 Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Close up photography of an American Alligator head in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. November. The tall tales told throughout the generations have made the American Alligator out to be a fearsome beast ready to spring out of a dark bog and drag you under to a watery grave. Granted, they are apex predators- and large ones at that! But after paddling nearby hundreds and hundreds of alligators, I have yet to be assailed by a gator. Their most common reaction to human presence is to head for water and submerge. On occasion, some alligators will be quite tolerant of a close approach. This is particularly true in fall and early spring when the night air is chilly and the sun shines the following morning. No cold-blooded reptile can resist a good bask in the sun when the opportunity presents itself. Once they find a warm perch, they are quite hesitant to jump back into those cold waters. This presents an opportunity for some close up, detailed photographs. Focus in on individual scales, or perhaps a foot or claw. Shoot the epidermal ridges, or the details in the eye. Get close and zoom in.  Close up photography of an American Alligator foot and scales in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. November 12, 2021. But with that being said, don’t be stupid. The alligators laying around in the sun in parks and refuges aren’t tame animals. As with any animal, there is an invisible diameter around the critter that they don’t want you to enter. Push your luck, and you just might end up a part of a gator story or news article! Paddling between Kingfisher Landing and Double Lakes; Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.  Fellow iNaturalist photographer Dan LaVorgna gets some closeup shots of a basking gator reluctant to plunge in the cool water. Red trail from Kingfisher Landing in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.  A close iPhone photo of a basking gator reluctant to plunge in the cool water. Red trail from Kingfisher Landing in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.
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Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Panoramic view of Grand Prairie from the Swamp Island Drive Boardwalk Trail observation tower. Suwannee Canal Recreation Area; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Wildlife photography along the Swamp Island Drive Boardwalk Trail in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. March 6, 2021.  Southern Cricket Frog, Acris gryllus, on a lily pad in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Chesser Island Boardwalk Trail hiking.  Pickerelweed aquatic plant, Pontederia, rising above tannin blackwater of the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA. Photographed near Big Water Lake along the Middle Fork Suwannee River.  Pickerelweed aquatic plant, Pontederia, rising above tannin blackwater of the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA. Photographed near Big Water Lake along the Middle Fork Suwannee River.  Sleepy Barred Owl with eyes closed perched on a Spanish Moss covered branch along Okefenokee Swamp Boardwalk Trail, Georgia USA. Swamp Island Drive nature trail. Strix varia is know by swampers as the Deer Owl or Hoot Owl.  Sleepy Barred Owl with eyes closed perched on a Spanish Moss covered branch along Okefenokee Swamp Boardwalk Trail, Georgia USA. Swamp Island Drive nature trail. Strix varia is know by swampers as the Deer Owl or Hoot Owl.  Sleepy Barred Owl with eyes closed perched on a Spanish Moss covered branch along Okefenokee Swamp Boardwalk Trail, Georgia USA. Swamp Island Drive nature trail. Strix varia is know by swampers as the Deer Owl or Hoot Owl. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Ridge of tranverse rows of epidermal scutes along the back of an American Alligator. Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA. Photographed along the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area. Since it was my daughter's first visit to the eastern entrance at the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area, we took the guided boat tour. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. March 6, 2021. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message Friday - our return trip from Big Water down the Middle Fork Suwannee River continues. This is the leg between mile marker 24 and 25... The section between mile markers 25 and 26... - Sunny, with a high near 72, with a low around 48. Northeast wind 3 to 7 mph. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Large American Alligator swimming in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Canoe wildlife photography trip along the Middle Fork Suwannee River between mile marker 24 and the Big Water overnight canoe shelter. Friday, 11:00 AM - after packing up camp and loading our canoe, we made the five hour return trip back down the Middle Fork Suwannee River (red trail). It was another clear, beautiful sunny day and many, many alligators were emerging from the waters along the way. - Sunny, with a high near 72, with a low around 48. Northeast wind 3 to 7 mph. There are other inhabitants of the great Okefenokee, but the alligator is by far the most obvious spectacle.
Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message
I love alligators. I love photography. So there’s nothing I love more than alligator photography! ​
Large American Alligator basking on a log at the Big Water overnight canoe shelter; Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia USA. Scales and epidermal scutes visible. Okefenokee Swamp is a blackwater swamp wetlands habitat on the Georgia Florida border, USA.
