So That's Where I Put My Body Photo

Photographer’s Note

On my walk around the Henry Ford Estate to see how flooded the river was I ran into numerous animals, once again. The first ones were 2 families of Canadian Geese, one couple with 1 gosling and the other with 4 or 5 goslings.

While I was watching them a couple asked if I had seen the snakes back a ways, which I hadn't. So I went back to where he said they were and sure enough there were 4 Garter Snakes around. Two snakes were out on the rocks, under some leaves. Another was lounging on leaves hanging over the river and a fourth was hiding between openings in the slate stones.

The one over the river was the largest, about 3 inches in diameter. Either it had recently eaten or was a full size snake. It was also impossible to get a good view of. One on the rocks moved farther into the leaves as my shadow passed over him and the one between the slates would not come out of his difficult to photograph spot. He just stared out, taunting me that I could not get his portrait.

But there was one on the rocks I was able to get a few shots of as he moved around but did not try to hide. I made sure to keep my shadow from falling on him since I realized they would not move if a shadow didn't hit them. This was favorite shot as he curled around back over his body.

Facts about Garter Snakes and Snakes in Michigan
Eastern Garter Snake
Thamnophis Sirtalis Sirtalis
Size: 2-4 feet
Food: Worms, small amphibians, small fish
Habitat: Woodlands, meadows, marshes, lakes, under debris, suburbs, damp areas

There are 18 types of snake native to Michigan and the Eastern Massasauga is the only venomous one. Its saliva can cause tissue damage.
Michigan snakes are considered beneficial because they eat rodents and insects that damage the environment.

bazal, jhonny_blue, papagolf21, bertolucci, jhm, Rinie_Hoff, RobBrown, kajenn, gaetantgp, roconnell, mdchachi, tucancr, sn00zie, rajhema has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

PechePassion (483) 2004-05-27 2:46

Salut Paul , oui j'ai connu ca il y a quelque jours, j'ai pris mon courage à deux main pour en faire une macro de ses yeux que tu peux voir ici. C'est vrai que ca fait bizarre !
LA photo est jolie en détail et couleur, j'aurais peu etre recadrer la scène en forma panoramique pour allonger ce serpent.

Spoony (3539) 2004-05-27 3:31

I hate this kind of animals... but it don´t interfeer with your photo quality! Very good shot.
Well done and seen.

jhonny_blue (4938) 2004-05-27 4:30

Very good picture and note !
I like the colours and definition.
Congratulations

papagolf21 (56159) 2004-05-27 4:41

Il faut savoir garder son calme et son sang froid quand on voit ce genre de reptiles. Vous avez su garder les deux Paul.
Très intéressante note d'accompagnement (ce n'est pas nouveau) pour notre plus grand plaisir.
Jolie composition qui fait un peu peur.
Bien vu Paul.
It is necessary to know to keep its calms and its cold blood when one sees this kind of reptiles.You knew to keep both Paul.
Very interesting note of accompaniment (it is not new) for our greater pleasure.
Pretty composition which makes a little fear.
Well done Paul.

spence (1679) 2004-05-27 7:00

This is great, Paul. The snake is beautiful and you were lucky to find it in such a photogenic setting - the colours are lovely and the contrast allows for a very clear shot. By the way, if you're into snakes, we have in Australia the ten most venomous in the world, they say!

wilkinsonsg (8646) 2004-05-27 12:03

Very clear image, colours are vibrant (foliage) and the snake twists like the plants stem - well done :)

bertolucci (11976) 2004-05-27 12:52

The chosen title tenders this pic humerous, Paul. It looks now as if he/she is really checking his body out. I like your compo with the snake making an elips. The different focal plains makes this picture xtra interesting and colours and sharpness (I like the texture o the soil) are fine. Nice capture.

jhm (82201) 2004-05-27 12:53

Great note Paul, but this serpent is wonderful, your photo is extraordinary, you did great work.

Rinie_Hoff (9332) 2004-05-27 13:12

Hi Paul, now I have to commend on a scaring animal, venomous or not. I dislike them, have seen a couple in the states, but as I do not know, which are venomous and which not, I'm very scared of them.
Neverthelees, this is a fine composition with these green leaves and the end of his tail being like branch itself. Nice and crisp.
Your notes are great!

RobBrown (1789) 2004-05-27 15:50

Good title and an even better capture nice one. care and time works wonders, very clear and sharp.

mogens-j (56) 2004-05-27 18:11

Very funny title for this picture Paul. Nice and sharp picture, lots of details and great colours - well done.

kajenn (2325) 2004-05-27 19:32

A nice and funny capture, Paul, and a bit unusual for you. It's a great composition and a very nice color combination. Also nice textures on the rock, which serves as backdrop, and on the leaves, which serve as a "mini jungle". Informative note as always - well done!

gaetantgp (1310) 2004-05-27 21:24

Very clear shot Paul, the colors also A1. The snake was actualy looking at you, he dosn't kmow that is now a Star :-))Well done...Gaétan

roconnell (327) 2004-05-28 1:06

Beautiful contrast and incredible clarity. Both the vegetation and snake seem to be entwined and clinging to the ground below - sort of keeping a low profile. Well done.

cmartos (6086) 2004-05-28 3:22

Hi Paul, excellent catch. You kept your calm to shot he/she ;-). Excellent details and sharpness with great colour contrast. Nice composition too, this guy really seems to look for his body.I would crop top and bottom a bit to make it more panoramic, but this is personal taste. Excellente note too, as usual. Well done Paul.

sn00zie (2384) 2004-07-25 10:58

i hate snakes!!! and am petrified of them.. but there's something about this picture.....niceeee

archanabhimasen (270) 2005-04-25 14:49