DANGER!
Juvenile cape cobra (Naja nivea) hooding whist threaded through the eye socket of a goat skull.
Oudtshoorn, South Africa...
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Juvenile cape cobra (Naja nivea) hooding whist threaded through the eye socket of a goat skull.
Oudtshoorn, South Africa
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Oudtshoorn, South Africa
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Jan, 2015Views
3515
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Awards
Action Award
Chatter Award
Zenith Award
Creative Winter Award
Winner in In The Bones Photo Challenge
Top Shot Award 21
Legendary Award
Contest Finalist in The African Continent Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Snakes Photo Contest
Member Selection Award
Winner in Best Wildlife Photo Photo Challenge
People's Choice in Venomous Creatures Photo Challenge
Winner in Reptiles Photo Challenge
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Peer Award
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
All Star
Genius
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DanieleGualdoni
January 17, 2015
This is just impossible to remake. How the hell did you take such a good photo????? No words...
Platinum
Slangseun
January 17, 2015
Well, it was most certainly staged... We were doing research in the field outside of Oudtshoorn in South Africa and the fire brigade called about a problem snake in town. We decided to release it out in the hills where we were working, but only after taking some photographs of course. We happened upon this goat skull, very lucky find, we set up on a raised mound of this typical reddish sand you find in the area and started shooting. We coaxed the little guy (aprox 50cm long) through the eye socket and at this point my friend is holding on to the tail, which is just outside of the frame... One of my favourite photographs yet, I hope the story behind it doesn't ruin the magic of it.. :)
marXtone
October 21, 2017
Thank you for being honest! Now I respect you and your picture even more. Even though I prefer spontaneous pics, I am aware that something like this is pretty impossible to get. Anyway, good job and creativity!!
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ChixPixPhotography
April 02, 2015
Awesome photo and the story behind it was interesting and informative. Thanks for sharing it.
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RebeccaL
June 02, 2017
The story behind this photo does not in the least detract from this photo. It makes it even more amazing, in fact. The only thing I wished you'd done was remove that distracting stick poking up behind the snake.
Platinum
joeglasgow
March 04, 2018
Very exceptional picture....At first glance it looked like two snakes...but only an optical illusion....
Very precise shot. Thanks,,,,,
Very precise shot. Thanks,,,,,
Platinum
Slangseun
May 17, 2021
Thanks all, nice surprise to get a bunch of comments telling me I won the challenge 😊
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken on a farm just outside the town of Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo of South AfricaTime
The photo was taken around 13:30 on a mid-autumn afternoon.Lighting
As it was shortly after midday, the sun was close to being overhead. I tried to take up a position with the sun behind me. The light was not ideal, rather harsh and very bright, but I tried to make the best of it and I am very happy with the end result. I am actually glad the sun was almost overhead, as it ensured a nice gleam all along the back of the snake and the little eye glint is quite perfectly placed. I am not going to take credit for that, it just ended up working.Equipment
I was shooting with a Canon 400D and the 18-55mm kit lens. I shot handheld and used natural light only.Inspiration
I have always loved snakes, they are actually my main passion as a naturalist. We were doing a reptile survey in the field and were contacted about this specimen, which was in someone's home in town. We collected it in order to release it away from town. It was my first encounter with a juvenile Cape Cobra, so naturally I wanted to photograph it. We found the goat skull per chance and as we took a lunch break, we set up on a little mound and the shoot shaped itself from there, until we decided we had enough photos. The entire setup kind of just happened and evolved and this is the photograph with which I am happiest from the shoot.Editing
Yes, generally I use very minimal post processing, only tweaking things like exposure, contrast and saturation, but in this case I inserted a graduated filter through post processing. The filter was purely to create an exposure gradient, in order to bring out the colour in the sky, which was a bit overexposed due to time of day and the relatively harsh light we were experiencing at the time.In my camera bag
I used to have all my equipment in my bag... At the time of this photo this included a Canon 400D, 18-55 kit lens and 75 - 300 telephoto lens, as well as a speedlight 430X. My equipment has since been stolen and I managed to replace it with a Canon 50D, EF-S 18-200mm and a EF-S 60mm Macro. I also usually have my tripod with me, a Vanguard Alta-Pro 263AT with GH-300 Pistol Grip head, this setup is excellent for wildlife macro, something I have long been wanting to get into.Feedback
That is difficult, I was much less experienced at the time, this picture was taken early in 2011. With wildlife and especially snakes it is important to always respect the animal and not push the limits too far. Photographing this animal did agitate it a bit, but we took as little time as possible and kept the animal as comfortable as we could. We also did not prolong the agitation unnecessarily. So I believe it is extremely important to keep the animal's best interests at heart. Other than that, do not be afraid to get close enough, but don't be reckless. Getting the right angle is very important, I was down on my knees bent double, basically lying with my face in the sand for this photograph, as taking the picture from above would not capture that imposing posture and feeling of being stared right in the eye. Be creative, look for interesting objects to use, this photo would not have happened if we didn't find the goat skull along the way. Composition is, of course, important. With snakes, I find that to portray the essence of life, it is really effective if you can capture the flick of the tongue. This is a signature of snakes and capturing that moment adds to the enigmatic feel of the photograph and really ensures that the creature comes to life. Do not be afraid of filling up your memory card to capture that specific moment, but also try to anticipate it.
