One commenter under the “44-inch cottonmouth” Facebook post submitted the following thoughts: “There is some forced perspective going on but I’d say that the length is accurate. The perspective is exaggerating its girth and that’s what’s throwing people off. If the perceived girth were accurate it would be much larger than 44 [inches]. I don’t think there’s any intended deception here, just someone trying to show the details on a really big damn 3D object on a small 2D plane.
Some Facebook commenters accused Payne of either misrepresenting the length of the snake or using Adobe Photoshop to add the creature to the photograph. In response, Payneat least three other pictures of the cottonmouth, holding it closer to his body. In order to provide perspective, he also added that he is 6 foot 3 inches tall:
These additional pictures that were posted by Payne showed that the snake was both real and quite long. In sum, while we weren’t able to measure the snake’s exact length ourselves, we can confirm that the photograph of the “44-inch cottonmouth” was a real picture. The fact that it featured forced perspective appeared to be the reason why it went so viral.Payne, Chad. “Alabama Reptile and Amphibian ID & Education.”“What Is Forced Perspective in Photography & How to Do It.”
Makes me nervous looking at it
This joker would have been in zig saw pieces, if discovered on my property! 😳
Snopes continues avoiding relevant fact-checks of daily media misinformation. Snopes protects its allies.
Yeah, that hook holding the snake is always at the end of a long pole- which in this case is angled towards the camera and hidden by the snake's body. That reptile is several feet closer to the lens in a direct line and there isn't a perspective reference.
Extra wide angle lens or fish eye lens?
After baiting a hook, forced perspective is the second lesson every fisherman learns.
Everything on an wide angle iPhone lens is forced perspective.