Well, that was an eventful shoot!

I just got a new "mini portable photo studio," and decided to try it out on Vinnie & Pedro, especially since Vinnie had just shed. Started out fine, but then things got interesting - first Pedro bit me when I startled him (trying to block him from escaping), and then Vinnie decided to pee & poop all over the light tent. What is it with that?? Last time I had a shoot with Toby, he did the same thing! I got pictures of that (Pedro's) lovely moment, but I'll spare you unless somebody's dying to see them. ;)

Despite those issues, I did manage to get some nice shots... unfortunately I'm still using a Fujifilm point & shoot, and can't imagine what a DSLR could do! My birthday is coming up, if anyone wants to buy me a Nikon D40 - LOL. :D Anyway, here are my favorite pictures of the boys:

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCF1268.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCF1275.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCF1277.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCF1283.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCF1296.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCF1298.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCF1308.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCF1310.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCF1319.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCF1320.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCF1326.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCF1340.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCF1372.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCF1374.jpg

And no, I didn't tilt the photo... he's really "standing" up! :)
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCF1384.jpg

Nice photos, there are two worthy of the monthly contests. The one with the mojave looking out from under himself like hiding from the world with a hangover, and the last one standing straight up.

Somethings I think it's easier herding cats than taking pics of snakes, but it's worth it. They are cute! :cool:

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Originally Posted by NorthernRegius

Somethings I think it's easier herding cats than taking pics of snakes, but it's worth it. They are cute! :cool:

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LOL! That's my absolute favorite expression!!! (I have 4 cats) And I'll have to agree with that!



Great pictures OP!!!

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Originally Posted by tonkatoyman

Nice photos, there are two worthy of the monthly contests. The one with the mojave looking out from under himself like hiding from the world with a hangover, and the last one standing straight up.

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Thanks! I'd love to enter the contest, so maybe I'll submit one of those for next month... probably the first one you mentioned, since the other isn't very good technically speaking. :oops:

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Originally Posted by NorthernRegius

Somethings I think it's easier herding cats than taking pics of snakes, but it's worth it. They are cute! :cool:

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LOL... totally challenging, especially with the active little ones. I had some other shots that would have been awesome, if not for the blurred moving parts. :cool: Anyway, thanks for the comment!

A few that would've been good without the blur...

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCF1331.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCF1333.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCF1334.jpg

nice pics of beautiful snakes. I only have a kodak point and shoot. Keep playing and taking pics with your camera, changing settings if you have a manual mode. And definitely enter one of those in the the monthly contests.

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Originally Posted by Isis

LOL! That's my absolute favorite expression!!! (I have 4 cats) And I'll have to agree with that!

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I have two cats, and a herding-breed dog... that gets interesting sometimes, LOL. :D

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Great pictures OP!!!

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Thank you! Wish I had a better camera, but I make the best of what I have... :)

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Originally Posted by Ladydragon

nice pics of beautiful snakes. I only have a kodak point and shoot. Keep playing and taking pics with your camera, changing settings if you have a manual mode. And definitely enter one of those in the the monthly contests.

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Thanks! Any tips on which settings are best? I know more about SLR cameras (especially non-digital) than auto cameras, so I usually just hit the macro button & turn off the flash. :confuzd:

Btw, Ladydragon (and whoever else)... which picture do you think I should enter in the contest? I'm leaning towards #5, 6, or 13 - and "tonkatoyman" suggested either the last one or #10.

Cool pics. I also like the first "blurred" one.

They are both very nice loooking!

seeing different morphs sided next to each other looks so cool

That mojo is smoking! :salute:

can you take a picture of your whole light box? I dont think you're using the backgrounds correctly. You shouldn't have any seams in the back because the backdrop should be smooth.

Your pictures look nice but they could use a little work.

- color balance: whites should be white and blacks should be black :)
- cropping pictures to make dynamic, flowing and interesting compositions
- your backgrounds shouldn't be distracting, there shouldn't be any wrinkles or differently colored patches or pieces of lint.

I went to college for photography so I tend to be pretty critical of images so dont take any of this personally, take it as tips to help you make better photos! :P

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Originally Posted by cinderbird

can you take a picture of your whole light box? I dont think you're using the backgrounds correctly. You shouldn't have any seams in the back because the backdrop should be smooth.

