Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It's very rare for me to have a photo that even approaches the quality I see posted on this forum. So many people have shots that are both technically and artistically superb.

So I reluctantly post the shot below. It was underexposed at least 3 stops, but I was able rescue it with Nikon Capture software.

It's not technically great (too grainy with blown out highlights) and the composition is nothing to brag about, but I've always wanted to catch my frog eating his own skin, and I think this shot does that well enough.

Details: Nikon D70 @ISO 200, SB600 flash, Sigma 105 macro. Don't recall other settings - doesn't really matter.

So I reluctantly post the shot below. It was underexposed at least 3 stops, but I was able rescue it with Nikon Capture software.

Amazing capture. It's "ugly" but it is a good photograph of the ugly.
I actually think you brought it up too far, because it is overexposed on my monitor. You ought to go back the the original file and adjust the levels a little more conservatively.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

>>I actually think you brought it up too far, because it is overexposed on my monitor. You ought to go back the the original file and adjust the levels a little more conservatively.

I never know what to do when adjusting these photos.

Looks great (to me) on my home and office monitors. They aren't calibrated, but the one I'm on now has contrast and brightness set to medium. My home PC is a laptop, and that's not worth the trouble - just change your viewing angle a couple degrees and things change drastically.

Oh for the old days when we only had prints to compare :->

I'll send the image to someone else to view on their uncalibrated monitor just to check.

One of the things that holds me back (and I've been doing photography semi-seriously since '93) is the ability to edit my own work. I'll look at something and be convinced I've cropped and adjusted it the best way possible.

I went back and turned down the mid-tones on the photo and it looked much better. Or I hope it does.

Of course having a better original to work with would help.

I agree that is much better editing. Here is my contribution to "capturing the moment". I was doing some light box photography of some herps for a project and got a box turtle in mid yawn. Like you, it was underexposed and had to edit it heavily. I don't have a copy of it on my computer, so I'll have to give you a link. The photo is being used as a fundraiser for the Va Herp Society. A link to the main store is in my signature.
Click here for the link

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Virginia Herping
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VaHS
Virginia Herpetological Society online store
http://www.cafepress.com/vaherpsociety

"The irrational fear of snakes is the only excuse a grown man has... to act like a complete sissy" - Colchicine

And I don't think they'd use my photo for any fund raising.

Well, maybe for an ANTI-frog campaign :->

Thanks. I think yours is fine, just cropped a little tight. You should post that on the frog forums. People are always thinking their frog is sick and having convulsions. This picture would help explain the phenomenon of keratophagy a lot better.

BTW- if you want to do light tent shots, I highly recommend it. Here's a link for how to make your own. I used the directions but with a lot of modifications, such as using a LOT more light and using GE Edison bulbs. Do NOT use CPVC, use only regular PVC pipe, and you don't need to glue any of it.
Click here for the link

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Virginia Herping
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VaHS
Virginia Herpetological Society online store
http://www.cafepress.com/vaherpsociety

"The irrational fear of snakes is the only excuse a grown man has... to act like a complete sissy" - Colchicine

>>BTW- if you want to do light tent shots, I highly recommend it.

When I have time I use umbrellas or at least bounce light off the ceiling.

thing is, all of the potentially good action shots occur so quickly that I can't plan for them.

I just saw him squirming around and I decided to get the camera. Within 3 shots he was just cleaning up the scraps. The mere act of deciding what ISO to use cost me valuable time.

Otherwise I like to use existing light. Especially window light to enhance texture.