Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey any of you better photo taking guys. How do you minamize the light reflection off of the animal? I have tissue paper over the lights to diffuse it but I still get the reflections. I like the structure of the photo's but need to work on getting enough light without all reflection. Any Thoughts?

-----

Nice pics Jimmy!

You can light the area REAL well, but not directly aimed on the snake with different types of lighting. Use different amounts of layerings with tissue over the flash as you are already doing (for diffusion), bounce lighting off walls with strobes, etc..

I would go over to the "photography" forum for some really professional ideas from those photo guru's like "chrish", and many others for pro advice. Even if it is extremely slow there you can scroll down and get all sorts of great ideas just from reading the posts and threads already there from people that can pertain to the same type of thing.

Here is a link to it. Good luck with it buddy. I know what you is finta do with those..LOL!..

~Doug
photography forum

-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Jimmy, do a google "image" search and type in "light box". You will get some killer fvisual ideas of exactly what I was talking about regarding bouncing light off of panels, etc..so it isn't shining directly on the snake itself. This is what all sorts of pro's do like Bill Love, and many others to get their phenomenal results.

You can google it in and get instructions on how to make them too!

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

A new styrofoam box works well too....
-----
John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

Yeah, that would give off diffused lighting because the panels are white but not smooth and shiny to reflect too much. Good idea!

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Doug, thanks. I have read all those posts in the Photo Forum.....I have read a ton of stuff on Marco-photography to....Just kinda learning some cool stuff on my own.....Each digital camera is different so what works for a DSLR doesn't necessary work with my super zoom. Even though I understand about a "light box" which I have used for some babies(see Photo below). I am just having a hard time lighting a whole room or building a large enough box for sub-adults and adults. You know it is never a cloudy day when I have time to take some pics. I will try the evening too the seem to look fairly good.

I am just now taking it in my own hands and messing with the White Balance, f-stop,shutter speed and ISO.

These I took in a light box...

They came out OK...and here's one a buddy modified in photoshop.

Here's the original.

-----

Oh, okay. Glad you checked some stuff out over there as well.

Yes, different cameras, different camera settings in conjuction with different sources of lighting can leave a guy with a million different results every time a freakin' photo is taken. I've been there too!..LOL!!!. It can be a ROYAL pain in the arse to get the specific results you are looking for sometimes. What I hate is that what you see in the little camera screen is usually NOTHING like the photo turns out when you upload it to the computer..LOL!

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

"What I hate is that what you see in the little camera screen is usually NOTHING like the photo turns out when you upload it to the computer..LOL! "

That's why I started messing around with different WB,F stops and shutter speeds. I have them preset on the camera so all I have to do is press a couple buttons and almost get the same photo with different looks. As those little buggers move quick thank god for tripods! LOL

500 pics = 5 great photo's
-----

"500 pics = 5 great photo's"

LOL!!, Boy, I hear ya there! It really SUCKED when you had to spend money to get 35mm film developed at the drug store and get nothing but crap and one or two useful pics if that sometimes..LOL!

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

"I know what you is finta do with those..LOL!'

"finta"??? LOL....Yea, it has been quite the adventure but should be done in a few weeks. I am hoping to have it done by Daytona!
-----

LMAO!!,....very cool dude!. Hope it all goes as planned buddy!

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

>>Hey any of you better photo taking guys. How do you minamize the light reflection off of the animal? I have tissue paper over the lights to diffuse it but I still get the reflections. I like the structure of the photo's but need to work on getting enough light without all reflection. Any Thoughts?
>>

I don't consider myself one of those better photo taking guys but natural or artificial lighting always works better than the flash.....

Some of my better photos are taken under lighting that is not shinning directly on the snake but rather lighting an area......sunlight is best for this......overcast or clouds help diffuse the sun......
-----
John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

Those Mex Mex are coming along nicely...
-----
John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

Some of my better photos are taken under lighting that is not shinning directly on the snake but rather lighting an area......sunlight is best for this......overcast or clouds help diffuse the sun......

