The Photographer Who Was Bitten By A Black Mamba… And Got The Shot – Design You Trust — Design Daily Since 2007

The Photographer Who Was Bitten By A Black Mamba… And Got The Shot

American professional photographer Mark Laita is not a snake owner or enthusiast but his admiration of snakes’ textures and formal qualities rivals that of any herpetologist. It’s an admiration that is on display in his book, “Serpentine”. The book is a collection of gorgeously lit snakes against a black backdrop.

“My intention was to explore color, shape and movement, using snakes as a subject, but of course herpetologists will probably enjoy these photographs as well,” says Laita, a Los Angeles photographer known for his stunning studio compositions.

According to Wikipedia, Mark Laita was bitten on the leg by a black mamba during a photo-shoot of a black mamba at a facility in Central America. The bite ruptured an artery in his calf, which bled profusely. Laita did not go to the doctor or the hospital, and except for the swollen fang marks giving him intense pain during the night, he was not affected and was fine physically.

This led him to believe that either the snake gave him a “dry bite” (a bite without injecting venom) or the heavy bleeding pushed the venom out. Some commenters on the story suggested that it was a venomoid snake (in which the venom glands are surgically removed), but Laita responded that it was not. Only later did Laita find that he had captured the snake biting his leg in a photograph.

More info: Mark Laita (h/t: wired, petapxel, wikipedia)

Ophiophagus hannah, commonly called the king cobra

Calliophis bivirgatus, commonly called the Blue Malaysian coral snake

Crotalus atrox (albino), commonly called the western diamondback rattlesnake

Trimeresurus vogeli, commonly called Vogel’s pit viper, playing dead

Crotalus scutulatus, commonly called the Mojave rattlesnake, with babies

Trimeresurus trigonocephalus, commonly called the Sri Lankan palm viper

Pseudonaja textilis, commonly called the eastern brown snak

Lampropeltis getula nigrita, commonly called the Mexican black king snake

Bothrops alternatus, commonly called Urutu

Cielia Cielia, commonly called Mussarana

Trimeresurus venustus, commonly called the beautiful pit viper

Boa constrictor constrictor, commonly called the red-tailed boa

Bitis nasicornis, commonly called the rhinoceros viper

If you want more awesome content, subscribe to 'Design You Trust Facebook page. You won't be disappointed.

More Inspiring Stories

Past Present Project: Photographer Placed Grandparents Photographs In Today Places

Photographer Tom Hegen Captures Aerial Series Of Breathtaking Tulips

Harrowing Black And White Photos Show The Horrific Living Conditions In 1940s Glasgow Where Overcrowding Was Rife And Sewage Seeped Into Slums

The Atlas of Beauty: Photographer Mihaela Noroc Provides a Rare Look at Women in North Korea

Spectacular Winning Fungi Photos From The Garden Photographer Of The Year Awards

Hottest And Most Grooviest Photos From The Past That Will Redefine Your Style Statement

Don't Hassle The Hoff!: Cheesy Portraits Of David Hasselhoff Like You Have Never Seen

These Twisted Vintage Portraits Were Made Before Photoshop

Wait, What? The Spectacular Winning Images of the Potato Photographer of the Year 2021!

John Thomson’s Remarkable Photographs of China from the 1870s

Winners Of The Travel Photography Contest 2022 By The Independent Photographer

Model-Turned-Photographer Shoots Subjects Under UV Light To Reveal Shocking Sun Damage

Gorgeous Female Portrait Photography By Joan Carol

"Shop Cats Of New York": Photographer Captures Cats In Shops All Over NYC

Breathtaking Aerial Ocean Photographs By Seth Willingham

Photographer Captures Unique Photos Of Horses From The Underbelly

Detroit Zoo Welcomes 3 Bear Cubs

Cinematic Cityscapes And Rooftop Photography By The Daredevil Photographer Stella Yan

Japanese Nighttime Factory Photography Will Have You Believing FF7’s Midgar Is Real

Gorgeous And Intriguing Series Of Photographs By Øystein Sture Aspelund Capturing Temporary Installations Of Smoke, Light & Fire, Set In Unspoilt Nordic Landscapes

This Photographer Captures Love Just As It Is

Our Endless Numbered Days: Absolutely Magical And Beautiful Forest Photography By Martin Podt

Fascinating Photos Of Neil, The Pet Lion Of Tippi Hedren And Melanie Griffith

Inspired By H.P. Lovecraft, This Bizarre Photography Series Is About The Global Problem Of Water Pollution

Defense Attorney Haunts Tennessee Courtroom

Spectacular Winning Images of The Milky Way Photographer of The Year 2022

Art in A Petri Dish: The Agar Art Awards 2020

Quirky And Extraordinary Moments Of Everyday Life In Japan By Shin Noguchi

Creative Architecture Photography By Nick Frank

Photographer Spent 12 Years Taking Pictures Of The Foetus Developing In The Womb