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Garter Snake
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Garter Snake

by Dennis Plank

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted June 15, 2017195 views5 comments
My wife spotted this snake on some red bricks surrounding a raised bed yesterday afternoon.  I'm not sure what was going on with it, but it only moved its head and didn't offer to move at all in several minutes with it where I ended up quite close.

5Diii, 180 mm f/3.5 macro, hand held, f/11, 1/250, iso 1000.  Aperture priority, pattern metering, +1/3 EV.  Processed in LR & PS CC.  Cropped to 16 MP before resizing. 

Taken at 3:20 pm under overcast skies.

Your comments and criticisms are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Comments

5 comments
Comment posted by Skip Layman on June 15, 2017 at 1:43 PM
The cloudy eyes indicate this snake is near shedding time.  They frequently are rather inactive at times like that.  You got the head nice an sharp for this portrait.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 558 Posts, 1704 Comments
Comment posted by Shirley Freeman on June 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM
Oh wow, Dennis, you really captured this guy nicely.  I think I would have had the shakes!  I like the way mostly everything is out of focus except for his head, and the skin nearby.  It just draws you right to that eye.  I never knew that their eyes got cloudy when they were shedding, so I appreciate Skip sharing that info.  I will know that I won't need to run if they have cloudy eyes!  Nice capture. 
Registered on May 27, 2017, 77 Posts, 844 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on June 15, 2017 at 6:53 PM
The last garter snake in my yard was very aggressive.  It would rear up and strike at me if I got within about 5 feet...not nearly close enough to get a shot like this.  The sharpness of th eye and head are wonderful, Dennis and that sharpness really let them stand out in a view that is very well color coordinated.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Barbara Graham on June 16, 2017 at 7:43 PM
Perfect focus, and your crop puts all the attention on the head. Great job.
Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments
Comment posted by Albert Darmo on June 16, 2017 at 10:06 PM
Hi Dennis crying I like how  you  composed and  used the point of focus perfectly,  the  results are  stunningfrownblushfrown
Albert Darmo          Canada
Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments