Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
A Mouthful
‹ PreviousWeekly Challenge GalleryNext ›

A Mouthful

by Howard Cheek

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted July 2, 2014107 views8 comments
Two years ago this month I had my first encounter with the Yellow-bellied Racer. Moved very quickly to the pond & shagged this Leopard Frog from within the rocks. The process of extricating it was long and arduous, with some squeals from the frog along the way.
Hard mid-day light, but I made the best of it.
F/14, 1/1000th, ISO 320, 1D M3, 300mm f/2.8 + 2x ext.

Comments

8 comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on July 2, 2014 at 10:21 PM
Excellent documentary shot. The frog's head looks a tad soft. I like that you can see the eye of the snake and both eyes of the frog :smile:
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 3, 2014 at 7:39 AM
Thanx Phil! I was happy to have documented this, my 'first' firsthand witnessing of a snake attacking its prey in the wild.
"The frog's head looks a tad soft." - Tell it to the racer :biggrin:
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments
Comment posted by Ray Whitt on July 3, 2014 at 7:51 AM
That is incredible Howard, what a unique catch! Excellent.

Ray
Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on July 4, 2014 at 1:32 PM
:biggrin: I think I'll skip lunch after seeing this simply "devouring" shot.......fine work here on this one Howard.
Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments
Comment posted by Karen Kane on July 5, 2014 at 11:59 AM
Yum! You did handle the harsh light well. The expression on the snake looks like one of complete focus on the task at hand. Neat shot Howard! :cool:
Registered on August 4, 2012, 66 Posts, 726 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on July 5, 2014 at 2:08 PM
Good shot, Howard, with the clear focus on the snake's eye and a fine pose, in the rocks with the snake's body coming back through the frame. When I first read your post, I was thinking that you extracted the frog from the snake, with squeals, etc.... :biggrin: On second reading, I understand that it was the snake and the frog struggling.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on July 5, 2014 at 2:39 PM
I remember this great image from when you posted it in Macro, Howard. Love the look of the snake's eye. It was a great photo op, and you nailed it. :toast:
Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Lockhart on July 5, 2014 at 8:17 PM
I like the horizontal format here that shows off the snake's size and you can really see it's determination in the eyes. Lighting came out really well too. At first I thought you had moved very quickly and grabbed the frog which had been grabbed by the snake, and there was an altercation... :biggrin: . Nice catch, anyway!
Registered on February 19, 2013, 91 Posts, 500 Comments