Blacktailed rattlesnake

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Archive 2009 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

azbill
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p.1 #1 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

My first post here. I enjoy herpetology and photography, and I occasionaly combine the two.
A male Blacktailed rattlesnake from south-eastern Arizona.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Jul 03, 2009 at 12:52 AM

Karl Witt
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p.1 #2 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

First a big welcome to you on your first post

That is some dangerous material you are playing with! That also was some very close proximity you shot these at 80-90mm, yikes! Color and details look very good, glad to have you join in!

Karl

Jul 03, 2009 at 12:56 AM

Duane N
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p.1 #3 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

Welcome to FM. I love #1. You're a lot braver then I am and I respect snakes...no way I'd be that brave with that lens you used.

Jul 03, 2009 at 12:59 AM

azbill
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p.1 #4 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

Thank you Karl. There's some great photography on this forum, glad to be here!
Bill

Jul 03, 2009 at 12:59 AM

azbill
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p.1 #5 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

Thank you Duane.

Jul 03, 2009 at 01:00 AM

tfoltz
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p.1 #6 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

Nice DOF on the first 2 and great detail also.
Welcome to the forum.

Tim

Jul 03, 2009 at 01:29 AM

KINGOFKNGS
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p.1 #7 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

Perhaps the new Canon 800 IS would be a great lens for such a job... maybe with 2X TC!

Wonderful photos. Is there some sexual dimorphism in the species?

Ryan

Jul 03, 2009 at 01:33 AM

azbill
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p.1 #8 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

Thank you Tim!

Ryan, thank you for the comments. I'm sure the Canon would do a wonderful job, but I shoot Nikon. This was taken with my D100 70-200mmVR, before I bought my D300.
Blacktailed rattlesnakes have an extensive range and are differently colored throughout their range. Specimens from a few mountain ranges in se Az exhibit a nice golden color. Males are usually much more vibrantly colored than the females. The male pictured, is an exceptionally nicely colored specimen.
A female was found just a few feet from where the male was found, but she was quite dull in comparison and fairly thin too. There was a pretty good chance she had recently given birth.
Thanks again for the comments.
Bill

Jul 03, 2009 at 01:51 AM

DiPace
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p.1 #9 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

The more rattlers, the merrier. That's what I always say. No, really... all the time. You're lucky to have some of the more ornery crotalus; the Southern Pacific rattlers here refuse to show any personality -- even if you poke 'em with a stick (isn't that right, tfoltz?). Anyway, the first shot really works for me, especially being near eye level.

-- Don

Jul 03, 2009 at 02:27 AM

harshaj1
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p.1 #10 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

Welcome. Great shots. Nice details
Harsha

Jul 03, 2009 at 02:30 AM

skibum5
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p.1 #11 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

1st and 3rd are fantastic shots!

90mm!

Jul 03, 2009 at 02:54 AM

azbill
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p.1 #12 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

Thanks again for the kind words.
Don, I don't have much experience with C helleri, but I thought they were a little more exciteable than you describe. Potent venom too!
Bill

Jul 03, 2009 at 01:34 PM

Peyton
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p.1 #13 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

Bill,

Welcome to FM! Glad to have another herper in our midst

Crotalus molossus is by far my favorite rattlesnake, I really hope to get out to AZ to find some in the near future. Thank you for sharing such amazing images of a wonderful animal!

90mm, pssh I'd use my 17-40L

I look forward to seeing more images from your way! Bring on the pyromelana

Jul 03, 2009 at 03:59 PM

MrAdventure
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p.1 #14 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

oh...hell no. nice shots though!

Jul 03, 2009 at 04:20 PM

Rob Tillyer
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p.1 #15 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

Welcome aboard. I really like the first shot, great angle.

Rob

Jul 03, 2009 at 04:30 PM

azbill
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p.1 #16 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

Thanks again for the many welcomes and kind words.
Peyton, the only pyro shot I currently have is of my cbb female. You never know though, tis the season!

Jul 03, 2009 at 08:29 PM

HOWARD KEARLEY
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p.1 #17 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

Great shots, love the first one.

Howard.

Jul 03, 2009 at 08:37 PM

mkweaver
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p.1 #18 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

How big was he? Do you realize how far one of those can jump! (as a herpetology enthusiast you must!)
I've always been taught (and I grew up in diamondback country) that they can jump twice their length. Is that correct, or an old wives tale? I have personally seen them jump further than I'd like to be near!
I don't have a phobia about snakes, but I do have a healthy respect for their dangers. I've seen cows die from bites!

Jul 03, 2009 at 08:47 PM

grebe
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p.1 #19 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

Excellent technical details and compelling subject. Good for you!!

tom

Jul 03, 2009 at 09:04 PM

morris
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p.1 #20 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

the last one is scary!

Fine work.

Morris

Jul 04, 2009 at 01:12 AM

Peyton
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p.1 #21 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

azbill wrote:
Thanks again for the many welcomes and kind words.
Peyton, the only pyro shot I currently have is of my cbb female. You never know though, tis the season!

Ah, well I hope you turn up something nice in habitat

I'm guessing August is a good time for scaly critters if the rains play in your favor?

Jul 04, 2009 at 03:09 AM

azbill
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p.1 #22 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

Thank you Howard, Tom, and Morris. I really appreciate the positive comments. There's a lot of fine photography on this site, it means alot to get positive feedback here.
mkweaver, he was about 3', maybe a little more. They can strike 1/2 to 2/3 their body length. For the most part, he was quite calm. He did rattle a bit, as you can see in the 2nd pic, but he never did strike.
I have a very healthy respect for them. I have seen two people get bit right before my eyes, and have seen the effects of many other bites. Believe me, I don't ever want to go through it myslef.
The 70-200mm has a minimum focus distance of 5'. Although I may appear very close to the snake, I was at least 5' back from him.
Peyton, Aug is great. The rains have already started here in Az. I plan on spending a week straight in the field in Aug!
Bill

Jul 04, 2009 at 03:35 AM

m. goodwin
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p.1 #23 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

Welcome.
I like the dof in the first and the s/s in 2.
The slight blur of the rattle in the second works well.
Very good first post.

Where I like we have rattelers and cooperheads, I will be very happy if these photos are all I see of venemous snakes this year. There is not much that compares to kneeling down in the woods and hearing that rattle, or looking down to see a coiled cooperhead.

Did I mention that I dislike snakes?

marty

Jul 04, 2009 at 04:11 AM

big country
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p.1 #24 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

i thought these guys were suppose to be placid!

great shots, i am jealous, the only AZ rattlers i have encountered are AZ blacks.

Jul 04, 2009 at 02:51 PM

azbill
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p.1 #25 · Blacktailed rattlesnake

Hi Marty, thank you for the comments. While I don't get the pleasure of seeing coiled Copperheads in these parts, I sure like the sound of a rattle! I realize not everyone feels the same though.
big country, he was fairly calm, but blacktails are notorious for rattling even when not neccessary. I've had a few "give themselves away" by rattling as I was driving dirt roads. They were well off the road and never would've been seen, but they sounded off and gave themselves up.
Az blacks are always a treat to see! Spend a few minutes in the Az deserts this time of yr, and you'll see several different species no problem.

Jul 04, 2009 at 08:21 PM


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