I have had this happen to me twice now, and considering I rarely see snakes at all, it is very frustrating!

I see the snake and before I've even had a chance to think about getting a camera out it's gone into the undergrowth never to be seen again. I would love to get a picture of one, but I guess I'll just have to keep trying until I get lucky or until I learn to be a bit quieter!

Has anyone any experience of photographing snakes?

Patience is the key! They are very elusive to photograph, but keep trying and being as quiet and as light on your feet as you can when approaching them you will get one in the end. As it's Summer they will probably be out in the open more to get the sunlight, so you might find it easier to find them around this time of year.

Good luck!

Indeed, good luck! I have three pet snakes and find it difficult to photograph them, even though they are tame AND slow !

Perhaps I should practice, though?

Kingfisher

You might have more luck in the early morning before they have had the sun and warmed up, snakes being cold bloodded after all. Make sure you are careful and don't startle them, an adder bite isn't life threatening but I still don't think it would be pleasant.

Thanks for the tips, I haven't had any luck and it's the wrong time of year now, but next year I will definitely will be out and raring to go!

I was thinking about getting in contact with a local reptile group, I'm sure they would have plenty of tips.

quick tips start looking in late february as they are a bit slower to scarper then.when out looking, look about 15 feet ahead on a south facing bank. Where the top of your shadow hits the ground is the warmest spot.

Great picture barry, and some very helpful tips too.

I finally managed to photograph a snake in the wild .

This is a Northwestern Garter Snake:



It has finally started to get cold here, and so this little fellow was quite sluggish when I found him. He should actually be hibernating by now. He was quite small, even for a garter snake, perhaps 18 inches long. He was probably a yearling.

Kingfisher

Great photo! Probably a good thing that it was quite sluggish. Is it a poisonous species?

No, the garter snakes are not venomous at all. They are dangerous only to frogs! There are no venomous snakes where I live in Washington state, on the west side of the Cascade Mountains. There are, however, rattlesnakes on the EAST side of the Cascade Mountains. I've never seen a rattlesnake here in Washington state, although I have looked .

Kingfisher