Huge, intimidating, armored beasts all decked out in bony spikes and dark leather – they are the rock stars of the reptile world! And I'm the paparazzi that follows them. What exhilarating photo subjects (sure beats baby photography!). Most of the time the gators lay there or slowly slide into the swamp water as you pass by. But occasionally they will make a dramatic, thrashing dive just to emphasize the super stars they really are.
The alligators in this video were found along the Middle Fork Suwannee River in the middle of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge on May 5, 2021. My daughter is in the back of our canoe operating the trolling motor while I sit in the bow for a premium show as we glide through the tannin blackwater of this great Swamp. ​
Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  River Cooter Turtle, Pseudemys concinna, basking on a log in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA. Photographed near Big Water Lake along the Middle Fork Suwannee River. Friday, 2:20 PM - Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Paddling southward between mile markers 28 and Minnie's Lake. - Sunny, with a high near 72, with a low around 48. Northeast wind 3 to 7 mph.  River Cooter Turtle, Pseudemys concinna, basking on a log in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA. Photographed near Big Water Lake along the Middle Fork Suwannee River. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Large American Alligator basking on a log at the Big Water Lake; Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia USA. Friday, March 5, 2021 - Okefenokee Swamp Suwannee River Middle Fork between Mile Marker 26 and Minnie's Lake. The southbound return trip to Stephen C Foster campground after a night at the Big Water canoe shelter. - Sunny, with a high near 72, with a low around 48. Northeast wind 3 to 7 mph.  Large American Alligator basking on a log at the Big Water Lake; Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia USA. Spatterdock Lily Pads and Maidencane swamp ecosystem. Okefenokee Swamp is a blackwater swamp wetlands habitat on the Georgia Florida border, USA.  Large American Alligator basking on cypress log on Big Water Lake with mouth gaping gular throat pouch, showing teeth. Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is a blackwater swamp wetlands habitat on the Georgia Florida border, USA.  Young Little Blue Heron hiding in Cypress Swamp. Egretta caerulea is a small wading bird like an egreat. Birding in Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, a blackwater swamp wetlands habitat on the Georgia Florida border, USA.  Young Little Blue Heron hiding in Cypress Swamp. Egretta caerulea is a small wading bird like an egreat. Birding in Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, a blackwater swamp wetlands habitat on the Georgia Florida border, USA.
Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message
Young Cottonmouth viper found crossing the road while bike riding on The Sill Recreation Area; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.
The creatures come out at night... Well, in the Okefenokee Swamp they are out in the day as well! But night time wildlife hunting can be a whole new area of fun. ​
After a full day of paddling, it is good to stretch the legs. My daughter and I first walked a bit around the Stephen C Foster State Park campground, but then jumped on our bikes for a sixteen mile round trip ride out to The Sill Recreation Area. I had shown her some posts from other iNaturalist users finding Cottonmouths crossing the road at night and she wanted to be a part! After a long ride to the Sill, our efforts were rewarded!
Brilliant star-scapes over the Okefenokee Swamp. Stephen C Foster is a certified Dark Sky Park.
The long stretch of Hwy 177 dead-ends at the Stephen C Foster State Park on the western side of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.
Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Early morning waning gibbous moon hangs over the Big Water overnight camping platform shelter in the Okefenokee Swamp. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Friday, March 5, 2021 - a beautiful, calm and peaceful blue sky awakened us after a good night's sleep at the Big Water shelter. A waning gibbous moon hung in the sky as the sun rose over the cypress and Spanish Moss in the east. A few visitors greeted us on the canoe platform, including two alligators. Perhaps these were the two we saw slink off the platform and into the water when we arrived the previous evening.  Sunrise at the Big Water overnight camping shelter in the Okefenokee Swamp.  Big Water overnight camping platform shelter in the Okefenokee Swamp. Camping is by permit reservation only. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.  Tall Bald Cypress Trees and Spanish Moss at the Big Water overnight camping platform shelter in the Okefenokee Swamp. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.
