down turned around and went into the water.
Of course no camera, just needed a change of underware!
The next time we ate there we both faced the water!
Stay safe brother!
DanI'm glad it was just content with the "samich" . I guess gators in Florida are as good as pets and are used to human food.I guess "it" wasn't THAT hungry Sreedhar!
...and it was a nice sandwich!
Dan
guywithgas wrote
Danpbphoto wrote
guywithgas wrote
Danpbphoto wrote
Be careful brother! These creatures can move VERY fast quickly! That is ONE mean lookin' gator!!
Dan
Sreedhar.
Another person and myself were having a sandwich on a picnic table near a small Florida pond on the premises.
My back was to the water. My friend was across from me but my body blocked his view behind me.
We heard a huge loud "hisssssss"..I turned and dam if there wasn't a gator, mouth open 10ft behind me. We froze!!!
It hissed again...I threw half of my "samich" right into his mouth, he chomped down turned around and went into the water.
Of course no camera, just needed a change of underware!
The next time we ate there we both faced the water!
Stay safe brother!
Dan
. I guess gators in Florida are as good as pets and are used to human food....and it was a nice sandwich
!Dan
Mar 04, 2026 at 10:42 AM
p.1 #12Gator - A close encounter
guywithgas wrote:
That is ONE mean lookin' gator!!
DanDan, that is what exactly I meant when I said my decision could have been "stupid". I am not going to repeat that feat ever again
Sreedhar.I will just convey a circumstance that happened to me on a business trip to Florida many MANY "moons" ago.
Another person and myself were having a sandwich on a picnic table near a small Florida pond on the premises.
My back was to the water. My friend was across from me but my body blocked his view behind me.
We heard a huge loud "hisssssss"..I turned and dam if there wasn't a gator, mouth open 10ft behind me. We froze!!!
It hissed again...I threw half of my "samich" right into his mouth, he chomped down turned around and went into the water.
Of course no camera, just needed a change of underware!
The next time we ate there we both faced the water!
Stay safe brother!
DanI'm glad it was just content with the "samich" . I guess gators in Florida are as good as pets and are used to human food.I guess "it" wasn't THAT hungry Sreedhar!
...and it was a nice sandwich!
Dan
Danpbphoto wrote
guywithgas wrote
Danpbphoto wrote
guywithgas wrote
Danpbphoto wrote
Be careful brother! These creatures can move VERY fast quickly! That is ONE mean lookin' gator!!
Dan
Sreedhar.
Another person and myself were having a sandwich on a picnic table near a small Florida pond on the premises.
My back was to the water. My friend was across from me but my body blocked his view behind me.
We heard a huge loud "hisssssss"..I turned and dam if there wasn't a gator, mouth open 10ft behind me. We froze!!!
It hissed again...I threw half of my "samich" right into his mouth, he chomped down turned around and went into the water.
Of course no camera, just needed a change of underware!
The next time we ate there we both faced the water!
Stay safe brother!
Dan
. I guess gators in Florida are as good as pets and are used to human food....and it was a nice sandwich
!Dan
Mar 04, 2026 at 10:43 AM