The Fresh Water Crocodile

Get low, keep your distance and try not to get chewed.

In 2022 I set off in my Landcruiser for 12 months to chase a passion for wildlife photography. Armed with a camera, a zoom lens I wanted to capture beautiful shots of Australian wildlife. We have some unique wildlife here in Australia, I’ve seen rhinos in Nepal and giraffes in Kenya however I have a real soft spot for Australian animals and wanted to dedicate a year to witnessing them in their natural habitat.

Up in the North West of Australia we have the Kimberly Region and unlike the southern parts of Australia (where I live) the northern parts have some animals that make you cautious around the waters edge.

Exposure Notes - ISO 160 | 400mm | f / 5.6 | 1/400 sec

Although this isn’t the much larger and more intimidating Salt Water Crocodile these Fresh Water Crocodiles are considered relatively safe, providing you’re not doing something stupid. Once when I was in Lawn Hill (Queensland) the day before I arrived, I learnt of a man who had his hand chewed on by a freshie after approaching it in the water for a photo. Silly games silly prizes?

Here’s my favourite photo of a Fresh Water Crocodile taken in Bandilngan (Windjana Gorge) National Park, Western Australia. So much so that I have it printed and framed in a 1m wide print right above my office area.

I think if I had one bit of advice for budding photographers, or anyone taking photos. Get down to the level of the subject you’re trying to capture. Whether it’s photos of your kids, pets or wildlife simply taking a photo from eye level looking down can make quite a flat image. Where as getting down low can give what might be a yawn worthy image a great deal of depth