My friend Andy Switky and I walked right past this well-camouflaged fellow, who was lurking just a couple of feet away. Then he got annoyed and rattled a bit. For some reason, our wives were then reluctant to catch up to us.

This beautifully colored rattler was warming up in the morning on the side of the main north/south road through Joshua Tree National Park when we spotted it. We encouraged it off the road with my tripod's extended legs before taking its picture.