Here's Looking at You.

by Bill Chambers

Title

Here's Looking at You.

Artist

Bill Chambers

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

I could have named this image "Interrupted” but decided against it. I was kayaking on the Wacissa River years back and came around a small bend and was carelessly a little close to this beauty and caused it to awaken. It stared at me curiously while I shot a few frames and then it slowly eased into the water to escape my presence. It was late October and the day was a little cooler than you would expect, and I remember feeling guilty about "pushing" this gator off its mudbank and into the water. A gator needs the sun on a cooler day to keep its core temperature up, and I had just deprived this creature of that warmth. I shot a couple more frames and quickly moved on and then, several hours later when I returned through this channel it had returned to its spot, but I made sure to give it a bit more room this time and he stayed put. I learned an important lesson that day; that our presence, even while trying to be unobtrusive, still affects the wildlife, and the river/swamp itself. Since that day, I have tried to be more careful to make sure my presence does not adversely affect the area and its wildlife any more than necessary. Animals do not seem to begrudge our being in their world, but as any guest should be, we need to be mindful and respectful to those we visit.

Uploaded

August 11th, 2020

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