APS Behind the Lens: One Serendipitous Encounter

As a self-taught amateur photographer who has roamed and lived across the vast landscapes of Australia, it wasn’t until I captured this image that my passion for photography truly ignited.

My love for photography dates to my childhood, when I eagerly took it as an elective in primary school. I fondly remember sneaking my dad’s 35mm camera whenever I could, often without his knowledge until the film was developed.

Years later, when my own children showed an interest in digital photography, I decided to join a camera club with them. This not only helped them learn the intricacies of their cameras but also allowed me to refine my skills.

Wildlife photography became my passion, and with it came the inevitable encounters with snakes. Typically, these venomous creatures are found at ground level or atop logs, but on this day, I was in for a surprise.

I was exploring a creek, hoping to photograph the birdlife, when I heard a frog croaking. Initially, I paid it no attention, but as I moved closer, the sound seemed to come from above. Looking up, I was startled to see the glistening underside of a Red Bellied Black Snake, just 10-20cm from my face.

My immediate thought was to determine which end held the needle-sharp fangs. Upon closer inspection, I saw that the snake’s tail was anchored in one tree while its head was down a hollow in another, clearly attempting to extract the still-croaking frog.

I cautiously backed away to a safer distance, allowing me to observe without disturbing the natural process. Fortunately, I had my 100-400mm lens ready and began documenting the event.

The snake emerged from the hollow with the frog’s head firmly clutched in its mouth, the frog still alive and desperately fighting for its life.

Despite its efforts, the frog was no match for the snake, which eventually repositioned its prey and began to swallow it whole. My image captures this intense moment, with snake saliva and frog juices dripping, aiding in the swallowing process.

Within minutes, the snake had finished its meal, dropped to the ground and slithered off into the long grass, totally indifferent to my presence.

This chance encounter in the wild was a reminder that such moments are only possible if you’re out there regularly. Since capturing this image in 2021, which I titled “Fresh Juicy Tree Frog”, I have won numerous prizes, medals and awards in both national and international competitions.

The Australian Photographic Society even selected one of my images to represent Australia in the Four Nations International Competition last year.