Taking Pics Cueball Style!

Here is a little "how cue does it" thread on taking pics :crazy:

Wanna take a pic like this??

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...n/a969b5a3.jpg

or this??

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...n/c881fe8e.jpg

or this??

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...n/69208abc.jpg

Here's how :clap:

1. Choose your subject wisely. If your snake is in a mood to explore then this is NOT the time to take it's picture. This will only cause frustration and terrible pics. Just wait till it's a better time. I find that in the middle of the day works best.


2. Find some good fill light. I like to shoot outside since that will provide the most even fill light. I do however still use my flash for a more completly even exposure. If you have to shoot inside just make sure you have PLENTY of ambient fill light.

3. Choose a good background. Make sure your background is large enough to comfortably get the whole body of the snake on it with plenty of room to work. You will want to ONLY get the background and snake in the frame. This will ensure your camera is only focusing and exposing your subject and nothing else in the fore or background. I use non glossy off white craft paper in a tub. Use a large enough piece to roll up the front and back side. This will provide refraction of the light and a good even fill with the light.

4. Know and understand your camera. I use a simple entree level digital camera made by Nikon, it's a coolpix l1 6.2 megapixel. I mostly use the auto function and let the camera do the rest. The only thing I change is to use the macro function.

5. Know your snakes patients limit and get everything thing setup before hand. Add the snake the very last. Take lots of pictures and just trash the ones that you don't like. Turn the snake round and round till you like the position. This will often calm/disorientate the subject long enough to get off a couple of shots.

6. Use the photo editing software that came with your camera. It probably has plenty of features to make your final product just the way you want it. The Nikon comes with cropping, sharpening, brightness and color enhancements. That's all I ever need for basic photo work. Crop the subject first and leave a small but tasteful border of background around the edge. Sharpen it up to your liking. Adjust the brightness down to "natural" lighting and tweak the color to the way the snake looks to you in person.

Photo prop..outside fill light using my body to block the direct sunlight...
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...n/57cfe9fe.jpg
Before...
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...n/8afed432.jpg
This is what I see in "real" life...
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...n/d89686e6.jpg



7. Host your pics and post em up on bp.net for all your pals to enjoy :clap:


I hope this helps and I can say that practice certainly helps!

great pics!! now hopefully i'll be able to take better pics of my snakeys.

Wanna learn the mirror trick??


It's a snap :crazy:

1. Find a good mirror to use. I got 12" x12" with a beveled edge that can be found at any local hardware type store.

2. Setup some very soft but plentiful fill light. I used two 18" UV fluorescents. You don't want glare!

3. Create the background. In this case I used colored paper attached to a false roof ~18" above the mirror.

4. Angle your shot so that the flash does not directly reflect off the mirror.

5. Have fun :clap:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...g?t=1184539989

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...g?t=1184540159

Ok, want a full belly shot to go with your mirror pic?? No problem :crazy:

1. Follow above steps. Use a piece of glass and suspend it ~2" above the mirror to place the snake on. Use as thin of a piece of glass as possible to reduce distortion.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...g?t=1184540053

In the lesson you forgot “Crop the picture to show partial snake and make members beg for more" :P ;)

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Originally Posted by Snakeman

great pics!! now hopefully i'll be able to take better pics of my snakeys.

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Looking forward to seeing em :clap:

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Originally Posted by cueball

3. Choose a good background. Make sure your background is large enough to comfortably get the whole body of the snake on it with plenty of room to work. You will want to ONLY get the background and snake in the frame. This will ensure your camera is only focusing and exposing your subject and nothing else in the fore or background. I use non glossy off white craft paper in a tub. Use a large enough piece to roll up the front and back side. This will provide refraction of the light and a good even fill with the light.

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:8:



Sorry..... :P

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Originally Posted by GA_Ball_Pythons

In the lesson you forgot “Crop the picture to show partial snake and make members beg for more" :P ;)

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Oh..right..silly me :giggle:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...g?t=1184540869

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Laooda

:8:



Sorry..... :P

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Drrrrrrrrrrrrrr :nerd:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...n/c777153e.jpg

Thanks Cue!! Im gettin some new snakes in, and its about time I took some pics.:rockon: And nice site....

