Rare Encounters Photography

Rare Encounters Photography SC Lowcountry photography. I specialize in snakes, nature, landscapes, and many more areas.

Areas of experience:

Family Photography
Portraiture
Landscape Photography
Nature Photography
Bo***ir
Event Photography
Wedding Photography

It's St. Patrick's Day, so it's only right to share a Rough Green snake (Opheodrys aestivus), harmless.
03/17/2026

It's St. Patrick's Day, so it's only right to share a Rough Green snake (Opheodrys aestivus), harmless.

Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix), venomous. This particular snake was found in South Carolina, but they have ...
02/12/2026

Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix), venomous.

This particular snake was found in South Carolina, but they have a wide range in the central and eastern US. In many areas, they are the most prevalent venomous species.

They typically will freeze when approached, and try to rely on their camouflage.

Their ability to blend in is pretty remarkable, especially in leaf litter.

Why snakes? From a personal standpoint, it's a simple answer. They are nearly universally hated. The basis for this hatr...
11/18/2025

Why snakes?

From a personal standpoint, it's a simple answer. They are nearly universally hated. The basis for this hatred is often unjustifiable, and myths of inaccurate information that is passed down generationally. Anything that is hated often intrigues me, and it often makes me dive deeper into the basis and reasoning for it.

Unless you have a general knowledge about snakes, it is very likely much of what you know is wrong. Instinctually, snakes want to eat, sleep, and reproduce. Beyond defense in the face of perceived aggression from a predator, they are intellectually limited.

Some species have venom, and it can be fatal to humans. This is a fact. This venom is ideally and primarily used by the snake to subdue prey. In a last resort, as a defensive measure, as they have no other weapons to defend themselves other than their mouth. Speaking on the US specifically, snakebite fatalities are rare, numbering five or less per year, out of thousands of bites. Dog bites and fatalities exponentially outweigh snakebite fatalities in the US.

Ophidiphobia exists, and it is pretty common. My question is always why? We drive every day, and it's much more dangerous. How much of it is derived from the inaccurate myths and legends that many of us were taught over the years?

A ground level observation is that all native animals should be able to exist without persecution. I've been a hunter and a fisherman, so I have no issues with specimens being taken for food from sustainable populations. What we often fail to realize, and a priority I have in education is to spread awareness of the massive ecological benefits to the environment first and foremost, but also the benefits to humanity as a whole.

Venom in particular is of interest because we could, and have seen medical breakthroughs from components of it. At one point certain venoms were being studied as painkillers without the addictive properties. Many medications that we take relating to our heart, blood pressure, and similar areas were derived initially from snake venom. Some venoms have shown promise into killing breast cancer cells and preventing metastasis.

As in many other facets of life, we often jump to one side of the spectrum without understanding both sides. It's my goal to change that, and not necessarily save every snake or change every mind, because this won't be feasible, but to open your mind to at least understand the specific niche that snakes fill.

This went on far too long, but I had to give a detailed answer.

Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) venomous

2026 calendars are ready! They are 24.99 + shipping this year. I tried to keep them as low as I possibly could. You have...
09/28/2025

2026 calendars are ready!

They are 24.99 + shipping this year. I tried to keep them as low as I possibly could.

You have FOUR different choices this year as well!

Palmetto State Sunsets!

Coastal South Carolina!

Landscapes!

Snakes! 🐍

If you would like one, comment below or message me directly to get started.

A mock up below is included for each calendar, and will have which calendar the images are from, other than the snakes. The snakes are self explanatory. Thank you for all of your continued support! ❤️

"Whats a sure fire way to tell a snake is venomous?"In education we try to not use one form of identification for any sp...
08/25/2025

"Whats a sure fire way to tell a snake is venomous?"

In education we try to not use one form of identification for any species of snake. Variables happen and things can slightly change enough to throw off that one characteristic that you "know".

For instance, pupil shape is a good one. In the US, Pit Vipers have elliptical pupils. This is a fact. However, depending on the light, or lack thereof, these pupils can appear round. So therefore it's absolutely not safe to use this as a single identifier.

Night snakes are harmless to humans. However, their pupils are elliptical as well.

Coral snakes are venomous and they have round pupils.

Once you get outside of the US, Mambas, Cobras, and many other species possess round pupils.

Another one is venomous snakes "always" float on top of the water. While it is true most often venomous species will be on top of the water, it's not a certainty. Harmless species can also float or swim on top of the water, and venomous species can swim submerged or partially submerged. Cottonmouths are venomous, and eat fish, so they have to go under to get them.

I could spend a full day writing on this subject, but I just wanted to give a few examples. You should always use as many characteristics in identification as possible, including head size, head shape, scale shape, body morphology, tail length, color, pattern, and any other possible way to distinguish species apart. 🐍 🐍

This is the Ratsnake (Pantherophis species). It's a harmless Colubrid, and likely one of the most common snakes that is ...
08/24/2025

This is the Ratsnake (Pantherophis species). It's a harmless Colubrid, and likely one of the most common snakes that is seen.

This is a large species, reaching a maximum of 91 inches in total body length. This species is also one of the most variable of all snakes in the United States. The base color can be gray, yellow, black, or a bit greenish. In the Eastern part of their range, they can even be striped. Most often they will have a series of dorsal blotches that are a bit star shaped, or they may just be a solid black color. The ventral of these snakes can be white or cream, with mottling visible, or dark with light speckles. The scales are weakly keeled. The ventrals in this species are bent 90 degrees, giving the body an arched shape in cross section.

