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Don`t tread on me !


Don`t tread on me !
Photo Information
Copyright: Alex Strugariu (Alex_Strugariu) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 124 W: 0 N: 174] (649)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07
Categories: Reptiles
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-08-09 17:26
Viewed: 1818
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi everyone,

This is my last shot before I head on a long trip threw South-Eastern Romania (Macin Hills) and South-Western Romania (Caras-Severin County). I`ll be back at the end of this month, hpefully with some better shots. I just bought myself a better camera (Panasonic Lumix FZ 7) and hope to get better pics.

Here`s a little something about this animal:

The European Adder, European Viper, Common adder or the Northern Cross-Viper (Vipera berus) is another very wide spread species of snake in Europe and even reaches the arctic circle, being the most northern species of snake in the world.

In Romania it can be found throughout the Carpathians and even in lower regions.

The medium lenght of these snakes is 50-60cm for an adult but I have read of records of over 100cm. The longest one I`ve ever seen was about 70cm.
Sexual dimorphism is present in most individuals (the most common exceptions are melanistic-completely black adders), the males being more light collored than the females.

The reproductive period is in march-may and in july-september the females give birth to 5-20 babies.

The babies feed mostly on small lizards (mostly Zootoca vivipara) while the adults feed on micromammals, lizards, frogs and even very small birds. These snakes are knowned for being scavangers.

Their venom is one of the most complex and active snake venoms. Fortunatly, being small snakes, they don`t have a lot of it so a bite from one of these guys would probably just make you sick for a couple of days. It`s worth knowing that these guys will only bite if threatened: stepped on, picked up.

Of course, like with any snake, people kill adders out of feer and ignorance...this species is losing ground as we speek and has become a threatened or endangered species in most places.

Hope you enjoy the picture. It was taken last month near the town of Campulung Moldovenesc, in the Eastern Carpathians (Suceava County, Romania).
Nikola, markula, horia, tinman, liquidsunshine, RAP, ginzburg, IulianGherghel has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Aramok: R U Sure ? :)Alex_Strugariu 4 10-12 03:22
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Critiques [Translate]

Oooh, Alex!
It's a fabulous picture, indeed! I like the colors and the moment of striking pose! Unfortunately there is a dry grass on the body, by the way a fantastic picture! I have never seen this species in turn it lives in my country too. You are lucky to could taking photos on it.
TFS, Nikola

Hello Alex!
Excellent shot of the viper. Tha snake is well placed within the frame, focus is spot on, the exposure is right and the variation of colors in the skin is well defined. Enjoy your new camera!
Mark

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2006-08-09 23:12]

Hi Alex

Great shot of this snake.I nearly stepped on a garter snake today and did not even get a shot of it, it was so fast.Excellent POV and DOF.The details are sharp and crisp.Well done!

TFS

Rob

Ceau Alex,

I am leaving for a long trip too in a few days in South East Asia and just like you I hope for some really good shots. Places might be different but were birds of the same feather you and I. If I get to Romania anytime soon you and I were hookin up, my brother is also a guide at the Apuseni Nat. Preserve and avid spelunker. I wish you all the best and stay out of harms way, I hope to dedicte you some cobra and Komodo dragon shots when I return from their own home in Indonesia! Toate cele bune!

THE CRITIQUE SCALE
Composition & POV : 10
Sharpness & DOF : 8
Light & color: 9
Creativity & Originality: 10

Best regards,
Xplorator (Radu F.)

oh it definelty made me sick for 3 days in hospital not allowed to eat or drink or even get out of bed was not much fun. It can also damaged the heart muscles if not treated in time as well.


nice shot with great POV and DOF and lighting. I can't remember nwhich way round it is, but I think the males are the brown and black with females being more yellow and black and they can grow well over 100cm. I had one through my garden once - female just out of hibernation - which was almost 150cm. I used the 300mm lens to get a photo of her, staying well away from her....

TFS
Emma

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2169 W: 218 N: 4383] (14900)
  • [2006-08-10 3:35]

Salut Alex

Am vorbit destul pe mess asa ca nu o sa-ti mai urez spor inca o data pentru viitoarea ta excursie :P :))
Foarte misto poza asta, oricum, cu un focus excelent pe capul ei, culori superbe si detalii foarte faine. Intr-adevar...paiul acela strica un pic din armonia imaginii...dar parca si asta ti-am mai zis :)))))

Tinem legatura
Bravo si TFS
Horia

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 261 N: 3035] (13835)
  • [2006-08-10 5:39]

Hi Alex,

Again a wonderfull close up from this snake,well captured with good colors and details,

Paul

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1740 W: 95 N: 2273] (8411)
  • [2006-08-10 9:26]

Hi Alex,
Excellent composition, very good details, right use of dov, natural frame,...,a great portrait!
TFS, José M.
PS. I look forward to see new shots form your trip.

  • Great 
  • tinman Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 242 W: 7 N: 458] (2663)
  • [2006-08-10 13:43]

Super note and although Im not a snake addict, this is well composed and presented here, helps to inform us about the animals we know very little about. Great work

Very well captured Alex,
The details are nice, clear and sharp.
Good colours, lighting and exposure. DOF is spot on and the POV is good, perhaps a touch lower would make a more captivating shot (but you still got very close to this adder).
Well composed and good framing.
Thanks for posting, have a safe & fantastic trip. I look forward to seeing your shots when you return.

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2006-08-11 8:04]

Una interesante y peligrosa captura Alex.
Bellos tonos con un contraste muy agradable del ofidio y su entorno.
El F2.8 usado no fue suficiente para captar la totalidad del animal en foco, pero el POV y la composición es muy buena.
Saludos... Ricardo

An interesting and dangerous captures Alex.
Beautiful tones with a very pleasant contrast of the ophidian and its environment.
Used F2.8 was not enough to capture the entirety of the animal in focus, but POV and the composition is very good.
Greetings... Ricardo

Oops... :) tomorrow

Nice capture. There is not so many adders on TN. Crisp clear. Brown and green are nice together.
Note that a byte can still be deadly to little kids and week people. (your note is still interesting good and accurate)
TFS

Hello Alex,

Great picture! Very sharp, very good POV and DOF. TFS.

Ginz.

Alex..hi
Good capture.
Head is sharp and compo isn't bad.
TFS
Annick

superba fotografia.
numai bine,
iulian

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