Rattle Zilla

[bigguy]

This snake was supposedly killed at Yancopin Arkansas. Story goes it was driven ot of the woods due to flooding. The person who sent me the photo does not know the individual in the photo.
I've got several questions about the photo. First of all, the most common rattle snake in that area is the timber rattler. (A mch smaller snake.) This one appears to be a diamond back. Various sources list differing sizes for the largest recorded specimen, but generally, 8 ft. is the upper limit and 90lbs the maximum weight. This snake would appear to be right at that limit.
Personally, I'd deem the photo plausible, but not probable.
Anybody seen this photo before?

[Cliff]

Looks like a "photo shop" modification.... look just to the left of the lower part of snake you will see irregularities in the back ground grass and the right boot caused by the atleration of photo to make snake longer.  More obvious when photo is expanded to larger size.

[Jabba]

Looks to me like a "classic" hold the fish closer to the camera too.

Jabba

[bigguy]

Jabba. I think you're onto it. I didn't really notice before, but the guy is using a stick to hold the snake out toward the camera.

[MacDragon]

That's still a big ass rattler... holding it closer to the camera or not.

[Fudd]

That picture has been floating around forever.  It's the same one my company used on us to remind everyone to wear their snake boots while out in the woods.

Trick phototography at it's most basic.  Closer objects appear bigger.  That's how you hold your catch on a fishing trip also.

All that said, a co-worker killed a water moccasin over 7ft. long.  I was "skeeret" of that one even after he was dead.