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Vermin Exterminator


Vermin Exterminator
Photo Information
Copyright: Gerhard Theron (gerhardt) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1976 W: 259 N: 4103] (11585)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-08-21
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Minolta Dimage Z1
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Travelogue: Emerald Casino Resort Animal Park
Theme(s): Snakes - Serpientes - Serpents [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2004-08-25 6:49
Viewed: 2699
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Yellow Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta spiloides)

This snake's colour can range anywhere from orange to yellow to olive green. The one unifying factor is the set of 4 stripes that go from head to tail on adults. Young yellow rat snakes have very faint or no stripes. They have a blotched pattern that gradually fades. These snakes can get quite large, reaching 2m. The yellow, black, grey, Everglades, and birds rat snakes are all subspecies that look very similar at birth.
Yellow rat snakes are found throughout most of Florida and the Keys. They also live in a narrow strip along the Atlantic coast through Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. They are often found in warm southern swamps, and are also common in abandoned buildings and barns. They probably got their nickname "chicken snake" from numerous barn yard sightings.

This snake will lay anywhere between 4 to 28 eggs in a clutch during the summer. The eggs are typically laid in rotten logs.

Besides rats, yellow rat snakes will eat a wide variety of small mammals, birds, and eggs. They are considered the best tree climbing snake in Florida. The scales on their bellies are squared off, which aids them tremendously with climbing. They are strong constrictors, and kill their prey by suffocation.

Yellow rat snakes are one of the more common snakes in Florida. They adapt well to residential areas as long as there is enough prey to catch. They are also quite popular as pets, and are easily bred in captivity.

For more info on the venue please see the travelogue.
AndyB, Lesley, PDP, carper, japie, mogens-j, nwoehnl, Esox has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1391 W: 32 N: 1350] (3982)
  • [2004-08-25 7:05]

A nice shot.
Composition and DoF are spot on.
Excellent detail and colours.
A great note too,very well done.

Gerhard, It looks like the snake is looking at you. Good portrait. I experimented a little and come to the conclusion that cropping part of the bottom and left increases focus on the snake. (sew my WS).
Good portrait.
Greetings, Jan

Very nice shot Gerhard
Good composition , good DOF, nice colors and good details.
Great note.

I have a huge phobia/fear of snakes, so as my therapy I force myself to photograph small garden snakes...this snake I would have run from...I know, silly me. Anyhow...this is a lovley protrait and I think the composition is just right. I looked at Jan's workshop on this photo and although I understand the point, I like the fact that this snake in the original has somehwere to go...there is enough space between the head of the snake and the direction it is going in before the photo ends.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2004-08-25 9:58]

Cool, we need more reptiles on here and I'm glad to see you are redressing the balance. Very nice shot, good compo and ace note. Well done Gerald (:-))

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2009 W: 122 N: 2581] (8424)
  • [2004-08-25 10:23]

very good shot Gerhard,
Good capture of this snake, good colours, and nice dof, very good note too, very nice I like the work, good job

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2004-08-25 10:32]

En Argentina, no es muy común tener mascotas de este tipo.
Yo a fines de los 70, llegué a tener serpientes de hasta 4 metros de largo como una de ellas... siempre me atrajeron los ofidios.
Gran captura por su nitidez y colorido.
Es imposible retratar a estos animales de cuerpo completo si se desea obtener un primer plano de los mismos.
Bien hecho.

In Argentina, it is not very common to have mascots of this type.
I by the end of them 70, got to have serpents of up to 4 meters in length as one of them... always attracted the ophidiens to me.
Great capture by its colorful and clearness.
It is impossible to portray these animals of complete body if it is desired to obtain a first plane of such.
Well done.

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2004-08-25 14:12]

Very nice capture, with excellellent detail. I love the texture on the snake and branch. Thanks posting

Great picture Gerhard. Very sharp and lots of details - as usual. The blurred background is perfect and I love the composition with the snake coming in from the corner - very good job. Very informative note too.

Very good job on the compo, Gerhard. Two strong diagonals, one significantly more vivid-looking than the other, and fine use of DOF. I like the way in which the sunlight accentuates the texture of the snake. Well done.

oupss rien que dans les yeux , j'avouerai tout..rire...superbe prise de ce serpent...le détail de ses écailles est très bien rendu ainsi que les couleurs...fascinant son regard...bien fait ...bravo...amicalement BI

  • Great 
  • Esox Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 239 W: 20 N: 344] (972)
  • [2004-09-03 15:58]

Superb shot.
I'll post an Elaphe longissima picture next time.
Great details and compo.
TFS.

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