Fakahatchee Cottonmouth

Gallery: WildlifePosted November 16, 2009406 views17 comments

I almost didn't want to post this. Reason being- I want to avoid the argument about how these snakes are aggressive and chase you down and so on...

Anyway, This BIG beautiful cottonmouth was one of four that I saw in the Fakahatchee strand, here in South Florida. Of all the cottonmouths I have ever seen, three of these four were larger than any that I have encountered in the wild. The colors on these guys were nice also. They seem to retain their banding and golden coloration well into adulthood, unlike their northern counterparts.
If these were as aggressive as people make them out to be, my buddy, Paul would have a screwed up right leg right now. He was well within strike distance when I spotted it. I'd also have a pretty scarred face right now. No crop to this image. This individual was easily 46 inches long.

Comments and critiques welcomed

Canon 40D
Sigma 100-300mm EX f/4
36mm Kenko extension tube
ISO 500
1/125 sec @ f/5.6

I shot this back in May

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on November 16, 2009 at 9:47 PM

haven't seen a post from you in a while Rick. Nice to see soe work from you again! Love the scales, eye and colors on this Cottonmouth. My dad used to swim in ponds in Missouri with these guys all the time, so I agree with you about the aggresiveness of this species.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on November 16, 2009 at 10:34 PM

Beautiful photo - I wish there were a larger version to view. This is a similar to a snake photo I took which is in my portfolio where I (accidentally) used some OOF grass to "frame" the shot as you did here which I think gives a great effect, especially for something that is usually seen as nasty and evil. It really seems to "soften" it up for me.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on November 17, 2009 at 1:11 AM

Pretty impressive and a lovely image. Nice color, which I think are a bit more effective with the OOF green focus areas surrounding the warm tones of the head.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on November 17, 2009 at 9:26 AM

Hey Rick,

Wow - lucky this guy didn't chase you down and eat you!

Just kidding - I know virtually nothing about the behaviour of these creatures...

I really like this shot - very nice use of selective focus coupled with a thin depth of field. I'm a bit conflicted over the brightness of the greens - part of me thinks they're so bright and vivid that they detract from the subject, but the other part of me thinks they add real punch to the shot (and the selective focus is done so well that the eye isn't confused about where to go at all). Compositionally the image works well for me too.

Cheers...thanks for sharing this...and good to see you back posting in the Fauna Gallery...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Domm on November 17, 2009 at 12:35 PM

Beautiful photograph of a beautiful animal. Excellent composition, I especially like the snakes body in the lower foreground.

Registered on July 2, 2009, 17 Posts, 81 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on November 17, 2009 at 1:25 PM

He sure does not look too friendly Rick. Excellent detail captured and great use of selective focus.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Barry R. Byrd on November 17, 2009 at 9:48 PM

Well done Rick, the color and clarity are great- I've shot lots of rattlesnakes and never had a problem- don't know about cottonmouths.

I have been chased a couple times by copperheads when I was young and dumb, as opposed to now when I'm old and dumb

Registered on December 20, 2005, 136 Posts, 970 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on November 17, 2009 at 10:14 PM

I knew he was there, just testing you to see if you would let me die. I might try playing with the tone of the greens, I'm with Brad on this. I wouldn't darken them but just try more yellow or more cyan and see if they mesh better. Better than any of mine form this session for sure.

Registered on November 27, 2007, 250 Posts, 2468 Comments

Comment posted by Nilanjan Das on November 17, 2009 at 10:25 PM

This is outstanding, easily one of the most beautiful reptile images that I have seen :)

Registered on June 5, 2008, 94 Posts, 383 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on November 18, 2009 at 1:32 AM

I love snakes, and your beautiful image shows just why they are so lovable! Great low angle and amazing clarity!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on November 18, 2009 at 2:14 PM

I love that eye and that little tiny piece of green vegetation on his cheek. The low perspective is incredible. He does seem to be watching you.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on November 19, 2009 at 10:16 AM

I think this is a really special shot. I especially like the mirror-like eye reflections. I think this would present well, printed big, and if you do so you might consider slightly darkening that brighter spot just in front of the face. Great capture.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Gomez on November 19, 2009 at 10:52 PM

Thanks for pointing that out, Lon... Will do!

Registered on March 3, 2007, 206 Posts, 1853 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on November 23, 2009 at 11:52 PM

Just marvelous - perfect dof, tack-sharp, great comp, and complimentary BG.
Congrats on the EP!
Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Gomez on November 28, 2009 at 12:36 PM

Sweet! Thanks for the EP!

Registered on March 3, 2007, 206 Posts, 1853 Comments

Comment posted by Angela Classen on November 29, 2009 at 7:08 PM

Not being a snake lover, it almost gives me chills...the details are so clear and sharp, I almost feel like it's going to pop out of my monitor

Congrats on the EP

Registered on June 13, 2007, 434 Posts, 2742 Comments

Comment posted by Buck Ward on December 1, 2009 at 10:09 PM

A marvelous portrait of a handsome creature. Nicely done.

I've come across cottonmouths in habitat similar to Fakahatchee and I've not seen the stories of aggressiveness borne out. More than once, I would have been bitten by a cottonmouth seen after it had plenty of opportunity to strike. They do not flee, though, as other species of snakes do.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 96 Posts, 1917 Comments