18th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
A Scary Surprise

I was out photographing birds in the back field of the farm near where I live, when I looked up and saw this giant rattlesnake slithering slowly toward me. My heart started to beat really fast and I quickly moved in the direction of the house, but then I looked back and realized he wasn't coming towards me at all. He was focused on the cornfield which had been behind me.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2020
Date Uploaded: 11.2020
Photo Location: Cedar Swamp, South Carolina, United States of America
Copyright: © Darby Ward