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It's broken down now, but I'll take a picture next time I set it up. I'd literally just unpacked the "studio" before taking those photos, so I hadn't ironed or cleaned the backdrops yet... then Vinnie decided to pee & poop everywhere, so I had to do some cleanup (hence the lint - from paper towels). :D

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- color balance: whites should be white and blacks should be black :)

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Yeah, I was using GIMP to adjust that, but just downloaded a free trial of Photoshop... tried using the auto adjustment settings on there, but it still doesn't look quite right.

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- your backgrounds shouldn't be distracting, there shouldn't be any wrinkles or differently colored patches or pieces of lint.

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See above, LOL. I will iron and clean them before my next photo shoot! But you're probably right about my using them incorrectly, so I'll try to get a picture of my setup later... I really wish these things came with instructions, but they seem to think we're all experts. :cool:

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I went to college for photography so I tend to be pretty critical of images so dont take any of this personally, take it as tips to help you make better photos! :P

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No, I appreciate the comments! :gj: I took a few photography classes in high school & college, and always secretly wanted to be a pro - but things just didn't go that way, so I'm just an amateur hacker. I've been wanting to take another course at the City College, to brush up and learn more about digital photography (my classes were in the pre-digital era ;)). I want to get a better camera first, though, or I'll just be disappointed with the results. Anyway, thanks for the critiques, and keep 'em coming!

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Originally Posted by Drew87

That mojo is smoking! :salute:

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Pedro says muchas gracias. :D He was bred by Justin Kobylka, and I think he's pretty smoking too... I have some big plans for that little guy. ;)

Dang, awesome snakes! I agree that the mojo is great.

But it's the spider that I'm really diggin!!! I love the yellow on its sides. What does the belly look like?

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Originally Posted by Lolo76

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCF1277.jpg

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hey!! it has a J on its side!! for justin :P

EDIT: on teh mojo, left side of pic LOL

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Originally Posted by Bobsean

Dang, awesome snakes! I agree that the mojo is great.

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Thanks! He is even prettier in person, and is quickly turning into a nice boy... still a little jumpy, but he's young. ;)

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But it's the spider that I'm really diggin!!! I love the yellow on its sides. What does the belly look like?

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He just ate last night, so I'll get a belly shot when he's finished digesting... it's extremely pink and speckled, even after a shed. I looked at MANY spiders before choosing him, and couldn't be happier with how he's turning out. :)

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Originally Posted by h00blah

hey!! it has a J on its side!! for justin :P

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LOL... I hadn't even noticed that! :D I'm always focused on his mermaid, or pin-up girl depending on your perception:

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...DSCF1277-1.jpg

Now I also see a masquerade mask right above the mermaid - I could go on for hours, like finding patterns in a cloud. :)

P.S. Here's a partial belly shot from the spider, just after I got him:

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSCF0729.jpg

do your backdrops have a velvety side and a more nylon-ey side? If they do, use the velvety side, velvet makes the best backdrop if its pretty clean because there is nothing for the light to reflect off of or mess with. You may get a little texture from it but its very fixable in photoshop. :)

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Originally Posted by Lolo76

LOL... I hadn't even noticed that! :D I'm always focused on his mermaid, or pin-up girl depending on your perception:

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...DSCF1277-1.jpg

Now I also see a masquerade mask right above the mermaid - I could go on for hours, like finding patterns in a cloud. :)

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thats ANOTHER J!!!! the one im referring to is more to the left :gj:

let it be known; Justin's first initial is going to be branded into every animal he produces ;ppp

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P.S. Here's a partial belly shot from the spider, just after I got him:

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OOOoooo! That's what I'm talking about, yellowish sides and belly. I love it!

Looking good!

Justin

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Originally Posted by jkobylka

Looking good!

Justin

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Thanks Justin! Your babies are all doing great... Pedro is an eating machine and just went opaque, and the hets are both warming up to me. All good purchases, for sure. :)

Great pics:) I am sure they are just like we use to be at the Kmart photo session our parents took us too when we were little, never hold still and sure we had dirty diapers to boot lol.....

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Originally Posted by Kysenia

Great pics:) I am sure they are just like we use to be at the Kmart photo session our parents took us too when we were little, never hold still and sure we had dirty diapers to boot lol.....

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Totally, LOL. I remember trying to do a portrait when we were kids, and my little brother was around 5-6 yrs old... the only way he'd sit still was if we gave him Micro Machines, so in every photo there's a toy car in his hand. :P