Mathematical silhouettes slither submerged,
(click to enlarge)
concealing cold calculus.
Silent, strategizing,
rate over distance, and time, always time.
Crocodile minds synchronized,
as they patiently wait to kill.
Even huge elephants know,
to give this tactician wide berth!
Cheers to you from the formidable and ecologically important, African Crocodiles~
This are some big, terrifying crocks.
Somehow I didn’t feel like swimming much in South Africa!
Oh man I can see why.
😉
Well designed to be very stealthy. The first picture looks eerie. The elephants did not seem to care though.
They watched, waited, and cut a generous path around him. They did not want a tete-a-tete!
Ah..
That’s maybe too close to a scary animal, but they still have a majesty about them.
I would agree this is a scary animal, but amazing to see none the less!
Terrific essay!
Thanks!
What a fantastic adventure, Cindy! So wonderful to “travel” with you … 🙂
Visa versa 2 U X 2!
🙂 <3
WOWZA – menacing clue
Math and crocodiles, not my favorite things!! 😉 😉
Stealthy . . . lethal . . . prehistoric.
Pretty amazingly designed killing creatures aren’t they!
Billions of years of design. Impressive but also frightening.
I guess you won’t swimming with them.
Leslie
Nay, it is not on my bucket list!!! 😉
Wise move Cindy.
Leslie
I guess they’re even older than mathematics, and even scarier. What a beautiful, haunting post, Cindy. I hope I don’t see them in my dreams.
Oooooh, I didn’t think of that. I hope you don’t, and if you do, just punch em in the nose….I hear this works with sharks!
wow…nature can be pretty amazing!
Yes indeed and in Africa it is on natural steroids!
Incredible photos, and I love the poem!
Awwww, thanks, very glad!
🙂
Gah…my internet won’t let me load any but the first of your photos right now, but I love your write-up already. That is a scary but neat beast!
My internet hasn’t worked for two days. I went to the library. Now I am back at The Holler and poof! It works. Go figure~
Yay! We have terrible satellite internet at home but we live in a rural area that hasn’t got any other option besides dial-up. It’s a pain, but a reasonable price to pay for country living. 🙂
That’s a very great analogy and the pictures are very nice as well.
Pleased you like the analogy, my statistician hubby did too!
Beautiful combination of thought, word and photos!
That made my night! Thank you~
Judging by your recent posts, you must be having the time of your life!!!
We are back at The Holler now, listening to the cows bellow instead of the hippos, and yes we did have the time of our lives!
Glad you’re back safe and sound, and super happy you had a great time. We’re off to Kuai on Sunday.
Oh, have a wonderful time! Hard not to in paradise~
We are back at The Holler now, but we truly did!
I love the chameleon picture – so awesome how they blend in.
I really couldn’t even see their heads! So eerie~
The elephants are wise to veer away and avoid confrontation with the cros! I love the way you put words to your photographs, telling a story as you go.
Your photos are great as always Cindy. I think I’ve asked you before about the make of camera you use because they are so sharp and clear; I’ve been trying to find your reply in old comments without success. I’m ready to buy a new camera, that’s why I’m curious to know what you use.
#cros should read crocs!
Laughing, I use the SonyHX400 which has 1200mm equivalent zoom. These shots were taken at maximum zoom~
Thanks Cindy, I will check it out. It seems a really good camera for quality photos.
Let me know what you think!
The A in Africa is for adventure. Great portraits Cindy, they capture their patience of hunters.
The patience and total lack of emotion is what struck me the most about them. And you are also right about the A in Africa!
Cindy, you are brave getting this close , to take pictures of them. They really frighten me. Thank you for sharing these beautiful and interesting images. Hugs! Veraiconica
Yes, they are a menacing animal, but I didn’t get close to them as I shot these pics with telephoto!
Cindy, I am you kept your distance. They look so scary. V.
What is that elephant standing on? A wall of some sort?
We don’t really know. It looked like it might once have been a bridge that maybe washed out in the terrible flood they had a few years ago.
More Cheetah. And Lions:)
An interesting navi-gator! ┏(►‿◄)┛
Laughing, he has gator GPS!
One of the reasons I only swim in rivers flowing west…. no crocs
Oooooh, who knew??? Not me, but I don’t think I would have goine swimming in a river anyway, not in South Africa!
