Four-Years Ago (27-December-2011) — Florida

Gone to See America. December 2011 Florida Road Trip. Day 8: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Alligator with its Jaw Wide Open. Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida Space Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 500 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec).

Alligator with its Jaw Wide Open. Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida Space Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 500 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Alligator with its Jaw Wide Open. Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida Space Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 500 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

Sometimes you see more than birds along Black Point Drive at the National Wildlife Refuge.

One-Year Ago (06-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America. February 2014 Florida Road Trip. Day 6 Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Short time-lapse video of an Alligator crossing Biolab road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Images taken with a Nikon Df camera and 400 mm f/2.8 lens. Images processed with Capture One Pro, Photoshop CC, Premiere Pro CC, and After Effects CC. I chose to stay in the car while photographing this sequence.

Tuesday (25-November-2014) — Florida

Florida Road Trip 2014: Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge.

I only had a few hours through drive Black Point Wildlife drive in Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge before being hit by really heavy rain. There were not as many birds as I have seen before. I did see the top of the head and eyes of one alligator.

White Ibis, Great Egret, and Snowy Egret. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 500, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
White Ibis, Great Egret, and Snowy Egret. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 500, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Alligator Eyes. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 2800, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Alligator Eyes. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 2800, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)n

Wednesday (12-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America 2014 Road Trip. Day 12: Big Cypress National Preserve.

Partially Submerged Alligator in the Front Pond at Clyde Butcher’s Swamp Gallery — Big Cypress Swamp in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 1600, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro (including conversion to B&W).

Partially Submerged Alligator in the Front Pond at Clyde Butchers Swamp Gallery -- Big Cypress Swamp in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 1600, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
Partially Submerged Alligator in the Front Pond at Clyde Butchers Swamp Gallery — Big Cypress Swamp in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 1600, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)

Wednesday (12-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America 2014 Road Trip. Day 12: Clyde Butcher’s Swamp Cottage.

Partially Submerged Alligator in the Front Pond at Clyde Butchers Swamp Gallery — Big Cypress Swamp in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 1600, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec).

Partially Submerged Alligator in the Front Pond at Clyde Butchers Swamp Gallery -- Big Cypress Swamp in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 1600, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
Partially Submerged Alligator in the Front Pond at Clyde Butchers Swamp Gallery — Big Cypress Swamp in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 1600, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)