'Tis the season.....to avoid reptiles

The festive season for us means long, boiling hot, sticky days contrasting sharply with the typical snowy Christmas images associated with this time or year.
But it is also the time of year when the local reptiles are the most active and turn up in the strangest places. I have a huge spitting cobra under my doorstep at the moment (the cat is fascinated by the huffing and hissing sounds everytime I walk in.) I can't get him out of there because I have to get down on all fours to get anything under the step and he is just waiting to spray me in the face - so he will have to stay there until he is bored and moves off - hopefully away from the house!

I find that snakes are usually not great subjects for photos - they are often very mobile and too shy (Not to mention what happens with some of them if you don't get out of the way!) The exception is the puff adder, who is slow and lazy most of the time.





These little Stripe-bellied sandsnakes are everywhere. Small and skinny, they look like a piece of garden hose but move like lightening. This little guy lives in a bush by my office window and feeds on geckos he nabs off the window sill.





This little chameleon is also resident in the same bush at the moment




Cute little guy, but he hates having his picture taken, he got very upset with me moving around him, so I don't think he will be here for much longer!

Thanks for looking!

AWESOME

My absolute faves are the second Puff Adder shot and the first Chameleon shot. That made me laugh about the Cobra, hope he moves on soon, away and not into the house xxx

I'm not brave enough to even try photograph the snakes, we get in the garden.

Another awesome set Sam! Like Moonie my faves are the second puff adder shot and the first chameleon

I would quite happily hang that puff adder shot on my wall any day of the week!

Lol re the cobra - it's funny how your so relaxed about it, I'd be panicking and wouldn't go near the front door!

Seconding the others, the DOF Is amazing on the second puffadder and the first chameleon. I love puffadders! Thank you for sharing!

xx

Great as ever.

Much as I love 'our' winter it's nice to see something different at this time of year.

Love the composition of the snake / shadow in the first shot and the depth of focus in the second.

Another great set of images Sam, especially 4 and 6. I think the Chameleon (#5) would have been a super shot if you had used a smaller aperture and got the legs in focus too.

Beautiful.

Amazing set Sam - well done

All great shots I would be too scared to get that close

Many thanks everyone - your comments are really appreciated! The cobra has moved off from under the doorstep - which is really a small wooden deck (nothing can get at me through the gaps so I don't need to be too worried about whatever lives there. They do tend to get all upset about someone walking just about them though.) The cobra has been replaced by a Rock monitor - even better at huffing and puffing when he is disturbed!