Diffused light, I get that, but I have a snake hobby that is rolling into a photography hobby...LOL. Ever see the prices of some of those studio lights??? They would work great, I guess if I want professional pictures I need to hire a professional or learn to use professional equipment....Hahaha!

Thanks on those mex mex. They are certainly little pigs! No need to power feed them the rip it right out of my hand! Can't wait to see what they produce next year. I am tempted to use the male I acquired from you last year on that dark female because he is a lot darker than this one. I will take some pics of him too...
-----

Wow, those are some nice snakes there. I like your set up with the rocks and all that.

Have you ever tried a flash diffuser like this?

IMG_7594.JPG by RossAZ480, on Flickr

It softens the light a bit and flashes down over a larger area. This whole thing lights up when the flash hits it. You just slide it over your lens. You're still going to get a reflection, just not as bright. Here's some of the pictures I've taken using it.

In the night.

Coastal Rosy boa by RossAZ480, on Flickr

CA kingsnake by RossAZ480, on Flickr

Day time outside using the diffuser.

Striped/Newport CA kingsnake by RossAZ480, on Flickr

F1 Striped Mud morph (aberrant Whitier morph) by RossAZ480, on Flickr

In the house.

Lavender albino (T positive albino) by RossAZ480, on Flickr

Overcast day without flash.

Hypo Whitewater king by RossAZ480, on Flickr

-----

Ross, that's pretty neat. Where did you get that? Do you hold it in front of the flash or does it hook to the camera? The reflections in the photo's aren't from the flash they are from the diffused light. I am guessing the tissue paper isn't diffusing it enough.
-----

What type of camera are you using? DLSR? Any certain lens?
-----

Yeah, the reflection is from the defused light, making the reflection less bright. I found that that on E bay for like $5 + shipping, which wasn't that much. You slide it onto your lens. Its made for the real thick DSLR camera lens. My lens that pops out on my Canon Powershot S3 IS wasn't big around enough. I had an adapter thing that locks over my lens for a wide angle lens that still wasn't big enough around, so I raped a layer of cardboard around it and then raped it with electrical tape to hold the cardboard onto it (its the black round thing in the photo with the diffuser). After that, the diffuser fit on there good. Its wobbly when you put it on, but its supposed to be like that. It still holds its self in place and you can tilt it forward so that the light bounces strait down for those real close up shots. Without that, the lens would make a big shadow, because of where the flash is located. In the house or at night, I were one of those flashlights that are built into a head band and while holding the camera, I flash it through the diffuser onto the snake to light the snake up. Without lighting the snake up, the camera wont focus onto the snake and the picture comes out blurry. This way you can use one hand to pose the snake and the other to hold the camera if you are doing it alone.

This is the kind of camera I have.

-----

www.ebay.com/itm/Flash-foldable-Diffuser-for-All-Brand-Canon-Nikon-D3R-/220686634266?pt=Camera_Flash_Accessories&hash=item3361f2cd1a#ht_2246wt_996
-----

Cool, thanks! I have the same camera except it's the Powershot SX20is. I ordered the 160 LED light that clips on the top and the 2.5x macro-lens they make for it. Since you can't attach other tube lenses. The camera takes awesome pics outside in auto mode but have trouble inside with artificial lighting.

Those rocks and sand I just picked up at home depot to try and give a more naturalistic looking background. I have different shades of brown and grey to see what snakes do best on which background.
-----

Here's the link to the LED panel, comes with three different diffusers. I read a ton of reviews and the mostly all like them. I may get a couple more to set on stands next to the background for extra light. You can dim these too.....

link
-----

That thing is cool. I didn't even know they made them.
-----

Does your camera have the hot spot for a larger flash? If so they slip right in there. I will let you know how the work. I am planning on doing some HD video, so that is another reason why I bought it.
-----

No, I don't see anything on top like that. It probably wouldn't work on mine then.
-----

You don't have a spot like this for an external flash on yours?

