Spring 2025 Wildlife Photography Contest First Place Winner

It was just after sunrise when I arrived at Circle B Bar Reserve, the air still cool and heavy with dew. I headed straight to a familiar culvert pipe where I’d previously spotted a large alligator lurking—patient, motionless, waiting. On this particular morning, water was flowing swiftly through the pipe, creating beautiful streaks of movement I knew would lend themselves well to a long exposure. I set up just above the gator’s position, careful not to disturb its quiet vigilance.

The alligator had positioned itself perfectly—an ambush predator stationed just downstream of the culvert. From past visits, I knew tilapia often swam through here, and this gator had clearly learned the timing. Its massive head broke the surface, barely moving, eyes fixed on the opening where breakfast would soon appear.

I wanted to capture the contrast between the predator’s stillness and the movement of the rushing water. Using a long shutter speed, I dialed in my settings and braced carefully—knowing that even a slight shift could ruin the frame. The light was perfect: soft, directional, and full of atmosphere. The moment felt electric.

When I reviewed the image, I knew I’d captured something special. The gator’s piercing eyes, the flowing water, the quiet tension of the scene—it all came together in a single, powerful frame.