How To Shoot A Rattlesnake

 

 So, here's one way to photograph a rattlesnake.

 1. Find a rattlesnake. You must not skip this step. It is essential to your success.
 2. Put a Kenko extension tube between your 70-200 lens and your camera body. (This reduces your minimum focal distance and creates a razor-thin depth of field. It's not quite a macro lens, but it's close.) Of course, this means you've got to get really close to the snake.
 3. Lay on your stomach so your shot is eye-level with the snake.
 4. Put your objective lens about 12 inches from the snake.  Do this very carefully. Anti-venom is expensive.
 5. Get closer.
 6. Focus.
 7. Get lower.    
 8. Fire away.
 9. If unbitten, crawl away slowly. 
10. If bitten, crawl away slowly. (Two bites hurt worse than one and this is not the best time to increase your heart rate.) As long as you remain conscious move towards civilization. Scratch a note in the sand. Sign your name.
11. While you're able, look at your pictures. If satisfied, repeat steps 1 thru 10. (You can never have too many good rattlesnake pictures.)  If unsatisfied, repeat steps 1 thru 10. 

That's what I learned while shooting rattlesnakes with Wyman, though no one should blame him if I misunderstood. His instructions were superb; it's my understanding that's questionable.

Jeremiah 17:21a  -  This is God's Message. Be careful, if you care about your lives...

Comments

[Chris S.]

Just for clarification :-) The extension tube increases the focal length but decreases the minimum focus distance.

[Tim]

Is that his tongue?? Looks creepy.

[Mark Beeson]

Good catch Chris! Thanks a million. :-)
- Mark

[Jody]

Mark-
Not sure if you're brave or silly. Either way you're very comical. Thanks for the laugh before I go to bed. I might be dreaming of rattle snakes tonight. Ewhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Jody

[Steve Stogdill]

All I can say is that snake looks rather ticked. What a shot.

[Eric]

Wow. That's ONE way to spend your sabbatical.