I've got a decent camera and was just wondering if anyone would care to share some tips on how to take these wonderful pictures while staying safe at the same time. Are there any methods to keep your hands out of harms way?

I try to shoot the pictures through the glass as much as possible. If really do want the enclosure to be opened, or as in my last thread, in a tent, I want at least 1 expereinced person with me to keep an eye on the snake and me. It's often hard to estimate the distance between hands and snake when you'r looking into a camera.

I have been thinking about creating a perspex shield or box that I can fit over my lens to protect my hands even more. I'm just not sure if that would work, since it would put extra weight on the lens, making it harder to keep the camera steady out of the hand.

I guess you have already read this thread: http://www.venomland.net/t394-gunter-leitenbauers-tutorial-on-doing-snake-shots

it's better to have an experienced person with you to manage the snake, as Udo said it's very difficult to have a good idea of the distance between the snake and the camera when you look through the lens.
you can build a light plexiglass shield screwed with a ring on the lens, so you can protect your hands behind.
on DX cameras, a 105 macro will be a 150, so you will be able to keep a safer distance...
For ground species, put them under a dark box and let them become quiet, they usually don't move for secondes after you remove the box.

be carefull

Hexarmor gloves can protect your hands and give you just about enough dexterity to press the shutter button. Not ideal, but better than a trip to ICU.

Thanks for all the tips guys. I'll experiment with some stuff and see what I can figure out.