Daniel Heuclin found himself face to face with some of the most venomous snakes and that’s what he likes, coming closer and closer to those crawling species to capture THE picture. For this 35 years travelling around the world, the French photographer collected more than 500 000 pictures on animals, ethnic peoples and primitive tribes, but snakes remains his favorites.
Heuclin studied medicine for three years but ended photographer.
"Photography gave me the opportunity to travel, see snakes and a lot of animals, that’s what I like"
« My mom told me that I once caught a snake when I was 2 years old, yet I don’t even remember. I began having interest in snakes when I was 7. I was visiting zoo and I read books on it too. »
His dad didn’t want him to have one in their house and Daniel moved to Paris when he was 21. There he cared for snakes, pumas and crocodiles. He started travelling as often as possible to capture animal photographs in their natural environment.
Daniel Heuclin’s self-control when he faced dangerous animals shows how able to capture close-up on venomous species he is.
« the secret is to stay still no matter what. Snakes can’t see very well but have an amazing movement perception. »
Now Heuclin is living in the countryside near Poitiers, France. He catches and breeds reptiles and amphibians to shoot them and study their behavior. He has a permit to breed venomous reptiles, amphibians, mammals and spiders. In his miniature zoo, he has a lot of species including cobras, rattlesnakes, vipers, king snakes, pythons, boa constrictors, and some lizards, iguanas, chameleons, and crocodiles, a Gila monster, tarantulas, prairie dogs, foxes and turtles.
« I’ve got around 500 animals at home but the number isn’t regular as some are dying and born. I catch animals to capture moments all through their lives. I learn a lot on their fascinating behavior, their way to mate, and their eating patterns. It’s not easy to film a snake eating its prey in nature. Once I’m happy with my pictures, I free the animal. »
All through the years, Heuclin has been bitten 38 times by venomous snakes, including four times by cobras and other times by vipers and rattlesnakes. He has also been bitten by a lot of mammals. His right forefinger has been grinded by one of the two pumas he kept at home. He has also been bitten by a Gila monster (that is really venomous) while travelling in Arizona.Heuclin was one of the founder of the French Organization for herpetology in 1977. Every year he organizes a lecture on venomous snakes and shows his photographs at the Natural History Museum in Paris.
Daniel Heuclin is motivated with his passion to capture animals whose life is threatened by human craziness.
”I want to show the essential relationship between Men and Nature and that the existence of both of them is slightly linked”.
Bibliography:
Snakes (1992)
Noth african elephant shrew eating insect-Ouarzazate MoroccoNoth african elephant shrew eating insect-Ouarzazate Morocco© Daniel Heuclin / Biosphoto - RMNon exclusive sale 1941145 |
Right Managed |
Noth african elephant shrew sur rocher - Ouarzazate MoroccoNoth african elephant shrew sur rocher - Ouarzazate Morocco© Daniel Heuclin / Biosphoto - RMNon exclusive sale 1941144 |
Right Managed |
North african elephant shrew sur rocher - Ouarzazate MoroccoNorth african elephant shrew sur rocher - Ouarzazate Morocco© Daniel Heuclin / Biosphoto - RMNon exclusive sale 1941141 |
Right Managed |
Desert Monitor eating a Sand Viper MauritaniaDesert Monitor eating a Sand Viper Mauritania© Daniel Heuclin / Biosphoto - RMNon exclusive sale 1776114 |
Right Managed |
Desert Monitor eating a Sand Viper in MauritaniaDesert Monitor eating a Sand Viper in Mauritania© Daniel Heuclin / Biosphoto - RMNon exclusive sale 1776113 |
Right Managed |
Southern Borwn Egg-eater Snake South AfricaSouthern Borwn Egg-eater Snake South Africa© Daniel Heuclin / Biosphoto - RMNon exclusive sale 1776111 |
Right Managed |
Indian mongoose against a gray Indian Cobra in IndiaIndian mongoose against a gray Indian Cobra in India© Daniel Heuclin / Biosphoto - RMNon exclusive sale 1776109 |
Right Managed |
Alligator snapping turtle fishing by luring fish with tongueAlligator snapping turtle fishing by luring fish with tongue© Daniel Heuclin / Biosphoto - RMNon exclusive sale 1707719 |
Right Managed |
Kramer's Pit Viper along a bamboo on black backgroundKramer's Pit Viper along a bamboo on black background© Daniel Heuclin / Biosphoto - RMNon exclusive sale 1707701 |
Right Managed |
Southern three-banded Armadillo at night Gran Chaco BoliviaSouthern three-banded Armadillo at night Gran Chaco Bolivia© Daniel Heuclin / Biosphoto - RMNon exclusive sale 1614121 |
Right Managed |
Puna Flamingos Laguna colorada BoliviaPuna Flamingos Laguna colorada Bolivia© Daniel Heuclin / Biosphoto - RMNon exclusive sale 1612610 |
Right Managed |
Desert horned Lizard Death Valley NP California USADesert horned Lizard Death Valley NP California USA© Daniel Heuclin / Biosphoto - RMNon exclusive sale 1465760 |
Right Managed |
Olm Underground Laboratory Moullis FranceOlm Underground Laboratory Moullis France© Daniel Heuclin / Biosphoto - RMNon exclusive sale 1357074 |
Right Managed |
Portrait of Shoebill on a black backgroundPortrait of Shoebill on a black background© Daniel Heuclin / Biosphoto - RMNon exclusive sale 1357031 |
Right Managed |
Desert Monitor on white backgroundDesert Monitor on white background© Daniel Heuclin / Biosphoto - RMNon exclusive sale 1357023 |
Right Managed |
Portrait of Indonesian blue-tongued skinkPortrait of Indonesian blue-tongued skink© Daniel Heuclin / Biosphoto - RMNon exclusive sale 1250374 |
Right Managed |
Black-necked spitting cobra spittingBlack-necked spitting cobra spitting© Daniel Heuclin / Biosphoto - RMNon exclusive sale Editorial use only 907634 |
Right Managed |
Glance of American AlligatorGlance of American Alligator© Daniel Heuclin / Biosphoto - RMNon exclusive sale 907570 |
Right Managed |