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Chunk-Headed Snake
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Chunk-Headed Snake

by Max Waugh

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted April 22, 2013302 views6 comments
Another subject from my night walks in Costa Rica. I first saw this species (also known as the blunt-headed snake) in Ecuador six years ago, so this encounter brought back some fond memories. It's one of the skinnier snake species in the world, certainly an odd- (and cute, I think) looking fellow.

Canon 1DX
Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro
Canon MT-24EX Flash
ISO 800
1/80th
f/11
Hand-held

Max

Comments

6 comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on April 22, 2013 at 10:08 PM
So this was shot in the wild at night, Max? If so, this is an amazing capture. Don't get me wrong. It's an awesome image regardless of how you got it. I love the snake's flowing form, the pose, the light, the color, and the amazing detail. But if this was not captive, and shot at night in the wild, this is amazing. :eek: :toast:
Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by Max Waugh on April 23, 2013 at 1:30 AM
Thanks Scott. Yes, this is a wild snake. They are slightly venomous, but no danger to humans. When I'd previously photographed this species, I achieved a similar effect with the slender snake body curled against a dark background, but the image quality wasn't nearly as good back then. It was fun having another crack at it.

I wish I had seen more snakes during the trip. This area was ripe with hog-nosed pit vipers, but we never found one. I did have good photo ops with a couple other species in other places, including a huge fer-de-lance that I managed to photograph from a relatively safe distance. ;)

Max
Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments
Comment posted by Balan Vinod on April 23, 2013 at 2:42 AM
Max, this is beautiful, Love the composition here. well done on this one

Balan Vinod
Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments
Comment posted by Thomas Haney on April 23, 2013 at 3:49 PM
Great shot Max, the composition couldn't be better. I love the flow of the snake and the forked tip of the tongue just barely protruding from its mouth.
Registered on April 7, 2013, 138 Posts, 537 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Ramy on April 27, 2013 at 12:48 PM
Max,
Great tongue action, not as easy to capture as one might imagine. This is an outstanding and very artful composition. The BG, placement of the subject and head-on look are all inspired.
Well Done . . . :toast:
Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Ramy on May 1, 2013 at 4:39 PM
Congratulations Max on the WP, Well Deserved . . . :toast:
Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments