Photographer Captures Black Mamba Biting Him on Camera

I wonder what makes a venomous snake decide to bite, but not inject venom.

Are they just sort of exploring and trying to get a better feel for what catches their interest?

I've heard of sharks doing something like that, a test bite of some kind.

This is crazy. Lucky to be alive.

What a cruddy snake handler!!!

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Originally Posted by bubblz

:weirdface No excuse,.. he should have never been that close. If the handler was having issues then back away until they get situated. Cameras have zoom lenses for a reason. This could have easily been flipped and turned into something negative if he did end up in the hospital. Or worse actually died at home or some where and the pic found later.

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Just seeing how touchy mambas can be and how quick they are, I'm guessing it wouldn't take much time to have gotten into that predicament. A zoom lens is not quite always possible to get the type of detail I'm sure he's looking for. I'll give you that he needs better assistants and somebody more familiar with handling hots working with him.. but he might have been in a safe place, and the snake handler was doing a poor job, resulting in a potentially disastrous situation.

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Originally Posted by Scubaf250

Would make sense but it said on the article he didn't even notice until he looked at the pictures the next day... Pretty sure that you would be watching that thing closer then that and if there was a handler there then he must not care much for his clients hahaha

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A lot of real-time things can be missed when looking through a lens or screen. Yeah.. I'd wan to be making extra sure to pay attention and be careful, but to get the kinds of shots he's aiming for, you've gotta pay attention snake via camera and hope to God the person positioning the snake doesn't let it do something like, oh.. bite your shin. Lol.

And well.. if he's handling the snakes himself, perhaps that's his first mistake.

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Originally Posted by alkibp

I wonder what makes a venomous snake decide to bite, but not inject venom.

Are they just sort of exploring and trying to get a better feel for what catches their interest?

I've heard of sharks doing something like that, a test bite of some kind.

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Even spiders can bite and "shut off" their venom so to speak, or opt not to use it. My guess would be that the snake had no reason to inject venom... maybe he was more annoyed than frightened, maybe it was a warning, maybe it's better to conserve the venom in case it's actually needed later? :confuzd:

that is a very lucky man right there, i bet he's never appreciated life so much as he does right now

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Originally Posted by Anatopism

Just seeing how touchy mambas can be and how quick they are, I'm guessing it wouldn't take much time to have gotten into that predicament. A zoom lens is not quite always possible to get the type of detail I'm sure he's looking for. I'll give you that he needs better assistants and somebody more familiar with handling hots working with him.. but he might have been in a safe place, and the snake handler was doing a poor job, resulting in a potentially disastrous situation.

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:weirdface Not buying it,.. with or with out a zoom lens, he's still standing on the black backdrop so he couldn't have been too far (far enough) away from it.
These days you have cameras that hook up to TV and Computer screens with remote controls. So yeah,.. keep in mind how quick and touchy they are or may be.

It doesn't take long or much to realize and see that the handler is having issues with the snake and or the snake is out of view on cam.

Regardless of HOW he received the bite (improper handling of the snake, etc), he's lucky to be alive. The pictures on his site are AWESOME!

But...I have a hard time supporting someone who puts themselves in this sort've danger. It's like encouraging bad behavior.

I love all the misinformation from National Geographic in the article....you'd think someone from National Geographic would at least use the word venomous...sad

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Originally Posted by Luke Martin

I love all the misinformation from National Geographic in the article....you'd think someone from National Geographic would at least use the word venomous...sad

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i thought i was the only one who gets peeved about the terminology..

i used to correct people, but i feel like i sound pompous :oops::rolleyes:

This was a great stunt to get publicity, and it worked. I bet snake forums across the net are discussing this right now, all of them with links to his website.

I have a hard time believing this happened accidentally with a venomous animal. My best guess would be a venomoid that they weren't paying close attention to. And not noticing it until the next day? I find that hard to believe. My ball python bites itch a little bit after the fact. Not feeling anything or noticing anything shortly after the fact?

I'm skeptical.