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The Difference Between, REPOST
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The Difference Between, REPOST

by Craig Strand

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted September 2, 20111,012 views18 comments
WC 498 Just the right moment.
Just the right moment can be the difference between being "A snake in the grass or a Lump in someone's throat!" see Larger view

REPOSTED ADDITIONAL PHOTO'S AND COMMENTARY, scroll down


Ridgefield Nat'l Wildlife Refuge
canon 7D
canon 600mm f4.0

Comments

18 comments
Comment posted by Verdon on September 2, 2011 at 10:47 PM
a-mazing both images, congrats to both of you, great catch :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments
Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on September 3, 2011 at 1:39 AM
Wow, I've never seen a heron try to eat a snake! Awesome images!
Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on September 3, 2011 at 2:29 AM
Craig, I remember these 2 excellent shots!
Perfect for the theme this week!
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on September 3, 2011 at 10:49 AM
Outstanding (both images).
Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by RL Potts on September 4, 2011 at 12:44 AM
The second image is pretty amazing. Good call on using larger image for this.
Registered on November 24, 2003, 188 Posts, 985 Comments
Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on September 4, 2011 at 1:39 AM
Great shot– lots of curves and curls makes this a twister, and adds lots of interest. You're sure amassing lots of first class photos from Ridgefield. Congrats on fine results from lots of hard work, uh, er… FUN!
Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments
Comment posted by Craig Myers on September 4, 2011 at 2:25 AM
Reminds me of those ads for TUMS: "Is your food fighting you?" The mind boggles at how the first image ever evolved to the second. Both are terrific, but the second is terrific-er. :biggrin:
Registered on September 1, 2008, 85 Posts, 757 Comments
Comment posted by Varina Patel on September 4, 2011 at 4:07 PM
Wow! That's just incredible! I loved the first shot... and then I saw the second one! Fantastic!
Registered on August 22, 2008, 45 Posts, 1578 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Olsen on September 4, 2011 at 11:25 PM
Awsome pair of photos that tell a great story! #2 is over the top!!
Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on September 5, 2011 at 7:24 PM
Man, that second shot is fantastic and the first one is terrific. Great capture! I'm with Craig in wondering how the intermediate action occurred.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Craig Strand on September 5, 2011 at 7:51 PM
Since you asked, the action that took place between these two "Beginning and Ending" shots was the most interesting. This Great Blue Heron was standing in the water at the very edge of a slough at the refuge. Looking for a meal, he walked the waters edge and at the grassy banks edge he found several garter snakes. I couldn't see them in the grass because of the slope and grasses, I think the snakes must have been huddled together to keep warm. Refuge rules at this time of year require no exiting of vehicles so I shot several images out my window while the GBH plucked at least 4-5 snakes from the grass. His technique was to eventually swallow the tail first and then keep swallowing. This particular snake was a real challenge as he had completely swallowed it 3-4 times and then he would bend down to take a drink of water, open his mouth and this snake would reappear out of his mouth, usually only able to exit for a few inches. Posted here is an even better image with the snake out again from the far side of his mouth and curled up and over the beak, leaving the snake and heron staring at each other "eye to eye!" I would love to know what was going thru the snakes little mind at this point.
If interested, their are additional Heron vs Snake photo's on my website, use the search tool and enter Great Blue Heron.
Thanks for your comments! Craig
Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments
Comment posted by Craig Strand on September 5, 2011 at 7:53 PM
One more that I like!
Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments
Comment posted by Craig Myers on September 5, 2011 at 9:56 PM
Craig,

Thanks for the updated posts and information. This is really a fascinating series.

Craig
Registered on September 1, 2008, 85 Posts, 757 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on September 7, 2011 at 1:05 AM
Congrats on a fine WP!
This series is one of very excellent images, and I've never seen anything like this captured so well.
Really exceptional !!.
:toast:
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on September 7, 2011 at 9:12 AM
Craig, this series is AWESOME! Great job capturing this and telling us this story through these images.
Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Olsen on September 8, 2011 at 1:07 PM
Congrats on the WP!! Well deserved!
And thanks for posting the additional photos of the series. Very entertaining!
:toast:
Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on September 8, 2011 at 4:57 PM
Congrats Craig, great series! :toast: :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on September 9, 2011 at 11:18 AM
Wonderful series, Craig. Congratulations! That second one is just awesome.
:toast: :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments