Few Scaly Things For C&C

[AnthonyB]

Thanks, I love that shot of the boa lol

Mexican Black King I think lol

 

[Patm1313]

As for these two shots, the first one has almost everything going for it as far as lighting and colors. The exceptions to these are the IMO annoying light reflection in the marble and the green streak on the marble that doesn't really fit. As far as composition, it's also lacking a little. The first thing that bothers me is the edge right in front of the snake. You did a good job using the rule of thirds and moving the focal point into the top right, but the bottom right corner is empty. Beautiful snake, by the way.

The second shot I would like to have seen taken from the top down. Also, the focal point is in the dead center, which would only be effective IMO if the shot was from the top down and the coil was centered perfectly and the coild was perfectly round.

But overall, you have some nice reptiles, and some shots. With some fine tuning, I'm sure that you could get some crazy nice prints. And then you can print them on little cards and carry them around in your fold out wallet like that crazy old guy at the park with 24 grandchildren.

 

[Patm1313]

What is an MBK?

Sorry about asking an obvious question, I didn't realize at the top of your posts you were referring to your own shots, not Anthony's. As Anthony stated, MBK is a mexican black kingsnake. I was thinking that it was an MBK because it was jet black and just has the same sort of head. I thought the blue tones were from the shot being taken outdoors and the snake being about to shed. Nonetheless, that is one beautiful herp.

 

[AnthonyB]

Yea the boa shot pissed me off that i missed that 1/8" of him lol,But they were the first pics I took with that camera almost 7 months ago lol,
Im very close to being that crazy guy with pictures of his snakes in his wallet now lol

 

[AnthonyB]

What is an MBK?

Sorry about asking an obvious question, I didn't realize at the top of your posts you were referring to your own shots, not Anthony's. As Anthony stated, MBK is a mexican black kingsnake. I was thinking that it was an MBK because it was jet black and just has the same sort of head. I thought the blue tones were from the shot being taken outdoors and the snake being about to shed. Nonetheless, that is one beautiful herp.

Indigo's are AMAZING snakes, you have to see them in person

WOW this just turned into a herp forum lol

 

[Patm1313]

Indigo's are AMAZING snakes, you have to see them in person

WOW this just turned into a herp forum lol

The thing that I love most about the indigos are their 24/7 "pissed off" look when viewed from the side of the head. That, along with their dark color, definetly put them near the top on my "most badass snakes" list.

And sorry about going off on a tangent here, if you have some more shots post them up and we'll give some C&C.

By the way, just a tip for future shots on snakes: try some shots without the head. For more patterned and figured snakes, this might not be so difficult, but for a solid colored snake you might need to be more creative. But just focusing on the body and/or tail of the snake is going to set you aside from the countless other snake shots that are centered around the head. Below is an example of this. I had this same shot with a much greater DOF, but I have since lost it.

 

[Snakeguy101]

agreed, they are amazing snakes. Best thing about them is how docile they are though. I have picked them up in the wild and they were puppy dog tame.

To get back on subject, it is WAY easier to shoot a tame snake that you can position without worrying about a bite.

 

[AnthonyB]

Honestly Id rather It be a herp forum then photography, I know what im doing with herps HAHA

Indigo's are actually the only snake that can recognize their owners, and that has been proven, they may look mean but one of they best snakes to handle

 

[Snakeguy101]

I disagree, I have a FL pine snake that will only let me handle it, anyone else gets bit. Also, my cobras know who I am and they do not like me.

 

[AnthonyB]

Hey snakeguy101 you sig says legalize arowana, Joke or are they actually illegal lol, Just wondering beceause I have one lol, legally HAHA, you get to keep the cool snakes I get a fish, not fair :thumbdown:

 

[AnthonyB]

I disagree, I have a FL pine snake that will only let me handle it, anyone else gets bit. Also, my cobras know who I am and they do not like me.

I have snakes that I say only know me,but indigo's are they only ones that it has been scientifically proven

 

[Patm1313]

Also, my cobras know who I am and they do not like me.

I just laughed for a good several minutes. Leave it to the a**hole cobras to hate the one guy who feeds them and is the basis for their existence.

I don't know about the whole "recognizing" thing. I would love to be able to say my snake recognizes me, but I think when it comes down to it it's all about scent and conditioned reflex. Now I don't know how you go about feeding the cobras, but I'm inclined to say that when you're feeding them they are associating you with prey. So even when you aren't feeding them they recognize your scent and go into predator mode. Just my assumptions, but I really do think someone needs to do a Pavlov's Snakes style study.

 

[jwayne721]

GAH!! your reptile shots are amazing every time I see different ones I cant get enough lol keep it up

On the contrary, they are very photogenic if you set the shot up nicely.

and one more

Take advantage of their curves. One of the basic compositional tricks is to include an "S" curve in the shot. Snakes are full of these so keep an eye out for them. The tongue is also a bonus if you can catch it while it is out- it adds interest and action to the shot. Make sure the eyes and as much of the head as possible are in focus, this is the same rule as in portrait shots. If you are doing a macro of the scales, you will want to show texture or color depending on what caught your eye. If it is texture, try to get the entire frame nice and sharp, if it is color, go ahead and over saturate a bit (it is okay to do this when there is no reference color like skin tones to cue that the image is over saturated.)

Hope that helps.