 American Alligator lurking in the swamp water at the Big Water overnight camping platform shelter in the Okefenokee Swamp. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Large American Alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, swimming in dark tannin swamp water near spatterdock lily pads, Golden Club and Maidencane. Photographed on the Middle Fork Suwannee River in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia and Florida, USA. Friday, March 5, 2021 - return trip from overnight on the Big Water shelter. Middle Fork Suwannee River between mile marker 28 and Billy's Lake.  Young alligator basking in the sun on a moss covered log in a cypress swamp. Alligator mississippiensis. Photographed on the Middle Fork Suwannee River in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia and Florida, USA.  Golden Club Neverwet plant, Orontium aquaticum, with flowers in the swamp. Photographed paddling on the Middle Fork Suwannee River canoe kayak trail in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia and Florida, USA.  Large American Alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, swimming in dark tannin swamp. Photographed on the Middle Fork Suwannee River in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia and Florida, USA.  Large American Alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, swimming in dark tannin swamp. Photographed on the Middle Fork Suwannee River in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia and Florida, USA. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Large American Alligator basking on a log gaping throat pouch; Big Water Lake, Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia USA. From naturalist Francis Harper’s journal during his first visit to the Okefenokee Swamp in May 1912:
Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Eyes of American Alligator visible above the blackwater of the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA. Photographed near Billy`s Lake along the Suwannee River. The relatively swift downstream current of the Middle Fork Suwannee River brought us all the way back south to Billy's Lake in less than five hours. We entered Billy's Lake about 3:30 under full sun (which typically makes for poor photography). Amanda moved the canoe along fairly swiftly as I scanned left and right to shoot any and every gator I saw. - Sunny, with a high near 72, with a low around 48. Northeast wind 3 to 7 mph.  Eyes of American Alligator visible above the blackwater of the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA. Photographed near Billy`s Lake along the Suwannee River.  River Turtle, Pseudemys concinna. Paddling canoe along Suwannee River Canal; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  American Alligator along the Suwannee River Middle Fork canoe trail; Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Thursday, 11:15AM to 12:40PM - at the junction of Billy's Lake and the Suwannee River Middle Fork (red canoe trail), we turned our canoe northward. The cypress trees close in and form a narrow channel through the swamp.
 American Alligator along the Suwannee River Middle Fork canoe trail; Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.  American Alligator along the Suwannee River Middle Fork canoe trail; Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.  Large American Alligator swimming in tannin blackwater swamp. Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Suwannee River Middle Fork, red canoe trail, between Billy`s Lake and Minnie`s Lake.  Large American Alligator swimming in tannin blackwater swamp hiding in the Spatterdock green lilly pads. Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Suwannee River Middle Fork, red canoe trail, between Billy`s Lake and Minnie`s Lake.  Large American Alligator swimming in tannin blackwater swamp hiding in the Spatterdock green lilly pads. Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Suwannee River Middle Fork, red canoe trail, between Billy`s Lake and Minnie`s Lake.  Large American Alligator swimming in tannin blackwater swamp hiding in the Spatterdock green lilly pads. Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Suwannee River Middle Fork, red canoe trail, between Billy`s Lake and Minnie`s Lake.  Large River Cooter turtle, Pseudemys concinna, basking in the swamp waters of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Paddling north on the Suwannee River Middle Fork red trail.  American Alligator swimming submerged in the swamp showing only eyes, near green lily pads. Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Suwannee River Middle Fork, red canoe trail, between Billy`s Lake and Minnie`s Lake. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Stumps of Cypress trees remain throughout the Okefenokee Swamp from extensive logging operations and clearcuts from the Hebard Logging Company in the 1920s. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Paddling north on the Suwannee River Middle Fork red trail. As beautiful as the Okefenokee Swamp is today, I can only imagine the grandeur of the pristine beauty prior to the logging of the early 1900’s. It has been nearly 100 years since the logging took place, but the scars of wide scale timber removal remain to this day. Many of the cypress have been growing back since the saws were silenced, but I do not think we see what the early explorers and swampers saw in the 1800’s.
In his book Mammals of the Okefinokee Swamp published in 1927, naturalist Francis Harper wrote, “This was doubtless one of the most magnificent stands of cypress in the country, many of the trees towering to a height of about 100 feet, and having a diameter of more than a yard above the swollen base.” If the post-exploitation Okefenokee can hold such magnificence today, one can only imagine what it would have been to step foot in the towering cypress cathedrals of yesterday. But as long as we continue to preserve this national treasure, future generations won’t have to use their imagination. Cypress grow slowly, but they do grow! One day. |
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In December 1993 I came to know the Designer and Creator of this wonderful planet and its creatures: Jesus Christ.
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