Although a vision of a snake is not the most alluring subject matter to those who have an aversion to such, Carol’s Valley Garter Snake image did win the attention of the National Wildlife Federation judges who awarded it an Honorable Mention in the 2020 NWF Photo Competition and it is now part of NWF’s Outstanding Wildlife Photos of the Year exhibition.
Carol saw and tracked this critter as it slowly swam in a seasonal canal adjacent to her path, and of course, took photos the entire time. Admittedly, the peacefulness and undisturbed study of this animal is compelling. Moreover, what is most exceptional about the image, and serves as true testament to capturing a precise moment in time, is that a close study of the wakes in the water reveals the snake was traveling in one direction and its tongue was caught retracting in opposite.