Photographic challenge:
I have thought of a project that I will try in December and January. I've read a few articles of people trying to photograph snakes while striking. I have yet to see ANY descent result but maybe someone here has tried it? I have tried with a little egg-eater but holding a camera in one hand and provoking the snake with the other produced only something like this:
(This was the best one My excuse is that it was taken in the field!)
The plan is as follows: Build a light beam trigger that is easily movable and aim it just above the snakes head. This wil then hopefully trigger the camera which will be maually focused with a flash, etc. In bright daylight it can possible be done without a flash using burst exposures but the flash will allow for a greater depth of field which hopefully result in sharper focus. I will try with a egg-eater first but ultimately the goal is to take a picture of a fast striker (adder). Obviously the setup will have to be perfect for the adder since I don't want to get my hands too close to the model. Any advice or ideas especially with regards to "safely provoking" it to strike? Very few pictures are worth a trip to the hospital.
Also, I have heard many different opinions as to how fast an adder can strike? What is the maximum speed at which these creatures can strike?