Up Close and Personal

Gallery: WildlifePosted July 2, 2011162 views9 comments

I encountered this 4 1/2 foot Bull Snake at Cedar Canyon just south of Scottsbluff. He was warming himself and was not to anxious to get away from me. I was laying down on the ground with him and he poised very nicely for me.

Canon 30D
Sigma 17-70
Aperture Priority
Shutter 1/350
Aperture f13
ISO 320
70mm

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on July 2, 2011 at 11:42 PM

Wonderfully nice and clear and sharp view of this snake's tongue and head.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on July 3, 2011 at 12:15 AM

VERY cool!
Really like the tongue and head, and nice environment.
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Gaurav Manglik on July 3, 2011 at 12:22 AM

very nice dof and sharpness. The snake's tongue makes this really nice.

Registered on December 2, 2005, 191 Posts, 2126 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on July 3, 2011 at 2:47 AM

Excellent composition, love the extended tongue. His colors really suit that sunbaked earth.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on July 3, 2011 at 9:17 AM

Cool portrait Richard. A view you seldom see of a snake. Nice and sharp around the tongue and eye.
It looks like it has an attitude!

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on July 3, 2011 at 12:43 PM

Capturing the tongue out like this Richard strengthens this image a lot. I am amazed also how sharp that tongue came out at this relatively slow SS. The low angle of course is another key element in this image and the diagonal comp makes for a strong presentation. Two small things that could have improved this good image even further is better light (less harsh) and no shade across the eye, but understand that I am really being picky now

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on July 3, 2011 at 3:24 PM

I like the forked tongue and really nice comp on this bull snake Richard. I saw a very similar one laying in a dirt road warming itself yesterday. But I wasn't as fortunate.....as soon as I got out of the car, he freaked and took off.

BTW, great angle!

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

Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on July 3, 2011 at 11:56 PM

Killer Shot

Registered on October 25, 2009, 110 Posts, 835 Comments

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on July 5, 2011 at 11:19 PM

Hi Richard... I just commented on your more recent post, and now viewing this one I see what you mean about that tongue.

I think I like this one better - a little more distance from the snake seems to work nicely here.

Registered on February 26, 2011, 58 Posts, 313 Comments