| The cobra swayed ever so slightly as he twisted | | | | created of the Hindu god Ganesha, the remover |
| his head from side to side eyeing us cautiously. | | | | of all obstacles. Ganesha, as it turns out, wears a |
| Camera glued to my eye, I edged a bit closer, | | | | snake as part of his pantheon of symbols. And |
| snapping off frames, playing with the composition. | | | | you never know where that Cobra may show up |
| The snake struck the side of my face before I | | | | next! |
| even knew what was happening. I fell backward, | | | | During our photo shoot it was obvious to me that |
| away from the blow, my heart pounding. Even | | | | the snake charmer, a poor Indian man, but |
| though I knew that the de-fanged snake was | | | | possessed of grace and dignity, was very fond of |
| harmless, adrenaline was coursing through my | | | | his Cobra. Every time I have had to photograph a |
| veins! | | | | snake, I have done so under the closer |
| I was in Mumbai, India doing a stock photo shoot | | | | supervision of its owner. I shoot pictures of a lot |
| to photograph a cobra in a boardroom. Wherever | | | | of animals and we always use either the owner |
| I go, I try and come up with unique new concept | | | | or a professional trainer to guide us in how to |
| stock images, and I try to think of what additional | | | | shoot the animal without stressing or endangering |
| images I might need to create more such images | | | | it...or us! |
| when I return to my studio in Sausalito, California. | | | | When shooting snakes it is important to |
| Of course, as usual, things were a little more | | | | remember that they are far more fragile than |
| complicated than I expected them to be. | | | | one might guess. They have thin, delicate bones, |
| Finding a cobra to photograph, for example, | | | | are very sensitive to temperature, and are easily |
| wasn't such an easy thing to accomplish. As it | | | | stressed. If the snakes in question are poisonous |
| turns out, they don't allow snake charmers to | | | | then I would never get within striking range, and |
| entertain the tourists in Mumbai anymore. My | | | | certainly wouldn't even attempt to photograph |
| Indian producer did finally manage to find a real | | | | one without a professional handler. No snake |
| snake charmer at the last minute. As we were | | | | picture is worth dying for! |
| already shooting in a call center, we had the | | | | As a stock photographer I strive to create unique |
| snake charmer set up in one of the meeting | | | | new stock images that the marketplace wants |
| rooms. | | | | and needs. I hate to admit it, but my snake |
| My plan was to shoot the snake in such a way | | | | images have not been among my best sellers. |
| that I could later shoot a businessman and have | | | | Perhaps it is because such a large percentage of |
| him "charming" the cobra out of his briefcase. OK, | | | | the market is squeamish or even frightened of |
| corny idea, I admit it. And I never did do that | | | | snakes...or perhaps my snake images just haven't |
| image. But the cobra images did come in handy. I | | | | been good enough. |
| utilized the Cobra photograph in a stock image I | | | | |