<< Previous Next >>

Yellowbelly Racer Attack


Yellowbelly Racer Attack
Photo Information
Copyright: Howard Cheek (marhowie) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5731 W: 1197 N: 98] (486)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2012-08-02
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III, Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS USM, Digital ISO 320
Exposure: f/14.0, 1/1000 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2012-08-10 16:22
Viewed: 3425
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This Yellowbelly Racer first ran up towards our pond at blazing speed, from the marshy area below. It stopped at ponds edge, in a coiled & upright stance. Then through the water, with a few missed strikes at the leopard frogs there. Finally, it wound its way up through, and deep into the rocks that make up our fountain. It cornered this large one, and the frog squealed for at least five minutes or so as it tried to escape. All out of sight inside these rocks, but dramatic none-the-less.
This shot is at the point where the snake’s backing out of the rocks, with frog in tow. In the end, the frog escaped believe it or not. As I moved closer, the snake let go it’s grip. It noticed the “Incredible Hulk” approaching ;-)
So a happy ending for you frog lovers out there!

Hard light at noon sharp, no flash using a Kenko 2x extender.
Location: Texas Hill Country.

POST SCRIPT: During the course of this day I had the pleasure of watching both male & female pairs of Roadrunner & Cuckoo birds hunting frogs at the pond. There’s a large crop of frogs this year, so the hunting’s good. If you’re a snake or a bird that is :)
goatman04, Miss_Piggy, devildoc, PeterZ, CeltickRanger has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Your occasional come-back here on TN brings in some respectability to this badly dilapidated photo sharing site, Howard.
This highly dramatic scene you have posted today is once again the last word in nature photography.
Hope you are keeping well.
Ram

Kind of a creepy picture Howard. Excellent sharpness to the image though. I guess you have to take the good with the bad in nature. A real gem of a shot! TFS Trevor

Hi Howard,
just the moment! excellent capture,
TFS, Ferran

Hello Howard,
A terrific capture with beautiful action, timing & great colors. Very nicely composed & presented. Great work & TFS. Glad to know that the frog escaped from the jaws of death!
Regards & best wishes!

Umar

Hallo Howard
Now what more can I say than WOW what a shot! This is really a lively photograph filled with lots of "action" that is so well seen. I am sure you enjoyed every minute of this scenario taking place right in front of your eyes, let alone the great photograph you took here. Thanks for sharing, and it was great to see your name once again in the gallery. Best regards.
Anna

Howard,

Wonderful capture of this "action shot". Truly an impressive image. Wonder if the snake would have turned the Rana sp. around to swallow him head first? We will neve know I guess. Very nice combo of F stop/ss/and ISO. Unfortunately, I hit a "roadrunner" in Arizona this week ... expect that is an unusual event.

Best wishes,

Mike

striking capture, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2012-08-11 5:14]

Hello Howard,
Great to see a new photo from you. And a very special one.
Excellent action shot in fantastic sharpness, beautiful natural colours and taken from a very nice POV.
Regards,
Peter

Ciao Howard nice see you again on TN, my old friend, amazing action shoot, fine details, splendid sharpness and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

Hello Howard

Great shot with excellent timing to show the
struggle of life and death in the nature, TFS

Asbed

nice capture! tfs

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF