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

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

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.

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

Thank you Duane.

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

Tim

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

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

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

Welcome. Great shots. Nice details
Harsha

1st and 3rd are fantastic shots!

90mm!

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

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

oh...hell no. nice shots though!

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

Rob

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!

Great shots, love the first one.

Howard.

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!

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

tom

the last one is scary!

Fine work.

Morris