When trying to rehome unwanted dogs from the animal shelter, great photography is invaluable. But there are times when photographs alone fall short…

JoJo was one of the many Pitbull dogs that end up in animal shelters nationwide. His family fell on hard times and JoJo was surrendered by his owner on January 19, 2022. American Pitbull Terriers are gorgeous dogs. They are short and muscular and usually have a shiny, sort coat. But at times, they can appear too tough. That, coupled with their reputation as fighting dogs, can make it quite difficult to get them adopted into new homes.

JoJo was an older boy, and had that nice, wide Pitbull stance. He was quite handsome, but as he stared into the camera lens, the photos didn’t do a good job of portraying his soft side. We then had to stress in his written narrative that JoJo was a family dog. His owner said he loved kids and loved his toys. He would always wait out front yard for the children in his family to get off the school bus in the afternoon and romp and play with them until they had to go in for dinner and homework.
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Thankfully, his photographs and his touching narrative pulled the heart strings of a non-profit, no-kill rescue group. He safely left the animal shelter and on his way to a new home on January 26, 2022.

"Athena" as a pretty pitbull surrendered to the shelter that I photographed on January 20, 2022.

My eBird alert for a species I didn't have in Walton County went off! A Canvasback had been listed by several users at the Braswell Church Road cattle ponds hotspot, so I had to go hunt it down. Upon arrival, the ducks were all at such a distance I couldn't really see them clear. So I fired away and scanned the shots back at home. Luckily, I got the Canvasback! 

​There’s a big problem with doing photography for the local humane society animal shelter. The problem isn’t being attacked by a vicious dog, or catching rabies from an infected stray. The biggest problem is falling in love with the many dogs and cats that desperately need a new home.

“Rex” was one of those dogs that I could have taken home. He was  an absolutely gorgeous German Shepherd mixed with Golden Retriever. This gave him the stately body of a shepherd, and the golden coat and friendly personality of the a retriever. Although they had him for a few years, he was surrendered by his owner who said a family member had allergies (the #2 reason typically given). Oh well. Their loss, someone else’s gain!
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I did Rex’s outdoor adoption photos on January 13, 2022. He was quite comfortable and his photos were stunning. And the “icing on the cake” was a short video of him wagging his tail, sitting on command, and shaking hands! Almost immediately after posting his photos and video on the adoption website, he got three inquiries from rescues and was safely out of the shelter quite quickly! 

​How does someone give up a dog as awesome as “Hunter”? His owner said he was extremely loyal,  great with kids, a feisty player, and yet a calm cuddler. However, he still ended up homeless in the animal shelter when his owner said they were "moving and can't take him." I don’t know all their circumstances, but if I had to move, I’d find a way to take a great boy like “Hunter” with me!

Being a well-trained dog, it was a photographer’s delight to shoot Hunter. There was a little bit of anxiety from being separated from his owner shown in his eyes, but he was still quite photogenic. He made things quite easy. I said “sit”, and he sat! He wasn’t camera shy and struck some nice poses.
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Once his photo session was done, he was posted on the shelter’s website, as well as several national pet adoption websites. It didn't take long for someone to fall in love with this handsome boy’s photos and they came to meet him the next morning. He was adopted after just two days in the shelter! One owner’s loss, but a new adopter’s great joy! 

"Donavan" was a handsome, young American Bulldog and Pitbull mix that was picked up stray by an animal control officer and came to the animal shelter. He was already neutered and such a good boy that he'd sit on command. I did his adoption photographs and video on January 12, 2022 and he was rescued from the shelter two days later on January 14, 2022!

"Reagan" was an older Pointer mix breed dog picked up by an animal control officer on January 10, 2022. She was already spayed and had a microchip, but none of the information was current, so the shelter couldn't find her owner. I had the pleasure of doing her adoption photography on the chilly morning of January 12, 2022.

"Misty" was a pretty pitbull girl that was turned in to the animal shelter as a stray on January 4, 2022. I had the honor of doing her glamour shots on January 12. She was such a pretty girl and posed nicely for the camera. 

"Brownie" was a good-looking pitbull boy that was surrendered to the animal shelter by his owner on January 6, 2022. I got to do  his adoption photos on January 12, 2022.

