Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a not so wonderful Sony Cybershot camera. It has no macro feature. I would really like to learn how to take some decent pics. I try inside with an incandescent light and even outside with sunlight. I cannot manage to get the subject still enough to take pics that I would call decent. Do you guys have any pointers for me? The snakes move too fast and never pose correctly How do you all take pics with them not being a blur? Everyway I try it seems they look a different color than what my eye sees. I have some I will try to sell soon, but I can't manage to take a representative photo.

I will be getting a new camera in the fall, but can anyone help me?

Linda

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When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teachers appears.

Hey Linda,

This is one of my favorite snake pics. I took it with my cybershot on the macro setting. Just play with the buttons until the flower symbol is displayed. You also have to play with the zoom a bit. Try taking a picture with the flash on, zoom all the way out, flower symbol on and the camera held about 4 inches or so from the snake. Until I became comfortable with the settings, I used to get a lot of blurry pics. I don't know how to post multiple pics so one more will follow. Let me know how it works. Good luck,

Mike

Sorry, I know it may not be the appropriate forum. This was also taken with the flash on, macro set, zoomed out and just inches from the snake

That is an awesome photo of a really killer snake! I'm green with envy.....so to speak....

Chris O
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www.chrisolsonreptiles.com
Naked I see the camp of those who desire nothing

...that if I had that snake I would practice more! My camera has no flowers.

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When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teachers appears.

...my Cybershot doesn't seem capable of photos like yours. I always like your pics. Maybe the camera I'll get in the fall will have macro and zoom. It a gift from my Japanese Aunt and Uncle who are coming in the fall....so I can't be too specific. I'm hoping for a really nice one though. I am afraid to hope too much because I thought I'd get one for Christmas and that just didn't happen!

Linda
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When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teachers appears.

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www.chrisolsonreptiles.com
Naked I see the camp of those who desire nothing

I like window light. Try this. Put the snake in a rubbermaid container and close the lid. Leave it there until it gets used to being there. Usually when I come back the snake is "posing," or curled up. When I open the container and start shooting I usually get a few shots before he or she decides to move about again.

Chris O
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www.chrisolsonreptiles.com
Naked I see the camp of those who desire nothing

...If you have a digital camera that does not focus at short enough distances to take macro shots you can take shots as close as they focus okay and then crop them in the computer to get a pretty good macro effect.
Jeff

>>I like window light. Try this. Put the snake in a rubbermaid container and close the lid. Leave it there until it gets used to being there. Usually when I come back the snake is "posing," or curled up. When I open the container and start shooting I usually get a few shots before he or she decides to move about again.
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>>Chris O
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>>www.chrisolsonreptiles.com
>>Naked I see the camp of those who desire nothing

Good point Jeff, I forgot to mention that I cropped both of those photos on the computer.

Is that legal? I am a bit computer-slow. Although I have Photoshop, it is rarely used. I find I will sit down to do one thing...4 to 6 hours later I am frustrated, behind on other stuff, and down right angry at everything. The more I "improve", the less I like the pic and generally end up thinking the original is just perfect. I suppose zooming in or out and adjusting size is an area I need some practice in.

Linda

But I'm willing to try again.

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When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teachers appears.

Linda,
..Darnit. It is us old folks who are supposed to have trouble getting our computers to do what we want. You young folks are supposed to know all this stuff and help us older people with it.
Jeff

>>Is that legal? I am a bit computer-slow. Although I have Photoshop, it is rarely used. I find I will sit down to do one thing...4 to 6 hours later I am frustrated, behind on other stuff, and down right angry at everything. The more I "improve", the less I like the pic and generally end up thinking the original is just perfect. I suppose zooming in or out and adjusting size is an area I need some practice in.
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>>Linda
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>>But I'm willing to try again.
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>> When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teachers appears.

I'll be trying this technique. I'm assuming light has to actually come through the window, is that right? Just kidding, I'm a bit of a smart.....

Thanks,
Linda
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When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teachers appears.