Snake Pit & Under Bush

Gallery: WildlifePosted June 27, 2017225 views5 comments

I believe this was a ground squirrel hole on the side of the road at Cactus Flats near Big Bear Lake, CA. My son was working the road banks looking for bees nests and velvet ants as I walked up toward him and saw this gorgeous black Southern Pacific Rattler coming out of the hole. It ducked back inside as soon as it saw me coming. Eventually it decided to come out and go up the bank and under some sagebrush, where it was equally difficult to get a decent photo of. Not sure if this is too much hole and not enough snake. Glad to hear your thoughts on improvements. Canon 5Diii, f5.6, 1/250 sec, iso 320, -0.7 EV, 100-400 ISL at 400 mm, safe distance, handheld.

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on June 27, 2017 at 1:09 AM

Here is the snake under the sagebrush. Canon 5Diii, f8, 1/80 sec, iso 400, 100-400 ISL at 400 mm, Handheld, about 80% of original frame.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by Skip Layman on June 27, 2017 at 9:08 AM

Good job of taking advantage of a unique opportunity. I don't think there is too much hole, it gives a good size perspective.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 558 Posts, 1704 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on June 27, 2017 at 9:23 PM

Hi Ed,

Comp looks good and the snake is positioned perfectly. You might be able to pull more details from the deep shadows, but I like this one as presented............................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on June 29, 2017 at 9:45 PM

This is quite a pretty rattlesnake! Let's see...hmmm...even closer might have been better! sad

Prudence should always rule the day, of course. I like this fine as posted. The second image is classic and nice as well, but I think it would be even better with a bit of profile to the head, instead of full face on, just to give a better sculptural sense of what these guys look like.

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

Comment posted by Ed Williams on June 30, 2017 at 1:57 AM

Thank you all for your comments. Lon, here is a view with more of a side profile of the head. Thanks for asking....

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments