I photographed this woma python in my semi-annual frog and reptile workshop just concluded in St. Louis this past weekend. Note the dark background in this picture. That happened due to the light fall-off from the flash. The closer the subject is to the flash, the faster the light will fall off. Had I moved back about six feet, the portion of the rock surface you see behind the snake would not be nearly as dark. If I moved closer to the snake such that the camera was, say, 14 inches from the head, then the rear of the python would be very dark and the rock beyond would be virtually black.