How to photograph a wiggly snake?

Yesterday Millie shed and I decided to try for some glamor shots. I usually photograph food, so I was completely unprepared to deal with a moving target! Does anyone have any advice on photographing a snake? I don't mean technical, though I certainly welcome any help I can get on that front, but how to get pics of a critter that just won't hold still!

Unfortunately my friendly, curious girl kept trying to check out the camera, so I ended up with a lot of these.

http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/...ps02ee1b9a.jpg

http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/...psee5cf28d.jpg

My husband tried to help.

http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/...psc4b84cc7.jpg

Eventually I got a few that I liked.

http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9c843788.jpg

http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/...psb0e4ef97.jpg

http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/...ps56d3b1ff.jpg

But after a while both of us were done.

http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1a7b1d33.jpg

Cover them with a bowl. Let them relax. Prep your shot, lift the bowl and then quickly riffle off a few shots.

Thanks! That sounds like the voice of experience. I either have to get a really big bowl or stop being so prop happy, tho. :D

My camera takes 30 pictures in one second (literally), so I've never had an issue with wiggly snakes. However, I've heard that putting them in a perch, branch, etc helps slow them down a little.

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Originally Posted by Rickys_Reptiles

Cover them with a bowl. Let them relax. Prep your shot, lift the bowl and then quickly riffle off a few shots.

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Nice to know. I can never get mine to sit still and when I do it's for a less than liked shot.

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Originally Posted by B.O.S Reptiles

My camera takes 30 pictures in one second (literally), so I've never had an issue with wiggly snakes. However, I've heard that putting them in a perch, branch, etc helps slow them down a little.

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What the heck camera do you have?

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Originally Posted by SquamishSerpents

What the heck camera do you have?

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x2 on this. I bet the government would wonder that same thing LOL

Many mirrorless cameras shoot 30-60 images per second. Nikon J1, V1, and many of the sony mirrorless accomplish this within electronic shutter - its nothing new ;-)

As has been stated, use a bowl, or like I do - a hide if you're at home, a hat if you're in the field, or your hands if you are using a small snake or a particular snake on location. In the field my hat is used for large snakes, hands for not so bitey snakes, and a lens cap for tiny snakes. Give them 2-5 minutes to settle, get your camera set up and take some "test" shots of the bowl / hide. Get the lighting how you want it. When you are ready lift and fire.

Note: Works best when you use a tripod and remote release. At the least a tripod so you can just tap the shutter button.

Side Note: 30 FPS shooting does not promise clear shots. Motion blur is your enemy and your limitation is purely shutter SPEED. The actual exposure value, you can shoot 30 FPS but if you shoot at 1/60 of a second exposure wise, you will still hit an issue with a moving subject.

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Originally Posted by SquamishSerpents

What the heck camera do you have?

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It's called Fast Burst Camera (on my Samsung Gal II, with PAC MAN 23.0.0) My phone is over clocked and I'm pretty sure that's the only reason I can take 30 a second.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...t+burst+camera

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Originally Posted by Neal

x2 on this. I bet the government would wonder that same thing LOL

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Well NASA uses million pixel cameras on their drones, so I'm sure they already have a camera that takes 30+ pictures in a second!

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Originally Posted by B.O.S Reptiles

Well NASA uses million pixel cameras on their drones, so I'm sure they already have a camera that takes 30+ pictures in a second!

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lol. I was only saying that because I had no idea about the 30 pics a second. I thought you were over exaggerating it because I have a $1200 camera and mine doesn't even take that :P

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Originally Posted by Neal

lol. I was only saying that because I had no idea about the 30 pics a second. I thought you were over exaggerating it because I have a $1200 camera and mine doesn't even take that :P

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When I say "literally" in parentheses, I mean literally! Lol I love it because the app also let's you make them into GIFS. And I never have to worry about getting a bad shot because I always have at least 5-10 decent ones! I am going to get a Lumix LX7 soon enough.

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Originally Posted by B.O.S Reptiles

When I say "literally" in parentheses, I mean literally! Lol I love it because the app also let's you make them into GIFS. And I never have to worry about getting a bad shot because I always have at least 5-10 decent ones! I am going to get a Lumix LX7 soon enough.

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I would check it out if it were free but with my camera on my phone I wouldn't bother with it, not unless I could try it out first.

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Originally Posted by Neal

I would check it out if it were free but with my camera on my phone I wouldn't bother with it, not unless I could try it out first.

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There's a free version on Google Play, or you can get it from APKmania (I think that's where I got my full version).

Am I the only one that finds it funny that you say you normally photograph food and there is a pic of your BP on a plate?

Cool pics BTW

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Originally Posted by jwill226

Am I the only one that finds it funny that you say you normally photograph food and there is a pic of your BP on a plate?

Cool pics BTW

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Uh oh!!! Hope he/she wasn't planning on eating that little guy ;) Good observation!

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Originally Posted by jwill226

Am I the only one that finds it funny that you say you normally photograph food and there is a pic of your BP on a plate?

Cool pics BTW

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LOL! I don't think anybody else really paid attention to that.

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Originally Posted by jwill226

Am I the only one that finds it funny that you say you normally photograph food and there is a pic of your BP on a plate?

Cool pics BTW

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I was hoping no one would pick up on that! You use the props you got. :D