Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Then it might look as good as this snake actually does. In real life this mandarin is fluorescent yellow. Thanks to Gregg Feaster for getting me the pair. And great meeting you in the flesh. Next time I'll arrange time to stay around so we can spend more than ten minutes talking. I'll experiment with my camera and lighting over the next few weeks and produce some better photos.
John

>>Then it might look as good as this snake actually does. In real life this mandarin is fluorescent yellow. Thanks to Gregg Feaster for getting me the pair. And great meeting you in the flesh. Next time I'll arrange time to stay around so we can spend more than ten minutes talking. I'll experiment with my camera and lighting over the next few weeks and produce some better photos.
>>John
>>

Man, I would love a chance to photograph that beautiful snake.
I can only offer this simple advise.
Keep taking picture after picture after picture. If you are like me you will finally get a few good ones out of every twenty or so....lol
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

I know basically nothing about the art of photography. Well I'll take your advice and try, try again.
Best regards
John

>>I know basically nothing about the art of photography. Well I'll take your advice and try, try again.
>>Best regards
>>John

Unfortunately I don't know much about photography either.
I just know practice pratice practice.
I was on the other (R. Z.'s) corn snake forum, a while back, and was basically admonished for giving advise along the lines that if the whole photo doesn't look good but a section of it does, just crop that section of the photo and use it. There were a couple of other problems but anyway my advise wasn't proffesional or text book.
Although my methods may not be along the lines of true professionals I do know my photos were much better then THAT particular expert....lol
Not better then most but definitely better then his.
I have also found that there is a flash option on my camera that is basically a strobe flash that helps cut down on redeye.
This setting seems to work to keep from "washing out" photos with too much flash.
I have also found that using G.E. Reveal light bulbs gives a truer light. Normal lightbulbs seem to make the photos a little "yellowish"
So, remember, all I know is what works for me.
But I try to help when I can.
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

which is kind of a dull motto (if you ask me). I mean it's no "when it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight" (which is sort of the gold standard of mottos). But let's move away from this whole motto-gate debacle and get to the point.

I'll try that red-eye function next. My pictures were definitely over flashed. I also have to get some of those rechargeable bateries. I'm going through the regular ones like they were going out of style.

Thanks again
John

I agree with Jimmy. I have to take a whole series of pics to finally get a keeper. One of the many reasons I prefer digital these days. Here's a pic of my little Sichuan female from last spring which has very subdued light to compare to your pic...

Mandarin ratsnakes are a great species. Not only beautiful, but also hardy and easy to manage. Mine are still going strong, but I'm thinking about brumation, since the humidity is going down here with the heat on, and I have to brumate the adults sooner or later anyway.

Nice snake in your pic, btw, John. She should be a real looker. Keep us posted on her progress.

TC

You keep us posted on your Sichuans too. There aren't enough mandarins pictured here for my liking. Keep'em coming.
John

That pic looks pretty good to me John, but please keep me posted on them and keep on taking pics like the Terry and Jimmy mentioned...i take about 80 and keep maybe 15-20 if i'm doing good that day, lol.

Have a good one John, and glad i could help you out with those Mandarins.

Gregg F.

>>Then it might look as good as this snake actually does. In real life this mandarin is fluorescent yellow. Thanks to Gregg Feaster for getting me the pair. And great meeting you in the flesh. Next time I'll arrange time to stay around so we can spend more than ten minutes talking. I'll experiment with my camera and lighting over the next few weeks and produce some better photos.
>>John
>>
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Gregg F.

www.greggsrb.com

I want a picture that really catches the brightness of the yellow. I'll have to become a much better photographer to do that. But it'll be fun working on it.
Thanks again
John