The Story of…Alligator in the Sun

Valerie — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 17:33:02 +0000

In my experience, there are a lot of differences between living in Florida and living in upstate New York. Weather, food and scenery are just some of the things that vary between the two. Wildlife is another.

In Florida, it seems that for whatever reason, it’s easier to see wildlife. I’ve seen alligators, manatees and wild hogs to name a few. Even when I went hiking or camping in New York, for better or for worse, I didn’t really see wild animals like bears or moose roaming around.
Animals, nature and wildlife are some of my favorite subjects to photograph.

It’s no secret that Florida has alligators. I photographed this guy on a recent trip to the Merritt Island Wildlife refuge, which you can read about here.

Alligator in the Sun Posters by ValeriesGallery

My husband and I were just about done with the wild life drive when we spotted this guy sunning himself. My husband pulled over so that I could snap a few pics. (Luckily I have a great lens that allows me to shoot wild life without getting really close and disturbing them.) I was amazed by the size of this reptile!

He appeared not to have a care in the world and didn’t seem to notice I was there. A few other people also stopped to get some photographs of him.

Did you know?

On Merritt Island (not near the Wildlife refuge), there is an alligator that lives under a car dealership. If you go car shopping there, they will proudly tell you about him and you can see him through a sewer grate if he’s around. (Don’t worry, he’s not in any danger or anything.)
The gator is the mascot for the University of Florida. His name is Albert.
I am not a Gator, but a Cane having received my masters from the University of Miami.
In Orlando, there is an attraction called Gatorland and it has an entrance shaped like an alligator’s head! (Unfortunately, I’ve never been there, but hopefully this will be corrected at some point in the future.)
Alligator in the Sun is available at Valerie’s Gallery at Zazzle, Red Bubble, Skreened and Imagekind

What’s your favorite subject to photograph? Let us know in the comments!

A huge thanks to Imagekind for promoting my piece, Maneki Neko Kitty Pop Art in a promotional email. Also, a huge thanks to Online Gift Ideas for promoting some of my Boss’s Day dinosaur items.

Here’s some more alligator and Florida artwork by talented artist for you to enjoy:

Florida Gator Head – Color Mug by UniversityofFlorida	Alligators. Mousepad by Animal_Art_By_Ali	Crocodile iPhone 5 Covers by TheBooth
Florida Lighthouse T-Shirt by FalconsEye	TEE Miami by teepossible	Florida Sunset Laptop Speakers by Florida_Living
Alligator Mouse Pad by idesigncafe	Outline drawing of young alligator tshirts by Cherylsart	A happy crocodile courier bags by greendeer
Funky pink Florida flamingo travel postcard by myworldtravels	Vintage Florida Postcard by vintage_gift_shop at Zazzle	Alligator in the Water Award by ValeriesGallery

Great Photography Spot: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Valerie — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 18:35:54 +0000

I’m lucky to live in a state like Florida which has interesting wild life, beautiful spaces and great places to take photographs. One of these places is the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is located in North Brevard County, which is on Florida’s east coast, near the Kennedy Space Center. There is an entrance in Titusville (located in Brevard County) and Oak Hill (located in Volusia County).

Alligator in the Water Canvas Prints by ValeriesGallery

The refuge is a great place to see wildlife! I’ve seen alligators, roseate spoonbills, herons and so much more! It’s really awesome to be able to see the animals in their natural habitat. I love the variety because nature and wildlife are some of my favorite things to photograph.

In addition to the hiking trails, I also recommend driving down Black Point Wildlife Drive. (There is a small fee, but it’s totally worth it!) There are several spots available to stop and observe the plant and wildlife. (And bonus, there’s also a public bathroom!)

Reddish Egret Poster by ValeriesGallery

The Merritt Island National Wildlife refuge is a great place for photographers and non photographers a like. I recommend going in the winter because the weather is beautiful then. (In the summer, not only is it brutally hot and muggy, you also have to worry about afternoon storms!)

Where are some places you like to take photographs? Share in the comments!

A big thanks to Goosebury for featuring my Bee on Sunflower Ornament on the Home Accents Blog.

And here’s some Florida inspired artwork from other artist you may enjoy!