Baby cobra!

Gallery: WildlifePosted November 20, 2011835 views20 comments

This baby cobra is probably only a few days old, but has enough venom to kill an adult human! I had to lie down prostrate on the ground only about 4-5 feet in front of it to get the bokeh I wanted. Whether it was fascinated by my lens, or just maybe the shade my body offered (most likely the latter), it kept coming towards me, all the while keeping its hood open to intimidate me! I kept slithering (no pun intended!) back to 1: stay out of its striking range, and 2: to keep it in focus, and managed to get in a few shots before I hastily got up and moved away! Brrrrrrrr!
Species: Indian cobra (Naja naja naja)
Location: Just outside Bangalore, India
Date: July, 2011
Equip: Canon 1D M111, Canon 70-200 f2.8 lens at 195 mm
Specs: ISO 400, f6.3, 1/2500s, hand-held, while lying on the ground

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

Comments

20 comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on November 20, 2011 at 11:46 AM

Beautiful work, Ajit. I especially the the precise composition and perfect point of view with a great look at the eye and extended tongue.

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

Comment posted by Esme' Fantozzi on November 20, 2011 at 12:21 PM

I love everything in this picture: light, composition, color, details, and the little waves at the end of the tail. Thank you for sharing.

Registered on July 27, 2006, 50 Posts, 300 Comments

Comment posted by Margaret Summers on November 20, 2011 at 2:19 PM

this is really terrific! talk about sacrificing (potentially) for your art!

Registered on May 24, 2011, 54 Posts, 99 Comments

Comment posted by Tonia Graves on November 20, 2011 at 3:43 PM

Beautiful Ajit! I would love to have an opportunity like this! Great comp & background!

Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on November 20, 2011 at 3:43 PM

Hello Ajit

Stunning image, great background and tone, the foreground tail like a wave draws you into the image, Sharp & crisp, The catchlight and extended tongue really add to the image. Was this image later in the day? with those tones .

Well done & thanks for sharing the experience and the image

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on November 20, 2011 at 9:18 PM

One amazing image! Congrats!

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

Comment posted by Dan Walters on November 20, 2011 at 9:41 PM

Like the vertical composition and the tongue. Like the warm tones as well.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on November 20, 2011 at 10:29 PM

This is a fine image. I would love to have the opportunity to shoot an image like this. The detail, background, dof and pov are all great.

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on November 20, 2011 at 11:09 PM

Picture perfect Ajit. Excellent work.

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

Comment posted by Suzanne Huot on November 21, 2011 at 1:06 PM

I had to smile ,when reading your commentary on this most unusual image ,and way of capturing this very intimate portrait of this young Cobra.Your efforts were more than rewarded when one looks at this beautiful sharp image .Ajit ,thank you for sharing this one with us .

Registered on December 28, 2010, 32 Posts, 240 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on November 21, 2011 at 3:12 PM

Awesome photo Ajit

Excellent perspective, sharpness and comp.

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on November 21, 2011 at 3:30 PM

Splendid looking specimen ! Just look at it's scales sparkle. These little guys can be fiesty and deceptively quick. Oh and killer perspective

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

Comment posted by David E Lester on November 22, 2011 at 10:20 AM

Super...just super !!

Registered on March 24, 2010, 155 Posts, 793 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on November 23, 2011 at 5:55 AM

Wow! A cute Cobra, is such a thing possible?!?!? ;^)

Absolutely amazing capture Ajit, the exposure, lighting, detail and DOF are truly fantastic, thanks for taking the chance and coming back to us alive enabling you to share this beauty with us :^)

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

Comment posted by David Sewell on November 23, 2011 at 8:52 AM

You have used every centimetre of space beautifully, Ajit. Great shot of a superb snake.

David

Registered on September 10, 2008, 63 Posts, 801 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on November 29, 2011 at 2:32 PM

Perfect POV, composition and depth of field.

Congrats on the well deserved WP!

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on November 30, 2011 at 8:20 AM

Terrific frame, very nicely captured !
I just love the glossy skin of baby Cobra.
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on November 30, 2011 at 12:35 PM

Stunning in subject, composition, focus, clarity.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on December 3, 2011 at 1:10 AM

Really exceptional - wonderful light, colours, and very cool subject. Nice perspective, too - congrats on the well-deserved WP!

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on December 5, 2011 at 8:42 AM

Thanks, everyone! Much appreciated. The EP made the effort and the risk worth it!

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