Photo of the Day #23: The maw of Tyrannosaurus

i-a7a1dd2d819c24d0e68f4b56e6b44ff4-rexjawclose.jpg


Happy Halloween, everyone! In searching for a somewhat frightening image (I already recently used Prestosuchus and Amphicyon), I recalled this photo of the AMNH Tyrannosaurus rex mount. Most of the photos I have of the reconstruction are of the whole head or body, but I especially like this one for far more subtle reasons; the close-up makes it appear as if the dinosaur is just beginning to open its jaws, my imagination filling in the sound of heavy breaths escaping the cavernous tooth-lined maw.

More like this

I really like this one. You're right, fossils work better in black and white. Although I think in the right lighting, sepia would also be nice.

The only way this photo could be any more menacing would be to add in a few strands of saliva dripping from the teeth.