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Crunchy The Croc


Crunchy The Croc
Photo Information
Copyright: Loot Eksteen (loot) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5524 W: 722 N: 4163] (11276)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-05-01
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, Sigma 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 HZ DG Macro, Digital ISO 100, UV 62mm Kenko
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/200 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): 40-49 points, Reptiles of Africa, A study in Herpetology (reptiles) 1, Reptiles - Crocs, alligators, caimans, & garials 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-05-02 18:08
Viewed: 7398
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Nile crocodile - Crocodylus niloticus

My wife and I visited the 'Reptile City' at Mposa, ±20Km from Richards Bay. After we met the owner/keeper, Rob McGeer, we struck up a conversation which eventually led to a special treat. He really went out of his way to accommodate us and to give me the opportunity to photograph some of his animals at close quarters. Snakes, lizards, rodents, birds, crocodiles, and even a highly energetic banded mongoose that continuously wanted to eat my toes and made me dance (Michael Jackson come and learn some moves) of course to the delight of the other visitors. Eventually the ultimate treat was an inside visit to the crocodile pen where I shot these reptiles from ±4m and as you can see on the exif data the focal length is only 115mm. I've posted a workshop which shows Rob with two of his crocs.

This is the largest of the four crocodile species found in Africa and it is the best known of all of the crocodiles. It is feared as a great man-killer.

Description
The snout is long and broad and ends in nostrils which can close underwater. The eyes, ears, and nostrils are found on the same plane on the top of the head, allowing the crocodile to be completely submerged underwater while still being able to see, smell, and hear. The teeth are long and conical. Their short, squat legs end in sharp claws. The skin is rough, scaly, and waterproof. They are cold-blooded and rely on the sun for heat. It has an average life span of 45 years in the wild, 80 in captivity.

Size
Max length: 6.2m from the head to the tip of the tail. Weigh: 325 kg but can reach up to 730 kg.

Distribution
Found throughout most of Africa, from Egypt to South Africa.

Status
Not endangered.

Habitat
Found in rivers, lakes, waterholes, mangrove swamps, estuaries, and freshwater marshes. During the day they can be found basking along riverbanks with their mouths open. They are social animals.

Food
They feed on animals which come to the water to drink. These include zebras, hippos, wildebeest, and birds, but they feed mainly on catfish. They would seize an animal and drag it underwater until it drowns. It cannot chew, so the prey is stuck underneath a log to rot. They have a slow metabolism.

Reproduction
Sexually mature at 10 years. Breeding season: July. They mate in shallow water and 30-80 eggs are laid in a nest of rotting vegetation. Incubation: 2-3 months. If the nest was below 29.5°C all the hatchlings are female, above 35°C hatchlings are male and in between hatchlings are from either sexes. The parent helps to open the eggs, and carry the babies to the water.

Enemies
Few predators prey on the Nile crocodile except for other Nile crocodiles and humans. The young are preyed upon by Nile monitor lizards, marabou storks, herons, ibises, turtles, and catfish. Source.

Post Processing was done with Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0.
jeanpaul, Luc, Athila, scottevers7, Janice, manyee, pauljk, coasties, wkshelton, Dando, liquidsunshine, elefantino, firelord, red45, soccer, marhowie, peter_stoeckl, Dyker, Miss_Piggy, betsie, Rehanna has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Athila: Blue-magentaloot 9 05-04 21:29
To SunToucher: Theory of colorsloot 2 05-04 03:40
To pauljk: Flash compensationloot 1 05-03 16:17
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Critiques [Translate]

Bonsoir Loot
Magnifique composition, j'adore ! C'est une prise de vue superbe ,les couleurs et les détails sont très bien.Est-ce qu'il essayait de se camouffler avec ce feuillage sur lui.
Merci et au revoir....JP

Very cool crocodile shot. I'm glad I don't have any of those in my neighbourhood.
The picture is very sharp and colourfull. Nice work !

Hi Loot!

Nice Croco. Focus and exposure are excellent. We can see great details in its skin. However I can feel some blue-magenta color in its skin. Is it like this or is it neutral gray? Could be a compensation from the auto color balance due to the green grass. In your WS image they seems more neutral. Let me know what's real. TFS

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1538 W: 5 N: 2240] (12636)
  • [2006-05-02 22:12]

Bonsoir Loot!

Félicitations pour cette présentation,le sujet est superbe et les détails sont netes. Bravo pour la belle lumière et les couleurs.

