Reptile & Amphibian Forums

You can always tell which animals are my favorites because they are the ones I take the most pictures of...

I am finally getting pictures and performance from a camera worthy of the subject matter that I am photographing. Last night I took a little reading to bed. The manual for the new camera. I know I know. Real men don't ask for directions, and they sure don't read instructions. I hate reading instructions. But taking pictures with this new camera has been unbelievably great and frustrating at the exact same time.

When the pictures have been good, they have been among the best I have ever taken. But most of the pictures have not been very good at all. All three of my previous generations of digital cameras took consistant pictures. The first took the worst shots but they were consistant. The second were better and so on. The third was really steady with many really good pictures. Some were even worthy of publication. But still nothing as good as my 30 year old 35mm Olympus OM-1 would take with slide film. All that has changed.

Set on automatic, the new Nikon D-90 wanted to take all the pictures with an F stop of 3.5. For those who know photography, that renders you a very shallow depth of field. Meaning much of your photograph will be blurry if you have differing planes relative to the camera lens. It's kind of a cool effect if that's what you want. So I figured out how to change the F stop thereby moving the quality of images I am able to get to a new level. This is why you buy a fancy schmancy camera!

The pictures below were taken after I read the manual. The pictures above before I read the manual, but a much larger percentage of the shots are really great shots knowing how to use the camera manually.

Now I don't know what I like better. The camera or the Boas!

Back to work now!
-----
Jeff Ronne Sr
The Boaphile
Director USARK

Originator of Boaphile Plastics
The Boaphile Boa Site

Great pictures Jeff, every so often every man must give in and read those evil instructions. Judging by the pics it was a well worth night time read you had.

I couldn't resist and picked the camera up again...

I love this little guy!

This Hypo Jungle Het Anery makes me weak in the knees!
-----
Jeff Ronne Sr
The Boaphile
Director USARK

Originator of Boaphile Plastics
The Boaphile Boa Site

that is one HOT HOT HOT snake wowzers.

you should really share some of those boas with some of us lower class people that dont have the money, lol, they look AWESOME

Thanks
Zack
-----

Zack Greens Reptiles

NOthing like a good ol pipe dream Zack lol

Jeff,

It was great to meet you in Tinley Park. Nice snakes and nice photos.
I've run into the same issue with my D-70. I can take great close up shots but I have to crop out the blurry edges.
What did you set the F stop to improve your shots?

Chad

Did we meet at Tinley Park? I can't remember anything about that. LOL Yea, now I remember, you are the guy who crushed my hand! I remember you now.

I set the camera on "M" for manual. Then I set the F Stop to F32 and the film speed at 60. The last two pictures were taken at that setting. I took a total of five shots of that snake and every one of them turned out almost perfect. Just a tiny bit blurry on top of the head in the full body shot that I posted. Pop up flash too not the real flash I bought which I thought I was going to need.

The picture would be better with the stronger flash I'm sure, but holy mackerel, I'm not that greedy. I am still in shock at how clear they came out and the color is really close too. Great to meet you as well. I always wondered why I never saw you at any of the shows. Somebody told me you were always working during Daytona. Ya gotta make a living!
-----
Jeff Ronne Sr
The Boaphile
Director USARK

Originator of Boaphile Plastics
The Boaphile Boa Site

Very nice animals, Mr. Ronne! I like! Better pics the second time around and I hate reading the camera manual instructions, too!

Whats the HX on the animals with the connecting patterns and the laddertails.

The larger or darker animals are Roswell animals. The lighter ones are shown in greater detail at the following link:

Key West Boas Link:

-----
Jeff Ronne Sr
The Boaphile
Director USARK

Originator of Boaphile Plastics
The Boaphile Boa Site

Thanks and congrats on producing such interesting animals.

I know what your talking about with that new camera of yours. I almost spent the extra and got the D90 like yours, but figured I was already getting more camera than what I needed?

I bought a new Nikon D60 late last year and a bunch of accessories too. At first it was very intimidating trying to figure it out, even the instructions were a pain, seeing how there's so many features! I have the basics down for now, which will get me buy.

That Sunglow is awesome and so is the Boa right above it, congrats on those two beauties.

Chaz Neely
constrictors@comcast.net