LOL, at L.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cueball

Oh..right..silly me :giggle:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...g?t=1184540869

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That's more like you :rolleyes:

Great post Chris, ill definatly have to give this a go! :)

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Originally Posted by stangs13

Im gettin some new snakes in

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:gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stangs13

and its about time I took some pics.

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:rolleyes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stangs13

And nice site....

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:rolleye2:

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Originally Posted by worldcupkeeper

Great post Chris, ill definatly have to give this a go! :)

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Thanks mang...let's see some mirror pics :clap:

Great post. I love photography and love reptiles. Perfect match!!!! I am going to look for a mirror as soon as I get this posted, and taking everyone outside on my next day off to see what I can get.

Nice post Cue... now all you need to do is make sure you can upload them and still keep that good crisp quality and size. :) :) :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stangs13

And nice site....

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I emailed asking if they wanted to see pictures of my python and they called me a dirty little scotsman.:eek:

J/k.... no one ever calls me little.:P

Great set of posts Cue. :sweeet:



dr del

Thanks for the thread. This was fantastic. I often am reluctant to post photos because I think my photos aren't that great. Hopefully now I can get some awesome photos.

Great Post, Cue!

I like that you have them in a tub. I just put the background fabric on a table...the snake is out of the frame before I can get behind the camera!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CurtisCr79

Great post. I love photography and love reptiles. Perfect match!!!! I am going to look for a mirror as soon as I get this posted, and taking everyone outside on my next day off to see what I can get.

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Sweet, looking forward to seeing you make a picture post! The mirror shots are fun and very rewarding :cool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rapture

Nice post Cue... now all you need to do is make sure you can upload them and still keep that good crisp quality and size. :) :) :)

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Thanks miss Fancy McCamera :P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

I emailed asking if they wanted to see pictures of my python and they called me a dirty little scotsman.:eek:

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You just have to be more specific than just python..ask them if they fancy to see your ball :bolt:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

I emailed asking if they wanted to see pictures of my python and they called me a dirty little scotsman.:eek:

J/k.... no one ever calls me little.:P

Great set of posts Cue. :sweeet:



dr del

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LOL!

Anything with the word Dr. Infront is almost always small.:P

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Originally Posted by RockSolid

Thanks for the thread. This was fantastic. I often am reluctant to post photos because I think my photos aren't that great. Hopefully now I can get some awesome photos.

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Experience and constructive criticism from this site got me to enjoy taking pics more than ever :clap:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by monk90222

Great Post, Cue!

I like that you have them in a tub. I just put the background fabric on a table...the snake is out of the frame before I can get behind the camera!!

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Great point I forgot to make! The tub also serves as a great tool to keep them semi in the space you want :D

Cuebert is a f'n superstar! Great thread buddy...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cueball

Great point I forgot to make! The tub also serves as a great tool to keep them semi in the space you want :D

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And I thought they were sedated! Thanks for the tips. I haven't posted pics in a long time. Now I have studied at the Cue school for taking pics of your balls I will have to give it a try! Thanks for sharing! Always greatly appreciated! :rockon:

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Cuebert is a f'n superstar! Great thread buddy...

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Thanks Mr. Glass..just trying to keep up :oops:

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Originally Posted by westcoastjungle

And I thought they were sedated!

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They are cold :whisper:

Plastic bowl in the freezer, goes on top of snake, and VIOLA, you have a snake that sits still. :carrot:

Sticky please Admins and Mods. Us poor pic challenged folks need this kept handy please!

I like the tub idea Chris. But then how would I get those ever so wonderful "this is where the snake used to be", "that's the tip of it's tail as it leaves the camera range" type photo's. LOL Thanks for this thread Chris. I might actually finally get some decent snake photography done!

Of course the one thing cue is leaving out is you have to start with smoking hot snakes to start with.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Sticky please Admins and Mods. Us poor pic challenged folks need this kept handy please!

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Jo...you're too kind :oops: Just do a search fopr dorky pic thread!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

But then how would I get those ever so wonderful "this is where the snake used to be", "that's the tip of it's tail as it leaves the camera range" type photo's.

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I also really like the blurry ones of the snakes open mouth right at the camera as I stumble over backwards :8:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

Of course the one thing cue is leaving out is you have to start with smoking hot snakes to start with.

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That helps :D

GREAT thread, Chris!! Thanks for the lessons....I can use all the help I can get!