Merci pour l'envoie.


joseph

Hi Loot,
This guy could be also called very big and nasty! I have watched many specials about this breed, and they are amazing. You have captured him very well. Very sharp detail really enhances the texture of the skin.
Looks great! (from a distance)
Scott

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2006-05-03 1:01]

You two must have had a wonderful day - very spoilt I think, and real treat for you. PtL.
This fellow is nicely decorated with the greenery too. What a great shot Loot, very sharp and I like how his beady eye is looking right at you. Like he's ready for you to trip over or something, and he'll be on you in a tick!!
Very well shown, thank you
Janice

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2006-05-03 1:35]

Haha, Loot. Your dance moves obviously amused the crocodile.
He seems to have the most benign on his long snout.
Comical pose of this huge reptile decorated with spots of plants. : )
The details on the scales are very sharp and the light is great.
And look at ALL those teeth!
Great shot and TFS. : )

Hi Loot,
Excellent photo with great sharpness and details. The use of the flash works perfectly. I do agree with Athila on the magenta color.
This must have been a great day for your wife and you and how nice that the owner gave you the special treatment.
TFS,
Niek

Hi Loot,
What a fantastic opportunity you had. Nice detail in this image, looks like the light was a little low with your use of flash. I'd probably dialled the flash back a little (-1 to 1.7 stops) not sure if you have here?
TFS
Paul

Hi Loot

What can I say:

Never smile at a crocodile
No, you can't get friendly with a crocodile
Don't be taken in by his welcome grin
He's imagining how well you'd fit within his skin
Never smile at a crocodile
Never dip your hat and stop to talk awhile
Never run, walk away, say good-night, not good-day
Clear the aisle but never smile at Mister Crocodile
You may very well be well bred
Lots ot etiquette in your head
But there's always some special case, time or place
To forget etiquette
For instance:
Never smile at a crocodile
No, you can't get friendly with a crocodile
Don't be taken in by his welcome grin
He's imagining how well you'd fit within his skin
Never smile at a crocodile
Never dip your hat and stop to talk awhile
Never run, walk away, say good-night, not good-day
Clear the aisle but never smile at Mister Crocodile

:-) :-) :-) :-) Thank you!!!

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 955 W: 0 N: 89] (7805)
  • [2006-05-03 6:19]

Hi Loot
Good composition and shot. Good lights, details, sharpnes, DOF and POV.
well done

osse

Hi Loot, he looks like he is growing Vege, Perfct colors, and Bg POV DOF, TFS Kyle

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 637 W: 32 N: 792] (3084)
  • [2006-05-03 15:58]

Hi Loot, brave shot. I think this one has an expression of lunch on his face. Nice shot with good natural colours. TFS.
Dean.

Hi Loot,
Good detail, colours and sharpness. exposure and lighting are good. Good POV and composition.
The WS post is very good, I'd never get that close to these big old crocs. It must have been a real "Thriller" for you to get so close ;)

Thanks for posting, enjoy the rest of the week.

Hi Loot, nice picture of this big reptile,
Great details and light.
Andrea

Hi Loot,
Nice capture here, good details I like it and I like the tiny water plants on it. I consider that BG not helps too much, grasps have many forms and colours like croc skin, maybe a uniform land would be more appropiate, but all depend where the "guy" is.
Very good note and posting.
Hernán

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2006-05-05 2:20]

Hi Loot!
Great subject! I like big reptiles. You're very brave to make this shot. Croc looks litlle bored, I like its funny green suit :-) Detailed, sharp, with good POV. Note is very interesting. Good use of flash also.

Loot,

Nice pic of the croc indeed. I like the Composition and POV here. The photo is also detailed to make a great pic. TFS,
Sheriff

Hi Loot,
Well composed, great POV and framing.
Very good DOF, color, and use of flash to bring out the details...I like the way it's adorned with the green stuff :)
Have a safe and enjoyable trip mf.
Well done and TFS!

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1393 W: 119 N: 5267] (23955)
  • [2006-05-08 10:15]

This guy doesn't look to be in a good mood ! :-) Well done Loot, a striking picture of that croc. Sharp, clear and well composed. Thanks !

Mario

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2234 W: 188 N: 1912] (8073)
  • [2006-05-09 19:09]

Hello Loot,
look at this, it got green stuff growing on him ;-). Nice POV, colors and sharpness.
TFS..even though this is scary.
TFS Sky

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 1044 W: 156 N: 1218] (4046)
  • [2006-05-10 4:18]

Hi Loot,
What a fantastic opportunity, although I'm not sure I'd want to get in a pen with one of these, no matter how many people were telling me it was ok! Excellent textures you've captured and detail is sublime, I can see every crease and mark on his skin. Nice detail in the eye too, great work. If I had to pick a nit it would be his camouflage skills :-)
Cheers,
Adrian

Hi Loot,
charming capture of a peaceful and content crocodile appearing to have vegetarian preferences. Your notes - that are very rich and well researched as always from you - tell a different story. And so does your well explaining workshop! Exciting contribution! Thank you!
Best regards,
Peter

Hellow Loot,
Well Robs "pet croc " looks quite happy lying around as they usually do until something crops up.Crocs have always amazed me at their speed and strength from zero when the need arises.Nice colour and detail on the croc, almost surelistic feel about it.Great pic ..TFS.
erwin.......

Hallo Loot
This is a brilliant photo, with great colours and super sharpness. Looking at this croc with the green leaves here and there on its body it somehow reminds me of the hippy era, I don’t know why but it does. So maybe this is a "flower child croc" out of that time. (I think I am starting to sound a bit silly so let’s leave it there.) This photo is perfect, and you have captured this big reptile in an excellent way, showing the texture of the skin and scales with great precision and clarity. An incredible portrait of this toothy creature. Thanks for sharing.
Love
Anna

Hi Loot
Good picture! This is one of the amimals with the most intesting detail - especially on skin - that I have ever seen.
Regards
Betsie

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