Welcome home Cindy! <3 🙂 Such gorgeous images as usual! I think the top one and the middle one which features a croc basking on rocks are my favorites. Crocs have such visually interesting and alluring hides – all the curves, bumps, and ridges. It's no wonder that they're often the subject of art sculptures! ~Lynn
They are fascinating visually aren’t they! Like some sort of contemporary dinosaur~
Such wonderful adventures you have Cindy! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you more for appreciating!
Kriky! That’s a great set of croc photos! The elephants are wonderful, as well.
Nice crocodile! Sit. Stay. It didn’t seem to work….. 😉
You noticed! 🙂
I enjoyed the words even more than the photos!
Awwww, that makes me feet great. Thanks Emily~
It all adds up….to a superb post. 🙂
Awwwww, shucks ma’am, thank you Anne!
impressive
That is a good word for an crocodile!
Alas, there are always predators among us. Some slip through the waters, some fly while others stalk us on four legs or two. Great post Cindy! 🙂
Yep, and you and I have had too many dealings with the two legged kind in our careers my friend. At least the crocodile kind can be easily identified!
Cindy, I’m afraid some of mine were in my personal life as well. As you said, some are easily more recognisable.
That is rough and I am so sorry Lea. Hugs to you my friend~
Ah! The might of 2 majestic animals shown exquisitely! You are the best! 🙂
You and very kind and most appreciated!
Love this photographic story, Cindy! Well captured 🙂
Very pleased you enjoyed it Indah!
I sure would not want to tangle with a crocodile! Hugz Lisa and Bear
Even Bear would be leery of this guy!
I have never been ‘cheered’ by a crocodile before!
There is a first time for everything……Laughing! Since I am speaking for the crocogator I at least gave him some sense of manners! 😉
WOW, these are interesting, Cindy. 🙂
Crocs are interesting critters!
Wow! What superb photography Cindy. Surely, when in water, even elephants would need to be wary of this killing machine!
Is this in South Africa?
Shakti
Yes, this is Kruger National Park. I’m am sure the ellies could dispatch the crocogator, but why would they want too? They would get cut up……
They are scary creatures. Beautiful pictures!
They are pretty terrifying, particularly when they grab something big like a zeebra or wildebeast!
Makes a great poem too!
Thank you, albeit a tad ominous~
great photos as always, I just wish I could be there right now!
I wish you were too! I want to read about your adventures~
My life is the opposite of what an adventurous one sadly. I envy you 😛
Don’t, everyone’s life is a mixture of good and bad, mine included! But I am hoping some good adventures come your way my friend~ <3
Crocodiles look so artful, but such focus has to be admired. Have you ever read Roald Dahl’s children’s book, “The Enormous Crocodile”? When my granddaughter was about 9, she insisted I read it four times in succession one evening because the crocodile was so “bad and sneaky” she said! One of his ruses was to pose as a seesaw in a playground and wait for some children to come along so he could gobble them up.
Those are great photos, Cindy. You must have had to be as patient as the crocodile to capture such shots.
Oh I love that story. My son memorized the poem by Lewis Carrol “How Doth the Little Crocodile….” in elementary school. And of course Kipling’s, Elephant Child. “What does crocodile have for breakfast?”
“Today I’ll have an elephant’s child!”
These are critters that spark the imagination!
You are so brave Cindy, to come so close to those crocodiles to take photos of them. I’m happy to see the photos here, then I know, you still are alive 😀
I didn’t really get close to them at all and I wouldn’t. Crocodiles are irritable and fast! I agree, best viewed from a distance!
I didn’t get close to them! They are way too fast and aggressive. Much better viewed from a safe distance. I do appreciate your kind concern though my friend! <3
I’m happy that you kept a good distance Cindy 🙂
I’m guessing you weren’t tempted to give him a pet?! How close did you actually get? Thank goodness for telephoto lenses.
I didn’t get close at all. They were always in a river or bank and I was always on some sort of viewing platform or safe place. I would not want to get close to one of these guys.
They’re magnificent photos and I’m glad you didn’t have to wrastle one of them for the photo.
Laughing, I think they only wrestle alligators in Florida. And when they do, I feel sorry for the alligators!
awesome picture of the gator (you are braver than I !)- I love the photos of the elephants. They really are majestic aren’t they?
Yes, and so peaceful and co-operative. We could learn a thing or two from elephants!
I am sure we can learn much from all animals – they are amazing. You always capture their beauty.
