LA... Yes VERY dangerous!!! the venom is not fun at all, as is all pit vipers. (Notice the rattle.) As for the contrast, I prob. could to make him pop out a bit more, but with Rattle snakes, thats the point. God made em so you CANT see em! Lol..
And yes, he was a bit annoyed with me.
Eric.. Good point, howver the shot was taken on a dirt road that actually slopes upward like that.
When I took the shot, I was taking some friend's kids out to a scienic area, and they had never before seen a rattlesnake in real life. Well, this ol' boy was sunning himself on the road, and I stopped. Got out and took about 6 shots. Three of them on the ground about 3 feet away. (Well within the striking zone.)
Oh and Love... These guys... they are way too sharp for that. Ive tried.. Lol.. Something about NM rattlers.. They are not like other snakes... They are very good at being alert to everything. But hey.. Thats what makes em fun!!