In the northwestern corner of Phinizy Swamp, across the wooden bridge that crosses the oxbow lake marsh, is the "Equalization Pond". I assume it is a bit deeper water than the wetland cells, and therefore houses a variety of wildlife. There is always a fairly large gator or two out in the open and up close for some good photographs.
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A short wooden fence surrounds the pond and can obscure the banks. So you occasionally have to slow down and peer down over the fence along the water’s edge. On my last trip to Phinizy, I nearly passed by one large alligator. It was only several yards from me, but hidden by the fence and bank. Climbing up on the fence a bit, I was able to shoot down and get some great detail photographs of those water-tight crocodilian scales and armor. 

Phinizy Swamp Nature Park is a great place! Perhaps because I live over an hour away in Athens, I had no idea it even existed. But when I joined iNaturalist, I began seeing all kinds of great photographs being posted! Living in the Piedmont, I typically had to drive several hours to find some good wetlands habitat. I was happy to find this great place call Phinizy Swamp!   

On any visit, the long-legged waders are present. Ibis, herons, egrets and a variety of other waterfowl love the wetland cells. It is some great habitat for them. On my last January visit, it was definitely a gathering of the greats: Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons. There were dozens and dozens of stately white Great Egrets standing in marshes. The Great Blues were a bit more tricky to find, and in less abundance. 
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The Great Egret, Ardea alba, is found throughout the world in tropical or warm climes. Being all white and standing at 1 meter tall, it often stands out among the green reeds of the wetlands it inhabits. The Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias, is a bit taller, but its gray and blue coloration make it blend in with its surroundings a bit better. Both wade through the shallow marsh waters with their long legs hunting for a wide variety of food, including fish, snakes, frogs, dragonflies and crustaceans. With plenty of these prey items available as well, Phinizy Swamp is a great place for the gathering of the Greats! 

​Even though it was January, the forecast called for a warm day. The high at home was going to be 75, but over in Augusta it was to be a sunny 80 degrees! Perhaps this warm January day was going to be good for herping.

By the time I arrived, the clouds had burned off and the temperature was already rising. I knew I would soon regret my choice of a long-sleeved thermal shirt. A few hikers were already at the Phinizy Swamp Nature Center when I arrived.  And when I reached the first wetland cell hopes got even higher for a great ‘gator day. Right away I spotted three alligator laying on the marsh grasses in the sun.
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By the end of my 7.5 mile hike, I photographed over 20 alligators, eight snakes and many turtle. Human, bird and reptile alike were loving this warm, first of January spring like day! 

As I as leaving Phinizy Swamp after a 7.5 mile hike that took several hours, I was approaching the bridge over Butler Creek when I noticed a couple staring down into the waters below. “What did I miss?”, I asked. They pointed down below to a young Cottonmouth coiled on a cypress knee. “Thanks!”, I exclaimed as I fired off a few shots. I then began scanning the stumps and debris below to find another, no three… four… five total Cottonmouths! It seemed the 81 degree January day was being enjoyed by more than just the human hikers.
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The Northern Cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus, is a venomous snake often called a Water Moccasin in many areas. Like rattlesnakes, it is a pit viper, meaning it has two heat sensing pits near its nostrils. They are usually fairly thick snakes with a mostly brown coloration, and a pattern of crossbands that is more distinct in younger individuals. 

Right through the center of the Phinizy Swamp wetlands runs the distribution canal for the treated wastewater. This is typically a good place to get some close-up alligator action. There is a chainlink fence running both edges of the canal - I guess to keep people from falling in - but the large gaps underneath allow the gators to come and go.

While walking Phinizy Swamp on New Year's Day, I spotted a mighty big one on the opposite bank. Being a warm January day, with a previous week of cooler temps, this giant was enjoying the sun. I looped the southern end of the fenced canal and came up to where it lay basking in all glory. 

It kept its eye on me as I kept my eye on it. The gaps in the fence didn't offer much protection, but did allow some great close-up detail photographs of the large, white teeth, integumentary sense organs, vertically elliptical pupil, and panoply of armor - its scales, scutes and osteoderms. I have seen and photographed nearly 1,000 alligators, but they never fail to impress and captivate my attention.