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Western Cottonmouth 02 by *JAHarrell:iconJAHarrell:

Categories Photography > Animals, Plants & Nature > Reptiles & Amphibians

©2009 *JAHarrell
:iconjaharrell:

Artist's Comments

Western Cottonmouth 02
Camera: Canon EOS-5D Mark II
Lens: Canon EF 300mm 1:2.8 L IS USM with Extender 2x II
Aperture: F/8
Shutter Speed: 1/180
ISO Setting: 800
Focal Length: 600mm (300mm X 2)
Metering Mode: Spot
Flash: None
Date Taken: 09 June 2009
Conditions: Shaded Underbrush, Scattered Clouds
Post Process Software: Digital Photo Professional, CS3
From RAW file With Canon Digital Photo Professional
© John A Harrell
Taken at the Hatchie Wildlife Refuge, Brownsville Tennessee
Camera was mounted on a Monopod
Although it looks like a threatening gesture I think that it was more of a yawn.

Critiques


:iconopiumtraum:
*opiumtraum Jun 12, 2009, 11:33:21 AM
This is possibly the ideal portrait of a snake. This is no field guide pic, this captures the essence of what it is to come across a poisonous snake in the wild. It is half obscured. It is catching just enough light to warm its bones, and the light makes for some wonderful detail on the scales & eye. The mouth is open, revealing the pale "cottonmouth" interior. It appears to be smiling, but when a cottonmouth opens its mouth, it is the equivalent to a rattlesnake rattling its tail- it's a warning. Here I am- back off. One might hope to see fangs, but fangs are only visible when a snake bites, so, really, you DON'T want to see fangs. This is one of those excellent examples of "less is more". Welcome to the business end of a cottonmouth- beautiful & potentially very, very dangerous.
The Artist thought this was FAIR
1 out of 1 deviants thought this was fair.
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:iconpagan-live-style:
=pagan-live-style Jun 11, 2009, 8:28:25 AM
Nice shot John !!!!!!!!!! greetz lenZ

--
DA Portofolio >> [link]

Personal Quote:

"The outcome of the Photograph depends largely, on the chosen subject and how it was taken, the camera itself is just a medium to register your idea's about the subject"

Greetz LenZ
:iconabikeodyssey:
~abikeOdyssey Jun 11, 2009, 8:51:41 AM
Yep, it's just stretching its mouth, common for some snakes. Definitely not threatened by the sneaky photographer 300+mm away :)
Very good environmental shot. Most people who shoot cottonmouths just catch them and then stress them out until they open their mouths in a threat display (defensive, actually, because they're terrified). Great job!

--
"No weapon has ever settled a moral problem. It can impose a solution, but it cannot guarantee it to be a just one."
-Ernest Hemingway
"The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was."
-Walt West
:icondjberry:
=djberry Jun 11, 2009, 10:06:54 AM
Superb shot.

--
:earth: Leave only tracks, take only pictures.
:iconeuphoricdesire:
=euphoricdesire Jun 11, 2009, 12:44:13 PM
Amazing shot! :clap:

--
Happy Holidays
:iconjaharrell:
*JAHarrell Jun 11, 2009, 7:49:57 PM
Thank you Danielle
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