Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am by know stretch of the imagination great with a camera....but when I turn the flash off and shoot these animals with natural light only....I get some pretty nice shots.

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Jim Perron
Python Passion Reptiles
pythonpassion@hotmail.com
www.pythonpassionreptiles.com

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Jim Perron
Python Passion Reptiles
pythonpassion@hotmail.com
www.pythonpassionreptiles.com

.

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Jim Perron
Python Passion Reptiles
pythonpassion@hotmail.com
www.pythonpassionreptiles.com

.
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Jim Perron
Python Passion Reptiles
pythonpassion@hotmail.com
www.pythonpassionreptiles.com

This is a Peach Ghost from RDR line....this animal is absolutely outstanding in person.

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Jim Perron
Python Passion Reptiles
pythonpassion@hotmail.com
www.pythonpassionreptiles.com

Jim, you've got some great looking animals there and the pictures turned out really well too.

When I first started taking pics of my animals I learned pretty quickly that the flash is most likely enemy number one when it comes to capturing an animals true colors. I didn't have any fancy photography setup and lacked the funds for special lights. But, I did have an old 18" flourescent light fixture and a Compact Flourescent fixture with a 50/50 bulb that wasn't being used for anything.

By setting these two up on opposite sides of the area I was going to be shooting and directing them towards the subject from varying angles, I found I could capture (without the flash) an almost perfect representation of some of my snakes color (not to mention some of the subtle pattern that goes on in apparently "solid" areas of color).

I absolutely love Compact Flourescent lighting. Nothing mimics the appearance of natural sunlight better and nearly everything it shines on looks more vibrant. Compact Flourescent bulbs are actually two tubes on one bulb, this allows for the manufacture to coat the inside of the tubes individually with different phosphors allowing for different "color temps" to be achieved.

I prefer the 50/50 bulbs which means one tube is blue and the other white (it's more technical than that but if you are shopping for one and decide to check out the 50/50's this is the easiest way to tell them appart). With a good quality 50/50 bulb the "blue" will help pick up the yellows in your snakes (which is the color that is usually washed out to a faded brown or tan) and the "white" will act as your flash (without the bright spots, glare, etc.).

I use the normal flourescent just to add extra lighting and to eliminate shadow. My set up isn't perfect but I'm thinking of building a stand complete with interchangable backdrops soon. I also need a tripod to stabilize my shots (I have a slight tremor at times and when shooting macros it spells disaster).

"Normal" flourescent lights I'm sure you can find on your own. My extra Compact Flourescent fixture cost me about $35 at a local pet store (I have paid over $150 for 36" fixtures though). It is only a 9" fixture but the light it puts out is awesome.

I've done it again, I always ramble. Well, hopefully you (or someone else) got something out of this. If not...you still have some great looking morphs there.
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Sometimes, things are exactly as they appear...sometimes.

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I will look in to some of your recommondations.
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Jim Perron
Python Passion Reptiles
pythonpassion@hotmail.com
www.pythonpassionreptiles.com