Diamondback Rattlesnake combat

Gallery: WildlifePosted April 19, 20042,467 views14 comments

Out a few weeks ago to shoot wildflowers in South Texas when serendipity intervened and my wife and I discovered two rattlesnakes engaged in ritual combat in the wild. We filled all our CF cards with almost 900 RAW captures in the span of about 45 minutes. All images were captured with either a Nikon D1X or D2H and 70-200 VR or 600mm f/4. Some were handheld others on a tripod. This is one of the captures.

Nikon D1X, 600mm, 200 ISO @ f/5.6 on tripod. Uncropped.

Additional images at <a href="http://www.shutterfreaks.com/gallery/album50" target= "_blank">Rattlesnake Gallery</a>

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Skip Layman on April 19, 2004 at 2:57 PM

What a find! This is really super and nicely framed. The slight softness of the snake on the right is a minor nit. Well done.

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

Comment posted by Michael Bates on April 19, 2004 at 4:35 PM

Holy Toledo, Batman!!! What a superb capture!!!!!!!!!! One awesome image that most of us will never see in our lifetime - especially in the wild!!!!!!

Michael

Registered on November 1, 2003, 149 Posts, 2381 Comments

Comment posted by Trey Neal on April 19, 2004 at 8:28 PM

Thanks Skip. I have mixed feelings about this shot due to the softness of the snake on the right as well. Of the images in the gallery however it seems to garner the most interest, which frankly surprised me. Thus the choice to post it here.

Registered on April 18, 2004, 33 Posts, 34 Comments

Comment posted by Trey Neal on April 19, 2004 at 8:30 PM

Thanks Michael and Cindy. It truly was amazing to witness this event and more so to have had the right camera gear with me when I did

These snakes were only about 10 yards away from where I was shooting so it was quite exciting.

Registered on April 18, 2004, 33 Posts, 34 Comments

Comment posted by Eddie Haine on April 20, 2004 at 12:24 PM

I love the shot.............but if you're asking for comments, I would be tempted to slightly darken the patch of white on the right hand side. it just slightly distracts my eye

Eddie

Registered on February 15, 2004, 23 Posts, 95 Comments

Comment posted by G Pappas on April 20, 2004 at 1:53 PM

This looks more like a part of the mating ritual, than combat, but I'm no expert.

Registered on February 14, 2004, 11 Posts, 37 Comments

Comment posted by Juza on April 20, 2004 at 2:06 PM

Hi Trey,
thanks for sharing this photo. I don't see often snake photo and this one ir very well done. I like the their sinuous shapes and the detail of the image.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 374 Posts, 10466 Comments

Comment posted by Trey Neal on April 20, 2004 at 3:37 PM

Actually these are two male rattlers that are engaged in ritual combat. They will fight with each other for sometimes hours. The goal of course is mating, but with the female that is typically awaiting the victor nearby. During the battle the snakes will rear up and entwine, pushing back and forth then slamming each other to the ground. As rattlesnakes are immune to their venom, no biting occurs so it is a battle of strength and stamina. The downside for the victor after all of this fighting is that the female may not be receptive and the male engages in a bit of a dance on her behalf to gauge her response, which she may reject.

As an observer of the action it was fascinating (and difficult) to keep them in the frame while all of this was going on. They aren't moving slow!

Registered on April 18, 2004, 33 Posts, 34 Comments

Comment posted by Milo Burcham on April 20, 2004 at 4:26 PM

Incredible capture and amazing that you got to witness this in the wild. I really like the composition and detail. I'd like to see more from the series. With those 2 lenses, sounds like you covered them from all angles!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 80 Posts, 584 Comments

Comment posted by Trey Neal on April 20, 2004 at 4:41 PM

Thanks Emmanuelle and Milo. I appreciate your comments.

Milo - there is a link to 17 other images in my original post if you'd like to see more.

Registered on April 18, 2004, 33 Posts, 34 Comments

Comment posted by Xavier Ortega on April 20, 2004 at 4:58 PM

Superb shot. Composition and detail are great.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 115 Posts, 222 Comments

Comment posted by Kim Kaiser on April 20, 2004 at 10:09 PM

great acttion shot,,,

Registered on November 1, 2003, 45 Posts, 370 Comments

Comment posted by Trey Neal on April 22, 2004 at 11:13 AM

Thanks Xavier and Kim, I appreciate the comments.

Registered on April 18, 2004, 33 Posts, 34 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Gomez on March 4, 2007 at 10:02 PM

YES!!!!! I would have tears of joy if I would have witnessed and photographed this! I almost have tears of joy now and it isn't even my shot! what an exciting image. Awesome work Trey.

Registered on March 3, 2007, 206 Posts, 1853 Comments