Males are larger than females, with relatively longer tails, fewer ventrals, and more subcaudal scales.

Ratsnakes are found in a wide variety of habitats, such as hardwood forests, pine forests, fields, suburban areas, abandoned buildings, and are known to come inside of residences on occasion. This species is largely diurnal, but can occasionally be seen during the night.

This species matures at 35 inches, and breeding typically occurs in April, May, or June. Eggs are laid in June, July, or August, with a clutch size of up to 28. The eggs are white and oblong, and are not adhered together, and are laid in old stumps, compost piles, sand, or under logs. The eggs hatch at around 60 to 65 days.

This species is fairly generalistic in its diet. It's been known to consume rodents, birds, reptile and bird eggs, frogs, and lizards. They are a powerful constrictor.

If approached, this species may get into a defensive posture and try to strike, or they may kink their body and try to remain unseen. If handled, they will often release a foul smelling musk, and they will occasionally try to bite. This is individual though, as I've held many different specimens with them not attempting to bite. They are non-venomous, and harmless to humans.

Taxonomy is a bit of a headache with this species, so I kept this at a general description. Under current taxonomy, much of the Eastern US has areas of uncertainty, where Central and Eastern Ratsnakes may intergrade.

This species is considered common throughout it's range. 🐍 🐍 🐍

08/20/2025

Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) harmless

World Photography Day, 2k25. While I've been educating on snakes for quite a long time, they weren't my first venture in...
08/19/2025

World Photography Day, 2k25.

While I've been educating on snakes for quite a long time, they weren't my first venture into photography. The mutual love grew, so it slowly became a part of what I do, along with education.

I don't care about titles, roles, admiration, or anything vain. I want to show the world the snakes around them, and the massive role they play in the world around us. Photography is now a major part of how I educate.

Two relocations today. Juvenile Eastern Gartersnake, and a Eastern Ratsnake
08/19/2025

Two relocations today.

Juvenile Eastern Gartersnake, and a Eastern Ratsnake

In the US, many different species are known locally as black snakes, and these include King snakes, Ratsnakes, and Racer...
08/16/2025

In the US, many different species are known locally as black snakes, and these include King snakes, Ratsnakes, and Racers usually. I'm sure once or twice you have heard this name used to describe one of these, and fortunately people love to have these around.

Kingsnakes, specifically Eastern and Eastern Black Kingsnakes are large constrictors. They are fairly heavy bodied, and are ophiophagus, which means they consume other snakes as part of their diet. Easterns are usually solid black, with thin white or off white rings encircling the body. This species is harmless.

Ratsnakes in many areas, are almost fully black. They'll have some white under the chin, and you can often see some pattern showing up on their sides. This is a large species, who are known to climb and get themselves into weird places. They are commonly found around chicken coops, taking a few eggs. They are heavy bodied and can get pretty long, and their body often resembles a bread loaf in shape. This species won't eat other snakes except in rare circumstances, and they are constrictors. The typically feed on rodent and sometimes birds.

Racers, are fast, long snakes with large eyes which they use for sight hunting. They are generalistic predators and eat a wide variety of prey, including snakes, insects, birds, lizards, rodents, and amphibians. They overtake their prey by power, and consume it whole. They are completely black in most areas, with a hint of white under the chin. They have a pronounced supraocular scale over the eye which gives them a "mean" look. They are harmless to humans.

The above species are all harmless, and are all often called "black snakes". They are each beneficial to our ecosystem and are great to have around!

Stock photos used.

Juvenile Racer (Coluber constrictor) harmless. So, you can identify your local species. You can safely distinguish venom...
08/15/2025

Juvenile Racer (Coluber constrictor) harmless.

So, you can identify your local species. You can safely distinguish venomous from harmless! First of all, great job! You have progressed more than most people ever will or care to. This is amazing!

So you safely identify a Ratsnake, and you begin to think of handling it, either from pure fascination, or to relocate for someone. The next paragraphs are for you!

You may be wondering what to expect. The very first thing I want to be clear about, is you will likely be bitten. Of course this varies so much by each species, but you always need to have this in your mind. Prevailing thoughts are that with even a harmless snakebite, infection is inevitable. This is absolutely untrue. While any break in the skin has the potential to become infected, it's rare to develop an infection from a non-venomous snake bite from our native species. The risks are no greater than any other break in the skin. Washing it off with soap and water will be sufficient. Of course if you notice any sign of infection, you should seek medical attention.

The second thing you should expect, is to be musked. Musk is absolutely unpleasant, there's no sugarcoating it. It's expelled from the cloaca, and it absolutely smells that way. The smell varies by species as well. I personally use Orange hand cleaner to remove it.

Now that part is out of the way. When you go to pick up the snake, you want to gently grab it around the middle of the body. You want to support the snake with both hands, one a few inches behind the head, and one a few inches above the cloaca. This can vary slightly by the size of the snake. You want to avoid holding the snake by the neck, as this can very easily injure it. Their vertebrae and spinal cords are pretty fragile. You also want to avoid holding them by the tail, for basically the same reasons. I always let the snake slither into my hands basically, until I'm ready to set it down or release it.

I've personally handled hundreds of snakes, and had hundreds of bites with no reaction. Keep in mind that you don't have to handle a snake, but if you do, these guidelines may help you out.

One disclaimer I'd like to add. In some states, it may be unlawful to pick up a snake. Also, in certain states you must have permits to relocate snakes. Please be aware of your laws! 🙂

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