Transparency-Water Snake

[stockdogtta]

My try at transparency...popped its head up at the edge for a few quick shots and then off again....ran across it a few other times while shooting around the pond that day. Sun was bright that day and if caught the angle and depth of water just right you could see in the water pretty good.

Dennis

[vsch1]

Oh Dennis, that image should come with a warning. Nicely done, however, the subject matter creeps me out.

[Calicajun]

Too close for me to that snake and the foreground is detracts from the subject.

[selvin]

Overall very nice idea and not too bad an execution either. The blur in the foreground and background -- is that naturally out of focus or did you use a photoshop or similar technique. Can't tell just asking.
The blur does help as a frame but is a bit heavy in the foreground.
Aloha

[stockdogtta]

Thanks everyone.
Selvin, the background is natural... the pond water is that cloudy/murky. The foreground I worked on-it was pretty much blown and this is what I come up with....I use NX2. It was a bright sunny day, I had seen this snake a few times before this, it would move around the pond bank and I follow and sneak up enough to try and get a few shots before it moved on again..would only have 5 seconds or so each time. This particular time I was on the dam side peeking up over the weeds just enough to get a shot-If I would tried to clear the weeds more , it would of been gone in a heart beat. This is a jpg of the original...appreciate any suggestions on what I could of did different in shooting or processing. If anyone wants to 'play' with this ...go right ahead.



Dennis

[selvin]

We have some shy birds over here that exhibit the same skittishnes towards photogs. I can emphatize with your dilemna.
Improvements bring to mind a blind of some sort and a lot of patience. None of this is easy.
Aloha

[StitchBabe]

Cool shot...what kind of snake is that? I have a pond in my back yard and once had a garter snake in it and boy do they move fast in the water!

[stockdogtta]

Thanks Selvin for the suggestion.

Cool shot...what kind of snake is that? I have a pond in my back yard and once had a garter snake in it and boy do they move fast in the water!

It's a common water snake. I see it every year for the past 7 yrs or so...its getting pretty big for a water snake. I few years back got a shot of it swallowing a catfish...about half swallowed..that was neat.

[calr]

Great job. I can't say I like snakes either.

Cal