Red bellied black snake and other adventures…

[Dennis]

Hello,

We recently had a glorious week’s camping at O’Reilly’s located in the Lamington National Park just behind the Gold Coast. On the first day, we were entertained by a 60cm red bellied black snake who seemed quite inquisitive. The local warden said that they are usually quite docile, unless stood on!

After a day’s long walk, we returned to find a dragonfly perched on a towel we draped on one of the guy ropes. I fitted the Canon EF-S 60mm F2.8 macro lens and grabbed a couple of quick shots, but the guys seemed unperturbed so I set up the tripod and slowly inched closer.

It was truly a wonderfully relaxing week, immersed in the beauty of the rain forest and its creatures.

Cheers

Dennis

PS – One day, or night, I might even get to post some astrophotos! LOL!

[h0ughy]

excellent images dennis - showed my daughter and she liked them, but hated the snake - LOL

[acropolite]

Superb images Dennis, how the hell you managed to get so close to those birds beats me, or are they tame living around a camping area??

[Dennis]

Hi H0ughy

Thanks! So sorry about scaring your daughter – lucky I wasn’t in the frame! LOL!



Hi Phil

Thanks! The birds were technically wild, although they are reasonably used to having campers around. The Wardens actively and strongly discourage feeding, although O’Reilly’s do have a designated feeding area for tourists’ approx ½ km from the campsite where you can see flocks of Crimson Rosellas and King Parrots that will land on your arm and tear it to shreds with their claws!

The Eastern Yellow Robins landed on nearby wooden posts early morning and late afternoon in their search for big, fat, juicy worms so it was possible to get within 3 to 4 metres of them.

The Eastern Spinebill was busy feeding in the shrub so I managed to sneak up to with 2 to 3 metres and the Superb Fairy Wrens kept their distance (4 to 5 metres?) and were so quick that it was quite challenging to snap off even a single frame. Having the time to play a waiting game is what did it in the end. Here is the full frame of the Wren to give you an idea of how close you can get in this “less than truly wild” environment.

All were captured with the Canon EF 70-200 F4L.

Cheers

Dennis

[astro_south]

Wow Dennis ... these are fantastic.

Great detail on the DF - particularly the top view of his wing joints. Nice sharpness in the bird shots ... the 70-200F4 IS is worth every cent when you see results like that.

Don't see what's entertaining about a red bellied black snake in the vicinity, but each to his own :)

thanks for sharing

[Dennis]

Thanks Andrew – I’m coveting that 100mm F2.8 macro of yours right now; I keep bumping the front glass of my 60mm on the subject! LOL!

Cheers

Dennis

[beren]

:)very nice images Dennis, I can only dream of a camping trip at the moment so I'm envious

[jjjnettie]

Gorgeous images Dennis.
The Dragonfly particularly. Incredible detail.

[Dennis]

Thanks Stuart and Jeanette – they have provided a welcome interlude due to the absence of good astronomy skies of late.

The park wardens did offer to remove the snake, but when they said that for every one you see, there are 5 you don’t see, we said forget it; we’ll just check our boots and sleeping bags before we put them on or get into them! LOL!

Cheers

Dennis

[ving]

you have great photography skills dennis!
well done! :)

love the snake.
you glued the dragon fly down didnt you! :D

[Dennis]

Thanks David – you ‘aint so bad yourself, so that means a lot coming from you.

I’m reasonably at ease with the technical side of framing, focusing, etc as a result of astronomy, but my creative eye is, well, less than developed, as I tend to snap what is there rather than create photos from scratch. I should really make a greater effort to shoot the theme for the monthly comp, in the designated month, as there is nothing like practice.

The dragon fly was definitely asleep, it didn’t bat an eyelid as I inched closer!

Cheers

Dennis

[glenc]

Superb shots Dennis. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[ving]

i see you use the same method with dragonflies as i do with flies then... wait for them to go to sleep :P

[Dennis]

Hey Ving

We think this dragonfly didn’t quite make it home to his roost before the evening chill set in, so after the photo session, we carefully put him inside a nearby bush. He wasn’t there in the morning… and it was in the same bush where we saw the red bellied black snake…

Cheers

Dennis

[glenc]

It's nice to see you were close to the snake. The blacks are good guys they keep the browns away, provided they don't eat cane toads.