El cocodrilo acecha a su víctima. La primera foto es impresionante por lo poco que se ve del cocodrilo y por lo mucho que transmite. 😉
Son bastante un animal formidable y muy en acecho en silencio y yo queríamos convery esta amenaza. Muy contentos que haya disfrutado de mi amigo y gracias!
Just beautiful subject and photography😎😀😃🐲🐊
You are very kind and I am most appreciative!
For some reason I love dem gators☺️😉😊😀😄😸💘
They love you too…..but in a different way!! 😉 😉 Which is why it is always nice to view them from a distance! 🙂
Cindy, These photos are spectacular. You are such an amazing photographer and bring the world to us. We see the most amazing parts of the world due to your willingness to share. Thank you.
I am so fortunate to have met you Sheri. I am blown away by your honesty and your intellect. You are an important friend~
Right back at you my friend.
powerful post Cindy! well the powerful part was the words you used to intro the shots – really cool the way you did that – and nice shots too. 🙂
Awwwww, that is so nice of you and most encouraging too! Thank you~
🙂 have a nice weekend
Living dinosaurs! Pretty scary, too! 😉
On Wed, Jun 10, 2015 at 8:34 PM, WordPress.com wrote:
> cindy knoke posted: ” Mathematical silhouettes slither submerged, > concealng cold calculus. Silent, strategizing, rate over distance, and > time, always time. Crocodile minds all synchronized, as they patiently wait > to kill. Even huge”
They are spooky crocogators, much meaner than their alligator cousins!
Great shots of the calculating and strategizing submarines 🙂 I hope to capture a few shots of his American cousins this weekend.
Oooooh, can’t wait to see them! I saw some in Everglades National Park when we zipped around by air boat! They have been so over hunted, it was thrilling to see them. I hope you get some good clicks~
I hope too ~
I just love that first photo (the others are great as well).
Awww, thank you. The first photo captures their surreptitious, stalking behavior, which is so menacing to watch! So glad I never saw them get a grazer!
I always admired the way they slid down into the river when we were passing in a river boat. 🙂 –Curt
Yes, a sight one likes to see, from a LARGE boat! 😉
Wow!! Awesome photos Cindy!! I would give them a very wide berth!!
Yep, I did not want to get to know up close and personal!
What a beauty!!! I am glad that I am not near the water with them through 😉
No way, you should see how cautious the Impala are when they come down to the river to drink!
Amazing prehistoric creatures Cindy. Over here they are a protected species as they were being hunted to extinction in the early 1900’s. Now they have recovered so fast they are almost in plague proportions up north. Because they are top of the food chain…
Do you remember this post I did? https://pommepal.wordpress.com/2012/09/02/jumping-crocs/
I do remember this post! Jumping Crocagators is enough to give me indigestion! Salt water crocs in particular can be very aggressive! Great photos you got of these incredible creatures~
They can also run very fast over short distances…
And they can move so freakin’ fast! Fabulous photos! 🙂
They can and they are quite aggressive to boot!
What extraordinary photos of an amazing place. Thanks for sharing with all of us.
Thank you more for the kind appreciation~ <3
you’re brilliant!
I wish…… <3
Very scary indeed.I love the first shot – the crocodile version of the sharks fin…yikes!
Spooky creature. I can’t even imagine encountering one in the water……
Excellent pictures Cindy, the ones of the Crocodiles are great, that first picture was beautifully captured by the photographer, it says a lot about the creature, stealth and calculating.
Ian
Well thank you. I did like it and I have another I took of the same gator with less zoom with the thatched roof place we were staying in the back. It has a spooky effect with the gator just this little pencil in the very still river. I meant to include it, but actually forgot which is annoying.
Excellent!
Thanks & much appreciated!
I’d have checked the Like button, Cindy, but who can really “like” crocodiles?!? Watch out, Ellies!
Yes, laughing! I can relate to this dilemma completely! 😉
We have bears, cougar and gardner snakes in western WA. That’s enough for me. Thank you for sharing with us. Amazing.
Yes, I have issues with rattlesnakes. I can’t even imagine running into a croc in the backyard!
Love the abstract quality of the top shot.
Very much appreciate you noticing and commenting!
Great shots and definitely sinister.
“Click to enlarge” – No thanks, the crocks are quite big enough, Ta.
http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/scared/scared0016.gif
Chuckling…..what would I do without comments and icons from you Graham. I would lose laughter. Not good…….
Thank you.
I heard a rumour that there is a suggestion box somewhere about what people would like to do because of the comments/icons. I’m not looking into it. 😀
Catchy title and analogy, Cindy. That first picture is brilliant.
Awwww, thanks for noticing Lynne. I am still thinking about your train trip post. Remarkable!
Danger lurks in the Complex field of life…
Yes indeed. Great to hear from you and hope all is well with you my friend~
Wonderful photos, Cindy, and a suspenseful tale too! 🙂
Thanks ma’ deah & Happy Friday!
Ew! However, an exotic ew, not including the elephants.
Yes, eeeeeeewwwwww is acceptable!! Happy Friday Resa~ 😉
Yes… Friday, but in my current world there is no Friday, Saturday or Sunday. 3 weeks left to go & then I will have those days back in my life. SIGH!
Oh dear! Sounds intense and demanding, but hopefully you’re enjoying it. Your doing costume design for a Canadian show right?
I’m always amazed at the sites I find when I visit Cindy. Wow, they are menancing looking. My love a swimming would take a holiday on this holiday, eeeek!
Yes, river swimming in South Africa may not be on your bucket list!
Partecipi al film ? send your video?
I don’t have a video. Sorry. It sounds like an awesome project!
Oh! these are quite terrifying…. !!
Yes, crocodiles are just that!
schöne Aufnahmen und sie sehen so harmlos aus, liebe Cindy, wünsche schönen Samstag, Klaus
Sie sehen harmlos beim Schlafen! Wenn sie wach sind sie sind beangstigend! 😉
glaube ich
<3
Amazing clicks.. Amazing……Always loved your blog.
And I love yours! <3
Thank you so much! <3
Beautiful Pictures, thank you very much Cindy….💗💗💗
Thank you for the appreciation!
🙂 💗 🙂 💗 🙂
For me crocodiles are somewhat scary…
…but I really like your elephants.
Greet photos!
Yes, elephants are much more approachable!
Hi Cindy…Fantastic Photography—Thanks for sharing with us! Wishing you days of Gentle winds—Soft curves and Wonder…Phil
Awwwwww, visa versa 2 U X 2! <3
liebe Grüße, Klaus
<3 <3
danke dir
Your photos grab me and yet, your way with words fascinates me. You use such great combinations, Cindy!
I feel just the same about you Robin. Cheers & thanks my friend~
liebe Cindy, schöne Woche, Klaus
Schone Woche mein Freund!
danke
It sounds like those elephants are a lot smarter than some tourists in Australia’s Top End who seem to go swimming in water holes despite signs warning about the croc’s. Most of the are certainly no Steve Irwin or Crocodile Dundee!
Wow, that kinda boggles the mind. Hard to imagine why they would do this!
Surely they are related to sharks. They have the same look in their eye.
They do don’t they!
I do think you can see the killer in the eyes. *Shiver*
I like them. It is a tough life being a short-legged reptile. I wouldn’t make friends with them though 🙂 Thank you for sharing your beautiful photographs!
Thank you for liking the crocodile! He needs a friend!
Those gators are smooth in the way that they navigate. Eh?
And – those eles need to get movin’ a little faste.
Run eles, run!
I think the ellies could whoop the croc but they probably don’t want to get bit. Smart ellies and smart croc!
Starlight, star bright first star I see tonight….. Congratulations, I have nominated your blog for the Starlight Award. Click this link for the details: https://rebirthoflisa.wordpress.com/2015/06/15/starlight-award/
Awwww, so kind of you and so appreciated too! Thank you~
You are very welcome
Ha ! Cold crocodilian calculus ‘n’ reptilian ‘rithmatic, Cuz. Dem ellies aced math fo’ sure !!! 🙂
I bet there isn’t even one poem ‘en ’em! 😉
OMG amazing stuff Cindy. You are blessed. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you more for your kind appreciation!
Do any of us have any idea of just where the balance is
Hmmmmm……I don’t~
Crocodiles are truly mesmerizing animals… Great to see this wonderful gallery, dear Cindy.
All my best wishes! Aquileana :star:
They are fascinating and primordial creatures aren’t they!
Absolutely!!!! … Have a joyful weekend, dear Cindy! Aquileana 😀
Thank you Cindy for visiting my blog.
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