
For rattlesnakes, unless they are an individual with really cool markings, there are basically three points of interest--Head, rattle, and tongue. It's fairly easy to get the head and tongue in one pic at a good size, as long as you are lucky and the snake is cooperative. Since the rattle is at the opposite end of the other two, getting that in at a reasonable size is tougher! But I did it here.
I don't often shoot at f/32, but I did here. There was a price to be paid as a result, the original isn't super-sharp at 100% view. But it sharpened up pretty well. Viewing at 100%, I also get an intimate view of every bit of dust on my 1Ds sensor, and brother, there are a lot of them!
I'm going back to the zoo this afternoon. I may be the only adult male in America not watching the Super Bowl!
speckled rattlesnake
180mm macro lens
controlled situation