Please Watch Your Step

Gallery: LandscapePosted April 19, 20101,870 views19 comments

This was taken Saturday afternoon near the California Poppy Reserve in the Mojave Desert. I decided to post this in ESS as a reminder that flowers aren't the only things that come out in the spring. There's been a lot of beautiful wildflower photos posted lately and where there’s flowers, there may also be snakes. I like snakes and this is a beautiful snake, but it scared the hell out of me when it suddenly started rattling two feet away from my right leg. It blended in so well that I didn‘t see it and the sound of its rattle sent me jumping through the air.

This is a Mojave Rattlesnake (aka, Mojave Green) and is one of the deadliest snakes in North America. Its venom (called Mojave toxin) is ten times more potent than that of a Western Diamondback. In addition, these snakes are known to be very aggressive. I photographed this guy for about two to three minutes and it never backed down or tried to retreat, it just held its ground and continued to rattle.

So please watch your step and keep the great flower shots coming.
Thanks,
Rudy

D700, 24-70mm @ 55mm
f11 @ 1/100, ISO 500

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Paul Duval on April 19, 2010 at 11:10 PM

Good advice Rudy, and a well composed image. This is not a nice rattler I prefer Crotalus Ruber the Red Diamondback way more laid back that this bad boy. However I have had a gravid female Northern Pacific chase me and my wife across Azusa Canyon road. Well done, amzing you could hold the camera to focus after getting surprised by this little guy.

Paul

Registered on June 30, 2009, 508 Posts, 1907 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on April 19, 2010 at 11:47 PM

Rudy, I've commented on this image in your CANP post already, and can only ask if this area is posted at all? Not always the answer to the entire danger, but it might at least alert some of the unexpected people before it's too late.

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Ewert on April 19, 2010 at 11:59 PM

Nice! Way to compose this one. And great presence of mind to pull off the shot even after almost wetting yourself. A true nature photographer!

Registered on June 2, 2009, 103 Posts, 1500 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 20, 2010 at 12:14 AM

I like snakes, but not being surprised by them!
THis is a good reminder... I often back up or move while framing my subject and not watching my footing - or what is lurking there.

Very nice photo, and good message. I agree that you should facilitate getting the area posted for rattlers, especially if THESE nasty ones are around.

Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on April 20, 2010 at 12:18 AM

Great shot Rudy. When in any area such as this, it's always good to assume there are snakes about. ;]

Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on April 20, 2010 at 12:21 AM

Youzers! What a cool shot with the two together.

I used to treat quite a few snake bites in Arizona. I don't miss them here in the PNW. In eastern Arizona the Mojave were less common, which was good because their bites were definitely worse as you note.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by David Page on April 20, 2010 at 1:00 AM

Whoa! Went swimming in a canyon water hole within the Laguna Mountains yesterday with my little ones and saw some garter snakes and horned lizards, but no rattlers - although I was looking, especially with my kids. Thanks for the advice. Great photo!

Registered on April 15, 2009, 19 Posts, 199 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on April 20, 2010 at 8:18 AM

You're a lot braver that I am. Nice capture.

- Dan.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on April 20, 2010 at 9:15 AM

Yowsa - watch your step out there! This reminds me of the time I stepped on a Rattler when I was young (teens). I was feeding the animals and wasn't paying attention. He let go with his warning and I literally jumped probably 15 feet without even trying to. He didn't bite and even strike thankfully, but I paid a bit more attention in the future when feeding the animals! Neat shot too Rudy.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on April 20, 2010 at 1:26 PM

Great photograph. It's the rattler who made this shot. and a good reminder there are snakes around.

Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on April 20, 2010 at 4:11 PM

Floris's aerial photography of wildflowers is becoming ever more appealing. This could seriously ruin a good day of photography. Neat picture with the snake next to the flowers.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by JACK NEAL on April 20, 2010 at 4:16 PM

My worst nightmare while taking pictures! You did great with a bad situation! The flowers look great and the snake looks deadly!

Registered on September 26, 2009, 131 Posts, 554 Comments

Comment posted by Mohsen Al-Dajani on April 20, 2010 at 4:17 PM

I hate them and to me these are the bad side of our nature...really hate them. It doesn't fit underneath that beautiful Poppy.

Registered on August 23, 2007, 160 Posts, 432 Comments

Comment posted by Walt Sterneman on April 20, 2010 at 4:57 PM

Nicely composed. You must have been pretty close to get this at 55mm. Too close for me.

Registered on March 24, 2010, 73 Posts, 1268 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on April 20, 2010 at 5:16 PM

Love the flowers, but I don't want anything to do with that guy. Good you saw him, or that he let you know he was there. That is pretty darn close anyways.

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on April 20, 2010 at 6:21 PM

Yikes!

Way too close for me. But what an excellent shot!

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Russell Colletta on April 20, 2010 at 10:24 PM

Two very healthy specimens. Glad to hear you remain healthy too. What a great "find". Given the subject, don't know how anyone could make suggestions on the improving the image.

Registered on October 31, 2009, 114 Posts, 1008 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on April 21, 2010 at 1:01 AM

Yikes!!!!

Makes you wonder what it would taste like?

Registered on January 2, 2008, 360 Posts, 5321 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Burdick on April 22, 2010 at 2:11 PM

Wow! Great photo! Though I don't think I would have taken that risk...

I recently ran into a rattler hiking in Joshua Tree NP. It is certainly a frightening yet beautiful experience.

Registered on May 1, 2009, 31 Posts, 197 Comments