Be Careful at Night

[jjeling]

From last summer. Out fishing and taking pictures along the riverside when I noticed a few water snakes moving about the surface of the water. Naturally I chased them down. After about 45 minutes taking their pictures and catching the snakes it got dark out. I ended up catching this last one and taking his picture. Does this work? I liked it, but have always been a little indecisive about it.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2388/3597626111_0fd9c606ac_b.jpg

[JAS_Photo]

Striking image! Pun intended too!

[Sephibox]

Uah, this gives me the creeps. So it definetly works for me! :)

I also appreciate the good work, chasing and rounding up snakes would already be too much for me probably, even if they aren't poisonous. But you also got the timing right and a strong composition with it. Awesome. I can't look at it too long though. :eek:

I wonder if this could also work as b&w

[Bambi]

it's quite a cool shot of a lovely snake (I like snakes :)).

Well done!! :highfive:

[Mad Aussie]

Looks like a great shot to me JJ!

[casil403]

Snake phobia over here and looking at it made my skin crawl and hair stand up on the back of my neck so that qualifies in my book as excellence! :)

[kurtdriver]

I expected, upon seeing the picture, that this was in the tropics and dangerous. Ahhhh! A viper! The flash looks good here against the blackness of the night. Is that a serpentine river?

[jjeling]

If a serpentine river means full of snakes, then yes. It is exactly the Maumee River, and specifically located at Sidecut Park. This was a decent sized water snake, about 1 meter and half in length. The are very aggressive. Its almost impossible to touch one without it striking at you. Never been bit by a snake, I like to think I have quick reflexes and a lot of practice at this. They are tough to catch because they are better at moving in the water than I am, and like to submerge themselves when I get around. If I dont get him on the first try, I usually have to try cross the river after he swims across, or wait to spot another one.
This guy was particularly aggressive because he was about to shed his skin. You can tell by his cloudy eyes!

[Bambi]

poor snake just trying to find a good place to shed some skin and being bothered by you!!! ;)

I've been bit a couple times. - not by anything poisonous there are not poisonous snakes here. Both times it was after rescuing a snake from some boys who were harrassing it. First time I was 9 and the second time around 12. My mother dragged me both times to the ER for a tetanus shot. That hurt worse then the bite.

[Michaelaw]

I think it's a nicely presented bit of good shooting :thumbup:

[jjeling]

Thanks guys. It never seemed to me this shot was that good. I surely did not intend for it to be composed the way it was, it just happened. Sometimes things are better that way I guess.

[masp]

Nice shot. I initially thought it was shot in a studio or controlled environment because there's very little background (at least on my dinky monitor).

[lhosphotography]

very good shot. I love it.

[jjeling]

The only way to get the shot was with a flash. Onboard flash and a lucky shot. Thanks again.