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Grass snake

Discussion

14 replies
Posted by David Sewell on March 25, 2010 at 3:46 PM
Grass snake
Reptiles are being a bit slow in emerging this year, no smooth snakes as yet (I've been out looking for them all day), and even slow-worms are conspicuous by their general absence. I was therefore very pleased to come across this grass snake earlier in the week at a site in west Kent. It had obviously not woken up properly as it was highly cooperative, and just sat there whilst I took pictures.

David

D200, 150mm Sigma, 200 iso, 1/500th @ f10, full frame
Posted by David Taylor on March 25, 2010 at 3:49 PM
It might be a seasoned model, with all those wildlife photographers about. :smile: :wink: Up close and personal, very nice indeed.

:toast: :toast: :jump:
Posted by Robert Lawrence on March 25, 2010 at 3:59 PM
Love the detail in the head David but I'm not so certain about the overall composition. I can't quite explain it but it may be the coils to the top and right of the image which just seems to unbalance the pic somehow. Mind you having never photographed any snake before who am I to judge. I have no doubt they must be pretty tricky to shoot. :smile:
Posted by simon manning on March 25, 2010 at 4:01 PM
Thats good stuff david .this warm spell should wake everything up a bit ! :wink:

Simon
Posted by Karen Summers on March 25, 2010 at 4:06 PM
this is a great shot David love the detail in him
Posted by Heath McDonald on March 25, 2010 at 4:18 PM
Nice shot David, not come across a cooperative grass snake yet, should start to see them on my local patch soon, so you never know!

regards

Heath :smile:
Posted by Bob Cox on March 25, 2010 at 5:03 PM
Very nice Dave , I like the OOF coils in the background it gets one thinking how long was that snake ?.

Bob.
Posted by Stephen Kaluski on March 25, 2010 at 5:09 PM
Hi David one of your best to date. Might suggest a real 'pano' style crop, as this for me wuld highlight the detail, colour & marking and avoiding the coils that I too don't add much IMHO. :toast:

Steve :wavey:
Posted by Maggie Campbell on March 25, 2010 at 5:51 PM
Super shot David. Great detail. I also like the OOF coils :wavey: :smile:
Posted by Ian Macdermott on March 25, 2010 at 6:25 PM
Very nice shot David :toast:

Shooting snakes seems to be a tricky business getting them all in.

Still would like to try as I have only found one grass snake so far :frown:
Posted by Brett Lewis on March 25, 2010 at 10:51 PM
Hi David,

Nice capture indeed. I think the coils at the top make the composition a little heavy and think that if you dropped your POV a little more you might have obtained a better result. I think Steve is right on this occasion and a pano crop might suit it better. In short - drop your elbows and get the camera on the ground if necessary and that should offer you the POV I'm sure you're after.

Other than that some excellent detail of this mucky looking individual and I'm sure she'll clean up soon.

Kind regards,

Brett :toast:

Ps. I've been hearing all about your adventures from your trusted volunteer.. :wink:
Posted by John Chapman on March 26, 2010 at 5:25 AM
Hi David, super capture no nits from me. :toast:
Posted by Kim Connolly on March 26, 2010 at 9:30 AM
Lovely shot David, like it very much. :toast:
Posted by Philip Newman on March 26, 2010 at 10:06 AM
Works well for me and nicely set off by that lovely sharp head.

Phil Newman
Posted by Matt Cole on March 26, 2010 at 4:02 PM
a lovely shot David, great colours and detail.

Matt :toast: