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Thread: A Forest Cobra I Could Not Handle...(C)

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Default A Forest Cobra I Could Not Handle...(C)

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    Dearest Friends,

    A very good evening to you all,

    I was about to switch off my computer when I remembered I did have a more recent image, one of a Forest Cobra.

    I recently paid a visit to Umkhumbi Lodge to take some images of the owner and his wife for a newspaper article. Anton is a master when it comes to handling or rescuing snakes and scorpions, and when I asked him to show me how it is done he obliged. I must admit I found this snake rather long and heavy, and struggled to hold him by the tail:) Just when I felt most confident and thought he was relaxed, the Cobra turned its head to look at me. I froze completely while Anton came to my rescue and with a steady hand removed the serpent from my hands. This is just one of the many frames I captured that day.

    Nikon D4
    Nikon 300mm F2.8
    ISO 640
    F8
    1/1000s

    The snake was moving freely and was fairly relaxed at the time I took this. I was lying on the ground for better POV. No support, VR on. I have lots of images at various settings and some with better DOF but I quite liked the pose here. My subject moved around quite a bit and so the HA changed frequently. At some point I decided not to move my hands around, not even to change settings: the striking pose he gave me from time to time was awesome but I decided not to risk it:)
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela - So happy to see you posting an image. All I can say is better you than me with a cobra. I would have needed a much higher ss because my hands would have been shaking. Lovely colors, bg and pov. Yes, to a bit more dof. Looking forward to more.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Thank you Rachel,

    Any closer than this and I could not focus. Next time I go to Umkhumbi I will try handle a Puff adder. This is a much more placid snake and I was told to bring my Macro lens:)

    So kind of you to reply here, I did not get to comment enough tonight but will catch up tomorrow. Been doing only critique lately so I thought I'd share something.

    I missed being here, a lot. Feels like home:)

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Hi Gabriela, this is a stunning portrait of the cobra. Superb eye contact and details in soft light. The bokeh is lovely and colours very natural. I'd be happy photographing rather than holding one in my hands :-)

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    Hi Gabriela -- Delighted to see you posting again , and we all missed those stories behind your images .

    This is a lovely portrait of a magnificent creature , i just love these snake portraits , they have such fantastic features . I too feel DOF could have been more but still this is working fine for me as plenty of details and sharpness .

    Is there by any chance a tongue sticking out shot of this snake ?

    TFS !

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela, thanks for posting, as I know how much you had to 'shoe horn' this time in with everything else going on. Great to see another different species, but agree with the others, rather you than me with snakes, brave lady.

    Yes a tad more DoF, but no deal breaker as you have got the key element in, the eye. I'm wondering about popping a bit more in the Saturation department and even some Contrast/Clarity which may help with the nice pearl sheen of the scales and then some more sharpening??? Not sure if this is FF, or a crop, but as an alternative how about a tad less above and a bit more to the right, easy to extend if you need too i.e. 10x16. I'll pop you over a thought, let me know. Killer BKG, great separation and I like the fact it's a bit flat, complements the subject and adds some 'pop'.

    TFS
    Steve

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hoho Gabriela you have been brave to try to handle a Cobra ...
    Was it a good feeling for you in general ?
    Good to see you posting
    I like the tight head shot and you did well with the color and tones , very nice to see detail in the the eye . DOF could be more ... but is still ok to me .
    Crop is looking good to me , but agree with Steve and his alternative . Nice separation between subject and BG .
    Go back and get the Puff adder .... with the macro lens ... you can get some nice detail of the colors and the scales .

    TFS Andreas

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Dearest Steve and Andreas,

    I am not brave at all, just used to snakes around here, they are part of the environment. I have just discovered a Rock Python in my garden, the fish pond is his home. He eats my little birdies though, waits for them to come and drink and snatches one from time to time. It's Nature. Last Sunday I found him coiled around a tiny Bronze Manikin. He was very alert though, as soon as I returned with my camera he went back into his hideaway together with his meal, so no images. I will know when he reappears because the Bulbuls and Weavers will be making a racket around the pond, hopefully Sunday he will give me a chance to capture him in all his beauty.

    So...the image...Not enough DOF, I agree. Colours, I actually pulled back the yellows a bit when I was doing the PP work. I can do more sharpening and will try get more out of those scales. Agree with the crop suggested Steve, it works! Let me rework this:)

    Has anyone noticed this snake was shedding its skin? It was quite difficult to bring the eye out during PP work because it was really dull. I look forward to my next appointment with him. And yes Andreas, it was a good feeling holding this chap by the tail - the only problem was, he was far too long for me to hold up straight (I am 1.67m tall and he is way longer than I am). As soon as he touched the ground he turned towards me and then I had to use a specific tool to keep him away... Despite hours of exercise and weight lifting I was still not strong enough to hold that stick with the snake resting on it:) I am not giving up though...
    More to come, give me some time and I will produce the goods. And thank you so much for email Steve, I am taking your advice to heart - will not disappoint with the next one

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Good to see you posting, Gabriela!
    Too close for comfort for me, even with a 300mm lens :)
    Cracking portrait!
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Can't add anything more to the above comments other than to say it's great to have you back Gabriela and hopefully your particiption will continue to grow.

    TFS


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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Thank you so much dear Morkel and Marc,

    It feels good to be back after a few months of absence - I miss my BPN family and these days I try pop in as often as I can.

    Had an appointment with this Cobra and a Puff adder for tomorrow morning, but after checking the weather forecast we had to cancel. Will try process something from the archives instead:)

    Wishing you a lovely evening,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Think all that as been said above covers your image.Made my morning getting up and seeing a post from you Gabriela,great to have you back.

    Keith.

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Glad to be back, Keith

    Thank you for kind words, always.

    Have a beautiful day,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Landscapes Moderator Andrew McLachlan's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela, this is an absolutely stunning portrait...awesome work...snakes are the best :) Glad to see you posting again :)

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Thank you dear Andrew,

    My apologies for replying so late. I have been "threatening" to come back full time on BPN - as in "every day" - but certain commitments have kept me from doing so, just a few more hurdles and I will keep my promise. I promise:)

    I too love snakes and find them fascinating. I recently reconnected with a dear friend who was happy to teach me how to handle the more dangerous species like the Forest Cobra. The Black Mamba is high on my list but he told me I need lots more lessons before I play around with this fellow. Right now I have an Egyptian Cobra and a Rock Python in my garden, they are both quite shy and I have not had the chance to photograph them yet. The Egyptian Cobra likes to move around at night for some reason, the Forest Cobra comes out at lunch time when the sun is hot and I am at work, very frustrating...So my best chances of capturing such snakes are at my friend's farm just outside town, hoping for a sunny Sunday morning to go there and meet a few of those characters.

    Thank you so much for viewing and comments, much appreciated. I recently saw a few of your landscapes and was mesmerised - very inspiring and I hope one day I will be able to contribute to the Forum you moderate, too shy for now...

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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