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Exhibition Member Highlights
Coiled
About the image
This image has importance to me due to it convincing a snake fearer to rather embrace these animals and gaze upon them, instead of fear and despise them. It is with no doubt that many South Africans fear and kill snakes, that are crucial for our environment. Thus, this image carries an immense message to rather let them be, and both parties will prosper. All circumstances were perfect when I was taking this image, even the iridescence of the scales appear on the olive-brown scales of this snake. It was truly pure coincidence when I found the snake, but it was perfect timing to take this marvellous image.
SPECIES:
Brown House Snake - Boaedon capensis
How it was captured
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS
1/15 sec
f/8
ISO 100
14mm (4.3-215.0mm)
Photographer:
Age:
From:
Lihan Bester
20
Gauteng
About the photographer
From a young age, I was obsessed with any form of reptile, from the small skinks found in our gardens to the gigantic pythons. I truly do not know why I love animals so much; it must be a little bit of defiance every time my father said to leave the snakes alone. This obsession quickly developed into a passion for all fauna, especially reptiles and birds. The main reason why I picked up my first camera was to remember all the amazing animal and nature interactions I have during vacations and just walking around in the African bush. The passion for taking my camera everywhere suddenly developed into an addiction: to photograph each animal I see and to get that nearly perfect shot of each one. I truly do see the potential in each animal for a photo, no matter how scaly they are.
PHOTOGRAPHER'S QUOTE
Being in nature is the purest form of serendipity, where unexpected encounters are the gifts that wait to be captured.
CONSERVATION MESSAGE
Leave nature be and unharmed. Reptiles in our country are extremely under threat and need to be protected form those who would do harm and exploit them.