Alligator turtle

[MichaelW]

I have seen hundreds if not thousand of these before but never as close as I got yesterday. Almost too close. Saw this guy crossing a road at an intersection and didn't want him hit. So, I decided to pick him up and carry him ( or her?) across . Did you know that their neck comes out about 6 or 8 inches. He got with a couple of inches of my fingers with that jaw. Everyone stopped and gave us time to walk slowly out of the road with me following behind. Had a brand new macro lens that I was trying out. Hows that for good luck.

They have very unusual eyes.

[jfoureyes]

Outstanding work, Michael... Love the second photo!! What's your new lens...the EXIF is blocked.

[MichaelW]

I just got the Tokina 100 macro. Seems to be a fine lens, I just need to learn how to do macro work. I was using my older Nikon D 40 when I took this.

Glad you like the photo. thanks

[TheFantasticG]

Yeah, and they're angry too. Looks like that Tokina you got just might be a winner.

[Old Sarge]

And they always decide to urinate about the time I pick them up. :) Had one take a wedge out of my boot sole one time when I wasn't paying close attention.

Great pictures, especially the second one.

[lhdvies]

Nice work, Michael!!

Leon

[DigitalScape]

Nice turtle rescue, Michael, and the second image is a winner.

[jfoureyes]

Originally Posted by MichaelW

I just got the Tokina 100 macro. Seems to be a fine lens, I just need to learn how to do macro work. I was using my older Nikon D 40 when I took this.

Glad you like the photo. thanks

If you can try to use the DOF preview on your camera as much as possible before shooting...The more magnification the smaller the DOF and checking before you shoot will increase your keeper rate sometimes.

[MichaelW]

Thanks for the comments and the advise. This guy did get quite agitated. Had to prod him lightly with my foot and he snapped every time.

[houtex01]

Nice work on helping the turtle out of harms way...also like the second photo...congrats on the new lens...

Ron

[donlfaulkner]

The second photo is my favorite.

[sandboa]

Great new lens, great photos with it.

I hope that second photo is cropped. Getting that close to a snapping turtle's face is a recipe for a bad bite! I have a scar on my leg to prove it.

This is actually a Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina), not the Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii).

Thanks for taking the time to rescue him/her.

[MichaelW]

Thank you Ron and Don. A slight crop Chris. I was about 18" away when I took it. I had already learned that they can reach out about a 1/3 rd of the way around the side of its body. Its odd that it was leaving the Cibolo creek and crossing the road to a mud hole. Maybe it sensed the coming front and felt the creek could be dangerous.

[Stargazer77517]

WOW! That last one is really a closeup. Thats a very nice lens.

[David Alaniz]

Good one Michael, watch the fingers.