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Thread: Easter Water Snake

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    Default Easter Water Snake

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    I had spent the morning at a local preserve recently trying to find a reported sighting of the Olive-sided Flycatcher, when it was brought to my attention that a snake was eating a fish. Of course I was very interested and proceeded to watch and photograph most of the process taking about 15 minutes. Though the images of the snake expanding its jaws to take in the rather large fish for this juvenile snake were interesting, note the bulge in the snakes body, this image was of the snake readjusting its jaws after consuming the fish. C&C welcome.

    D4s, Nikon 500mm + 1.7 TC, 1/640s, F 8.0, ISO 1000, Gitzo tripod, Wimberley Gimbal head.


    Geoffrey

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    Thanks for the explanation I was wondering how you managed such excellent timing! I think you have a great shot there the head is sharp, I may be tempted to sharpen a little more and possibly try to get a little more detail in the mouth, also tone down the brightest highlights a little too.
    I keep looking at the image I wonder if a crop would improve presentation, because the head is so sharp and the body and rocks OOF my eyes are continually drawn to the OOF areas. I appreciate you wanted to show the distended body so perhaps consider a crop to illustrate the bulge and eliminate say the top two inches and a little off the RHS??

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    Thats an unusual image and a very nice one indeed. Your explanation does help to understand what happened here and the sharp head with open mouth is great! Agree with Jon reg comp and it may be worth giving a try. Thanks for sharing this. BTW did you the flycatcher?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Sanjeev Aurangabadkar View Post
    Thats an unusual image and a very nice one indeed. Your explanation does help to understand what happened here and the sharp head with open mouth is great! Agree with Jon reg comp and it may be worth giving a try. Thanks for sharing this. BTW did you the flycatcher?
    Thanks Sanjeev. Alas, never did see the flycatcher.

    Geoffrey

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jonathan Ashton View Post
    Thanks for the explanation I was wondering how you managed such excellent timing! I think you have a great shot there the head is sharp, I may be tempted to sharpen a little more and possibly try to get a little more detail in the mouth, also tone down the brightest highlights a little too.
    I keep looking at the image I wonder if a crop would improve presentation, because the head is so sharp and the body and rocks OOF my eyes are continually drawn to the OOF areas. I appreciate you wanted to show the distended body so perhaps consider a crop to illustrate the bulge and eliminate say the top two inches and a little off the RHS??

    Thanks Jonathan, and thanks for the suggestions. I did some toning down in the highlight area of the mouth, but might need a bit more. I appreciate your crop suggestions too.

    Geoffrey

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Geoffrey- Great to see one of these in a photo. I once saw one on a golf course and it scared me because I wasn't expecting it. Jon has made excellent suggestions with which I totally agree. I also find the sort of bluish white ghosting along the oof portion of the snake and rock to be distracting.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    A very unique perspective Geoffrey , and i agree with Jon's suggestion here. The FG rock is a bit too distracting for me definitely you should try other crop options and try to RP if possible .
    TFS !

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    An interesting a very different subject and perspective indeed Geoff, if you hadn't told us the full story this could have looked like a direct lunge to camera!

    Good crop suggestions from above

    TFS


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    Thanks everyone and for your suggestions.




    Geoffrey

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Hello Geoffrey,

    Truly an interesting sighting and you have captured this very well. It does look like the snake was lunging at you, so thank you for the story behind the image

    You already received a lot of good suggestions above, just thought I'd mention that a bit more SS would have benefited this image. The D4S is awesome and you could have pushed the ISO big time here. On the other hand, I gather you might have not expected the "jaw readjustment" so you did not have time to change settings.

    Love that mouth open and the "wild look" from the subject, in terms of crop I would go tighter if the IQ allows.
    Wonderful behavioural shot, a few frames with the snake swallowing its victim, culminating with this super pose here would make an awesome post for Story Sequences Forum

    Thank you so much for sharing,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Hello Gabriela,

    Thanks very much.

    Not only did I not expect the "jaw readjustment", but as slow as the process of consuming the fish was, he kept changing angles to better position himself, of course moving in and out of bright sun. To add to the constraints, I was standing/moving as the snake repositioned himself, on the edge of a cement wall simultaneously lowering the tripod legs. I did think of moving to the wall-less side of the stream, but this was the better vantage point.

    Good suggestion for posting on the Story Sequences Forum.

    Geoffrey

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