What a great close-up of one of America's western diamondbacks. I grew up playing around the sand colored variety in southern Oregon. The Oregon western diamondback variety is apparently not as deadly as the Mojave Green as only a small percentage of direct bites from large adults have resulted in recorded deaths over the years. Most strikes only result in increased heart rates, severe swelling and nausea accompanied by some numbness and paralysis.

This photo, though obviously taken with a rather long lens to minimize the shooter's danger, as well as deliver an attractive field of focus effect, still wasn't taken as far away as I would have been comfortable with. When I was younger, I always thought that I could out grab a rattle snake strike if the subject was sufficiently distracted. But at the current age of near 51, those days are over. My suggestion is if one intends to shoot pics like this, wrap the designated arm in several loose layers of a heavy canvas and leather coat. This is not guaranteed to stop a venom strike, but it does make it much more difficult for the jaws and hollow fangs to pump the venom into human skin. The major danger of diamondback strikes is circulatory and respiratory failure without immediate treatment. If you are in a remote area (where these snakes are more prevalent) don't mess with them unless you have a very long lens. The adults can strike twice their length, and being coiled, their true length is misleading.