23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Black bayou at dusk in Monroe, Louisiana

I like to go quarterly and document the lily pad growth. I see alligators frequently. This 8ft alligator was resting right above me. I watched him sink down and rise up periodically and waited for the perfect shot. Lily pads were sparse in comparison to last October.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2025
Date Uploaded: 10.2025
Photo Location: Monroe, Louisiana, United States of America
Camera: iPhone 15 Pro
Copyright: © Anna-Marie Weis