WildView™

January 10, 2020

Black Racer

- as seen by -

Chris Spohn

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Before school starts, my family and I try to go on one last vacation to stretch the summer out as much as possible. This year, we went where the cheap flights would take us – down to Florida. I wrapped my clothes around my camera and lenses, stuffed everything into one bag, and off we went.

I had flagged a few nature preserves hoping to see some snakes which are plentiful, but none were to be found. We searched high and low, on rocks and under logs, with no luck. On one of the last days, it started to rain. There in the grass, a few feet from the hotel door, was a beautiful southern black racer (Coluber constrictor priapus). Racers are very heat tolerant – the last of the snakes to go running for shade in late August. They are also very patient snakes in my experience. I was able to get close enough for this shot, so close that you can see me laying in the grass with my camera in the reflection of its eye.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This photo was chosen as one of the top submissions for Wild View’s Beginning with B assignment. Congratulations!

Pentax K-1 with Sigma 70mm Macro Lens

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