A couple hiking encounters.
Jul 20, 2020 17:19:42 #
Last week I hiked a local “rails-to-trails” segment. I came across the young doe here and she happily watched me as I watched her. This image is a huge crop — I was about 60 feet away and the camera was sporting a 16mm lens. While she was content to stand and watch (even as I hiked on past), I don’t think me dropping the pack and digging out the 90mm would have resulted in her still being there.
The next guy was this week. I was hiking with a bunch of kids up in the Blue Ridge Mountains when we came across this feller. I was able to chase him off the trail, but that’s as far as he was willing to go. I kept several sets of eyes on him while I dug in the pack and swapped out to the 90mm. This shot is from about 10 feet away.
For both shots I was in aperature priority mode and pushed +2 EV to get decent exposure in the deep shadow. Other than the crop on the doe, both shots are straight off the camera.
The camera is the single heaviest piece of gear I carry (other than the water bladder, when it’s full), but when I get shots like this I am glad for the weight!
The next guy was this week. I was hiking with a bunch of kids up in the Blue Ridge Mountains when we came across this feller. I was able to chase him off the trail, but that’s as far as he was willing to go. I kept several sets of eyes on him while I dug in the pack and swapped out to the 90mm. This shot is from about 10 feet away.
For both shots I was in aperature priority mode and pushed +2 EV to get decent exposure in the deep shadow. Other than the crop on the doe, both shots are straight off the camera.
The camera is the single heaviest piece of gear I carry (other than the water bladder, when it’s full), but when I get shots like this I am glad for the weight!
Jul 20, 2020 17:42:36 #
That is a good sized rattler! Glad you didn't step on him. Interesting he would take a stand, usually all snakes try to get away unless they are cornered except for the water moccasin which can be rather aggressive at times. I recall a summer camp way back in another lifetime when a friend ran one into a clump of bushes. Bobby went in to see where he was going -- a minute later he ran out of the bushes with the snake on his heels.
Jul 20, 2020 18:00:19 #
I tried multiple times to fling him off into the woods away from the trail (using trekking poles, not my hands!). He simply would not leave the area and further than right there where I took his picture. He was out on the trail when I initially saw him - I would guess him to be at least 3 feet long, but I don't think he was more than 4 feet.
Jul 20, 2020 21:50:16 #
Out here, not a lot of years ago, even quite young ranch kids were scolded if they didn't kill rattlers they encountered with sticks and stones. The world turns. Shovels work!
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