Leucistic alligator
DMC-G85
Aperture 55/10 ISO 400 Shutter 10/1600 Focal Length 750/10 
Manteo, North Carolina, US
Nov, 2018Views
89
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Awards
People's Choice in Genetic Color Mutation In Animals Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Magnificent Capture
All Star
Categories
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was was taken in the Wild Wetlands exhibit at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island.Time
This was mid- to late morning in early November.Lighting
This exhibit area is indoors, with a skylight ceiling, so that the lighting is a combination of natural sunlight and artificial lighting, so that even the areas that weren't in direct sunlight had adequate illumination to allow for easy hand-held photography.Equipment
I shot this photo using my Lumix G85 mirrorless camera, with a Olympus 14-150mm zoom lens and an optical UV filter.Inspiration
We were spending a quiet week on the Outer Banks during the off season, and decided to visit the aquarium on Roanoke Island. While it is a small aquarium, it has some impressive exhibits, including an active sea turtle rescue program that is readily viewable by the visitors. This alligator is part of their Wild Wetlands exhibit, and is a rare white alligator. While it is (mostly) white, it is NOT an albino, but a rare leucistic specimen that includes pigmentation, but is white in color. I had never seen an alligator that looked like this, so I knew I wanted to capture an image. Luckily, the glass around the enclosure was low enough to allow me to shoot over the top of it, so I didn't have to worry about stray reflections, and I was able to frame my shot more easily.Editing
This image was shot using the "Expressive Color" digital filter active on my camera, but otherwise was not post-processed. This photo is directly out of the camera.In my camera bag
On a trip like this, where I am driving, I will have a bag of photo equipment in the car, including a tripod, extra lenses, and optical filters. However, I only took the camera with the zoom lens mounted into the aquarium, as I didn't expect that I would have much use for any other lens or any of my other filters, and tripods are generally not appreciated in such venues.Feedback
Museums, zoos, and aquariums can be challenging locations to get unobstructed shots. Often the most interesting exhibits are crowded, and patience is required to wait for a break in the crowds to allow for unobstructed views. These venues also often have subjects that are behind glass or fencing which can further complicate the shot. Paying attention to all of these details while framing your shot does take an effort, but if you take your time and focus on the details, you can get impressive photos.
