A tip for those who use refrigeration to slow photo subjects like

[AndyS]

insects, reptiles and amphibians. Watch the relative humidity!! This was shot after I refrigerated the grass snake for less than 15 minutes. The temp in the 'fridge is 40f which won't physically harm any but the most tropical species. The short time the snake was refrigerated probably dropped her temp to 50f, but the temp in my house was 77f (same as outside) so the AC hadn't dried the air which was at 85% humidity. Even that low temp differential results in condensation on cold blooded subjects. The snake was quite active at this point, not the least disabled by chill, yet the condensation kinda' spoils things.

So, If you choose to use refrigeration I have two tips: 1. make sure the humidity in the studio is low enough to prevent condensation and 2. Make damn sure your SO knows there's a snake in the refrigerator . . .

[Shermann]

1. I'd make one thing very clear to Mr. Fidgety Snake

If the refrigerator doesn't work, the microwave is next!

[AndyS]

2. Hey now! These creatures are beneficial and deserve our care and respect.

My neighbor has a 'snake problem'. No he doesn't, he has a rodent problem because his property is a mess! If there weren't any rodents there wouldn't be any snakes. No all you can eat buffet, no lunch crowd!

Seriously, I understand there are phobias and snakes get a bad rap but they are beautiful creatures. I carried this little thing around for 4 hours and she looked like an emerald bracelet on my arm. I found a 6' coach whip in the back yard and after she figured out I wasn't going to eat her she was a delight, curling around my arm and neck. Yes some do have defensive and offensive venom but hey, all God's critters gotta' eat and they eat the things we really don't want around; bugs, mice and other vermin.

I never harm my subjects because they offer so much joy and beauty.

[Shermann]

4. I'm with ya!

I killed a "copperhead" near my house about 15 years ago only to learn it was actually a rat snake. It was very large and very intimidating. But they are harmless and mostly eat rodents. They could live for 20 years, so taking one out can affect an entire local ecosystem. I was really depressed about that.

I haven't killed a snake since, and that's after encountering many bonafide copperheads.

The microwave thing was a joke of course. Cool photo!

[AndyS]

5. Yeah, it's a shame we have to use a 'sarcasm' emogi.

No harm, no foul.

We in the U.S. are lucky. We only have 4 poisonous species out of thousands and they are quite shy and retiring. Other countries have some very aggressive snakes that will go out of their way to bite you. Copper heads are really quite pretty with colors ranging from dusty brown to pink. Rattle snakes are quite beautiful too but the water moccasin is just yugly (that's one step past ugly). The royalty of poisonous snakes in N America is the Coral Snake and it's so docile you'd have to stick your finger in it's mouth to be bitten.

Now the Texas Rat Snake has a bad attitude. Was hatched mad and been mad ever since. WTF with Texas in it's name what would you expect . . .

[Major Nikon]

6. Now you've made me hungry

[multireeds]

3. This makes...

me laugh. Thanks for the tip.