-----

No, nothing like that.
-----

>>Cool, thanks! I have the same camera except it's the Powershot SX20is. I ordered the 160 LED light that clips on the top and the 2.5x macro-lens they make for it. Since you can't attach other tube lenses. The camera takes awesome pics outside in auto mode but have trouble inside with artificial lighting.
>>
>>Those rocks and sand I just picked up at home depot to try and give a more naturalistic looking background. I have different shades of brown and grey to see what snakes do best on which background.
>>-----
>>

Add some green......it seems to help
-----
John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

I noticed that in your pics, that you have added some green to them. I think it balances out all the colors. I will be missing all different textures colors sizes to find a good balance. I wish my GBK's were in the mood for a photo shoot. I think the would have really popped on that gravel sand mixture. I need to buy some of those fake cactus that Kerby makes!
-----

"mixing" not missing
-----

Cool. I didn't know you could buy rocks like that there.

That camera is very similar to mine, probably newer. I have the same problems inside, unless I use the diffuser with the flash light.
-----

Yea, Lowes and HD have the big bags of pebbles and larger river stone. That sand isn't play sand but the packing gravel/sand for pavers. It is coarser than play sand. The bags of rock here in FL run about $4 / bag and they are in the garden center here. The rocks I used as a wall were just flagstone pieces broke up and stacked.
-----

Good to know, man. Thanks!
-----

"so I raped a layer of cardboard around it and then raped it with electrical tape"

Man, you need to get out a bit more, Ross...LOL!

I'd quit "raping" your camera before someone gets wind of it and calls the cops out there..LMAO!!..

just messin' with ya..LOL!!

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Doug, you beat me to it! LMAO!!!!
-----

HAHAHAHA!!!!...too funny!!

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

hahahaha Oh man, that's not the word I was looking for. lol
-----

.
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Wow!,....KILLER pics there Ross!! Those are excellent man!

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Thanks, Doug. And I owe it all to my flash diffuser. LOL
-----

Geeez!,..I think I'd better look into one of those REAL diffusers one day then..LOL!.

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

That cheap stuff will surprise you sometimes. lol
-----

man!,...I know dude!...WOW!!

It's like the difference between using a big rock to beat a nail with or a real hammer..LOL!

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

lol yep
-----

Hey Jimmy I haven't read the entire thread, so maybe someone already mentioned this. I have fixed that problem considerably by lowering the exposure setting on my Digital camera. I really don't know squat about cameras, but if you have that setting, try adjusting it. Great set up you constructed by the way!
-----
Disclaimer: I do keep several snakes in pairs, and some in groups. However I realize that things can go wrong, and I have to keep a close eye on those groups, to be sure they are not being adversely affected by these living conditions. Also if one happens to eat it's cagemate, it is 100% my fault, and I know the risks in advance!

What's wrong with using CAUTION?!?!?!
King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
~ Jorge Sierra www.SierraSnakes.com

I can adjust all that, it's just coming up with the right sequence of shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. I think I just need to diffuse the light a little more and they will look better. Thanks for the comment! Getting ready to take pics of babies. Hopefully have everything set up in a week or so.
-----

Jimmy,
Your pics turned out very good! Animals are awesome!!
I always, for what I do, and for my older 7.1 megapixel camera, take pics outside in shade or on overcast days. The results for me have been better than when I take the pics inside. The colors really seem to be exactly how they are in real life using shade or overcast days. I can't, for the life of me, take decent pics indoors.

Love line hypo brooks:

Albino San Diego gopher-Applegate strain:

-----
Genesis 1:1

Thanks Billy! I have to agree that outside pics are better as they do show more color. The problem I have is I don't have much time during the day. So inside pecs just fit in my schedule better. here's a few milks with a different background. Took 110 pics of those 3 to get about 5 decent ones, I sure appreciate digital cameras!



-----

Yea, I hear ya bro about not having time to take them outside.
Great pics bro! Don't underestimate your pics!
-----
Genesis 1:1

Here is what I use, and it works really well for me. A flexible insulated can cooler. Got one that points up and one that points out to each side.
Nice snakes, great pic's. You use a can cooler with those pic's and you will have a professional photo. LOL
DAVY

For got to send the pictures.