Alligator mississippiensis. This 3-foot gator was small enough to be approachable but old enough to stand his ground and size me up as I moved in for a shot. I made a few exposures before he spooked and dove into the pond, but he was young and curious so he swam around behind me and climbed back up on the bank for another look. I called his bluff by circling back and moving in to get this shot from about 15 feet away. South of Broussard, Louisiana.