Older Than the Landscape

I photographed this alligator along La Chua Trail in Gainesville, Florida. With its rough, weathered skin, powerful jaws, and the water swirling around it, I couldn't help but think about how long these creatures have been around.

Millions of years ago, long before trails, roads, paths, or the landscapes we recognize today, the ancestors of these amazing beasts were already making their way through the water.

And yet here I was, standing with my camera, watching one do what alligators have done for generations.

I have so much respect for these incredible reptiles, and I'm incredibly grateful for the chance to observe and photograph this one from a safe distance, leaving it undisturbed in the place it calls home.