'Tis now stickied for easy reference from all of us photo-challenged folks!

:clap:

Well they can go right along with my "Mike holding a snake while wearing his 8ball tshirt", "Mike holding a snake while wearing his red wings tshirt", "Mike holding a snake while wearing his 8ball tshirt". You'd swear my husband only owns two tshirts!

Great post Chris! Thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cueball

They are cold :whisper:

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How cold? I know that makes a difference at a show but never thought about cooling down for pics. What about the cold bowl idea . . .

I really love the mirror trick! :carrot:

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Originally Posted by JLC

GREAT thread, Chris!! Thanks for the lessons....I can use all the help I can get!

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I look forward to more pics of your lil gal soon Judy :crazy:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JLC

'Tis now stickied for easy reference from all of us photo-challenged folks!

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I'm/it's not worthy :bow:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Well they can go right along with my "Mike holding a snake while wearing his 8ball tshirt", "Mike holding a snake while wearing his red wings tshirt", "Mike holding a snake while wearing his 8ball tshirt". You'd swear my husband only owns two tshirts!

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I like the pics of Mikey wearing his 8ball gown :8:

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Originally Posted by Alice

Great post Chris! Thanks!

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Thanks...you inspired it! Per your request...not because of your pics :giggle:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alice

How cold? I know that makes a difference at a show but never thought about cooling down for pics. What about the cold bowl idea . . .

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We keep our ball pythons at 80 degrees all the time. Makes for calmer photo subjects :gj:

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Originally Posted by Alice

I really love the mirror trick! :carrot:

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Good!! I hope to see some awesome mirror shots...you certainly have some amazing ball pythons to shoot :eek:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cueball

Thanks...you inspired it! Per your request...not because of your pics :giggle:



We keep our ball pythons at 80 degrees all the time. Makes for calmer photo subjects :gj:


Good!! I hope to see some awesome mirror shots...you certainly have some amazing ball pythons to shoot :eek:

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Do they have a hot side? Or do you keep them at 80 know cool or hot side?

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Originally Posted by stangs13

Do they have a hot side? Or do you keep them at 80 know cool or hot side?

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No hot side..just 80 all the time..not heat source...just the temp of the building :gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cueball

No hot side..just 80 all the time..not heat source...just the temp of the building :gj:

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:eek:

And this works?! Amazing. Is it safe to try? Because that is the temp of my room.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stangs13

:eek:

And this works?! Amazing. Is it safe to try? Because that is the temp of my room.

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Well, our collection thrives at that tempurature. However..keep in mind that they where born and raised at that temp. You would have to very gradually decrease the temps of your snakes in order to not shock them during the cool down process. If they are doing well at your current temps I would just keep on doing that :gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cueball

Well, our collection thrives at that tempurature. However..keep in mind that they where born and raised at that temp. You would have to very gradually decrease the temps of your snakes in order to not shock them during the cool down process. If they are doing well at your current temps I would just keep on doing that :gj:

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Ok, what about VPIs customers? Like they buy your snakes that were born and loived at 80 deggrees then sold to a home that kees them at 92 for a warm side? This intrests me..ALOT!:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stangs13

Ok, what about VPIs customers? Like they buy your snakes that were born and loived at 80 deggrees then sold to a home that kees them at 92 for a warm side? This intrests me..ALOT!:D

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Good point. It's easier for them to adapt to a warmer temperature than to a colder temperature :gj:

Ah. Maybe when I hatch my own babies, I will do that with them.:D Does it go over this in more detail in the VPI book? Which I have yet to buy......to excpencive!:P

Cool Pics :)

Hey everyone,

I am going to get a nikon D40 which has an 18mm-55mm lense. Do I need to get a macro lense as well for those stunning up close pics?

Thanks,

JonV

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nevohraalnavnoj

Hey everyone,

I am going to get a nikon D40 which has an 18mm-55mm lense. Do I need to get a macro lense as well for those stunning up close pics?

Thanks,

JonV

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Wow, darn, I'm jealous!! pm BT since he just got D40 and is being a show-off with all of his smokin hot snakes and awesome pictures!!!! :bow:

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Originally Posted by cueball

Drrrrrrrrrrrrrr :nerd:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...n/c777153e.jpg

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Hi awsome balls!!!!!!!!!!:banana::banana: