Indian cobra!

Gallery: WildlifePosted September 27, 2011173 views7 comments

The cobra, with the Russell's viper, the krait and the saw-scaled viper form the Big Four of India's venomous snakes. There are other poisonous snakes, too, but these four account for most human deaths. It is believed that some murderers use these snakes to carry out their dirty work, though these tales are unsubstantiated! There are tales about how one of these snakes is hurled through the open window onto the intended victim, and when the startled snoozer wakes up in a frenzy, he invariably gets bitten by the snake. If such tales are indeed true, I don't think even CSI (Miami, Las Vegas, NY, etc) can solve them!
Species: Indian cobra (Naja naja)
Location: Near Bangalore, India
Date: September, 2011
Equip: Canon 1D Mlll, Canon 300 f2.8 lens
Specs: ISO 400, f5.6, 1/2500s, hand-held, standing near the snake

Thank you for taking the time out to look, and for your comments/critiques.

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on September 27, 2011 at 8:25 AM

hand-held, standing near the snake

Be careful, Ajit. But great shot, extremely clear, especially in the larger version, and great to have the tongue out like that and so sharp.

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

Comment posted by Sally King on September 27, 2011 at 5:48 PM

I echo Barbara's sentiments. Excellent image but be careful.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on September 27, 2011 at 6:59 PM

Nice colors and sharpness Ajit. I like the red rock as a background - and of course the flicking tongue.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on September 27, 2011 at 9:58 PM

I really like this image. The detail and comp are great. The snake really stands out from the background.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on September 27, 2011 at 9:59 PM

Your a brave man getting this close with a 300mm Ajit! But it sure paid off. Nice colors, detail and comp!

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on September 28, 2011 at 12:06 AM

Superb exposure and the quality of the detail is excellent. I especially like the reflectivity of the scales, the eye highlight, the flicking tongue and the shadows. Well done. The attitude is wonderfully ominous. If this is not full frame, I wonder if he would seem even more imposing slightly higher in the frame? Still, wonderful as posted.

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on September 28, 2011 at 2:30 AM

So if I understand you correct Ajit, all I need to do is convince my mother-in-law to come on a holiday to India with me, catch me a Cobra, and I'm back home and free without anyone the wiser ... now that sounds like a plan! ......... Jes' playin', I really do love my mother-in-law, bless her ;^)

Great shot you've captured here my friend, detail and colours are superb and I have to admire your nerve for getting so close :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments