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Thread: PRAIRIE RATTLESNAKE

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Marina Scarr's Avatar
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    Default PRAIRIE RATTLESNAKE

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    Had the good fortune to visit Pawnee National Grassland in Colorado with Rob Palmer to photograph raptors. Little did I know that Rob had once held a job capturing snakes and extracting their venom. So when he saw this Prairie Rattler, he stopped the car and asked me if I wanted to photograph it. We decided the snake needed a better background, so I rode in the car with my head 2 feet from this rattler while we looked for a better setting. Finally opted for the gravel road due to little choice. I only kept 2 pictures from this quick shoot, and here is one of them. It's not a very exciting photo, but it was an exciting experience to say the least!

    Canon 1D3, Canon 70-200L F4 IS
    F8, 1/2500sec, ISO 400, manual mode
    Handheld down on my belly (from 1.7 m or 5'7")

    C & C always welcomed and much appreciated.

    Marina Scarr
    Florida Master Naturalist
    www.marinascarrphotography.com



    Last edited by Peter Kes; 10-28-2012 at 05:15 AM.

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    I quite like this presentation, Marina. Nice detail and exposure, with good DOF.
    Personally I would've liked to see more of the snake's body scale patterns...can imagine it was a thrilling experience. Did you leave the snake far from where you found it?
    Congrats on your Natures Best honours!!
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


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    Hi Marina, congrats on your acheivement in this years Natures Best

    I can't help but want to see more of the snake when I see this image. The low perspective has worked a treat though.

    Jamie

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    Congrats on Natures Best.
    Interesting composition and great shooting angle.

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Hi Marina, great low angle of capture, and sharp where it counts. Well timed to capture the protruding tongue, and good choice on the BG.

    Big congrats on your achievement.

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    I think it's a very exciting photo... I also think it shows enough of the relevant parts of the snake to make it recognizable, and the tongue is a big bonus. Love the softly degrading BG.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Marina - Big congrats on the NB! Better you than me with the rattler that close. Nice low pov and timing with the tongue. I like the sort of layered look of the coils. Well done.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Marina, as rachel said, rather you than me with this particular beast.

    I too would like to have seen more of the scales and detail coming through, plus more of the body on this one, as you had the SS to increase the DOF, but I guess you don't want to hang around these guys for too long. Good choice with the low angle, really works well.

    TFS
    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    Hi Marina,

    Cool image! I like the tones and the textures here - and the low point of view. Probably looks more impressive at full size. DOF works for me as presented - helps to give some separation of the head from the body.

    Thanks,

    Gerald

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