Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Doing a photo shoot of some coastals. Completely frustrating! my hat's off to all you guys who spend the time to get the quality shots you post!
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“Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Emmerson

Tony,

I recommend 'running' your snakes when you're trying to photograph them. Simply put them on a slick surface (like a glass table top, etc., just something with low-friction) and keep tapping their tales. The animals will attempt to get away as quickly as they can, and within a couple minutes will tire from their efforts. Yes, this method might temporarily stress and tire an animal, however, after using this method for many years, the snakes always recover 100% and you get great shots. Most of the time the animal will sit for several minutes without moving while they recover from their exercise. Those precious few minutes are your opportunity to pose the animal in a multitude of positions and get the photographs you desire. Temporalis tire quickly and pose beautifully using this method. Good luck!

Mitch

That's a good strategy to employ Mitch, never heard anyone doing that before, but I like it. I guess you've taken one or two photos of snakes before.

Now how do I get that glass table out in habitat to slow down an amped up snake in the field??? Maybe I could gently roll it along w/ me as I go from rock to rock.

-Dell

Or you can just let em get loose and chase em around the snake room with a pointed stick for a while. This is real good at relieving one from the idea of pics. How many pics you got of the back of your hand so far?? LMAO!

HAHA!!! Something I learned on here or somewhere online, you can put down a towel (or whatever) somewhere as a background and then put a hide or cave type item on top of it, then let the snake go curl up inside the hide for a little bit and then (get your camera ready) lift the hide off and bam you can snap some shots before they try to trolley away again!

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~Markus

The very existence of flamethrowers means that sometime, somewhere, someone said to themselves..."You know, I really want to set those people over there on fire...but I'm just not close enough to get the job done!

that Mitch's photography speaks for itself. If you’re not familiar with his work, check out this post photos or his book Zonata.

Thanks for the tip, Mitch. I’ll be using that in the coming days to try to wrangle a few new photos without wanting to flush my animals down the toilet.

-Cole

That is either the best advise I've ever recieved on this subject or you're chuckling to youself wondering how many dumb-arses are going to fall for it. Well count me as one.
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“Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Emmerson

Tony,

I'm being 100% serious. It has worked for every species i've tried it on with the exception of Sonora (I hate those snakes!). It works even with field photography. Just wear the snake down for a minute or two and they more than cooperate. Most of the time they'll even let you adjust the angles of their heads!

Mitch

That thayeri photo in the long "discussion" thread below is killer, though. I have a strong preference for those earth-toned animals, and that one is top-notch.

-Cole

He is my favorite thayeri EVER!
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“Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Emmerson