Snake Photography

Well... I've been trying to take some pictures of my bp and to be quite honest, they all suck. I want to get some good close ups of him but he constantly moves away or is never in focus.

I'm pretty much looking for any tips or any suggestions anyone might have.

Sometimes unfortunately you catch snakes at a "bad time" and they aren't very photogenic. Something that can help is to put a metal bowl or metal dog dish in the freezer for a bit and then place it over the snake just prior to taking the picture. Not long enough to hurt him/her but just long enough to cool them down so they slow down.

Hope that helps :)

Not sure if I agree with putting a cold metal bowl over your snake just to take a picture. :confused: You might try taking the pictures in the middle of the day, when they are less active. Just have your photo area ready to go, then get them out and snap your pics before they get to active.

I always end up setting up the camera with a faster shutter speed. Then even if they move, they don't blur. That also allows for those cool shots where the tongue is frozen in motion.

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Originally Posted by snakecharmer3638

Not sure if I agree with putting a cold metal bowl over your snake just to take a picture. :confused: You might try taking the pictures in the middle of the day, when they are less active. Just have your photo area ready to go, then get them out and snap your pics before they get to active.

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Although I wouldn't recommend a metal bowl, putting a cool/cold bowl over them for photography purposes doesn't hurt them in the least bit. It is just over them long enough to relax them, and cool them down enough to get your shots. It does much less damage than the cool temps, and other variables they go through, through shipping. You'd be surprised how many photographers and keepers do it...

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Originally Posted by CeraDigital

Although I wouldn't recommend a metal bowl, putting a cool/cold bowl over them for photography purposes doesn't hurt them in the least bit. It is just over them long enough to relax them, and cool them down enough to get your shots. It does much less damage than the cool temps, and other variables they go through, through shipping. You'd be surprised how many photographers and keepers do it...

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Most snakes are only put through the stress of shipping once. I'm sure it doesn't hurt them. I just don't agree with making your pet uncomfortable to get a picture. When there are probably better ways to get a good shot.

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Originally Posted by snakecharmer3638

Most snakes are only put through the stress of shipping once. I'm sure it doesn't hurt them. I just don't agree with making your pet uncomfortable to get a picture. When there are probably better ways to get a good shot.

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Oh? Explain...

Its not that uncomfortable for them. If it were, they would be fighting more, lash out, struggle, etc. It calms and relaxes them, and makes it less stressful for both the photographer, and subject.

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Originally Posted by CeraDigital

Oh? Explain...

Its not that uncomfortable for them. If it were, they would be fighting more, lash out, struggle, etc. It calms and relaxes them, and makes it less stressful for both the photographer, and subject.

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I am not trying to start a debate about the proper or in-proper way to take pictures of your snake. Or the hazards or lack of hazards involved when you put a cold bowl over them to "calm and relax them". Man I know how calm and relaxed I am when I go out side in the freezing cold. I could just stay out there all day. ;) I was not trying to change anyones method of doing things. If you would like to continue calming and relaxing your snakes, then by all means go ahead. I simply stated that I didn't agree with it and I, the key word here being I, wouldn't do it. Maybe you need a cold bowl. :gj:

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Originally Posted by snakecharmer3638

I am not trying to start a debate about the proper or in-proper way to take pictures of your snake. Or the hazards or lack of hazards involved when you put a cold bowl over them to "calm and relax them". Man I know how calm and relaxed I am when I go out side in the freezing cold. I could just stay out there all day. ;) I was not trying to change anyones method of doing things. If you would like to continue calming and relaxing your snakes, then by all means go ahead. I simply stated that I didn't agree with it and I, the key word here being I, wouldn't do it. Maybe you need a cold bowl. :gj:

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There's the thing. You stated your opinion, so you received an opinion. There is a difference between "freezing cold" and cool/cold. You're not sticking the animal in sub-zero temperatures, or temperatures below 50F. Its more around the 60's-70's. They are not build like us either, so they do not react the same way as we do to cold or cool temperatures. It is much less stressful to both snake and the photographer to cool them, and have them sit still, than trying to repeatedly manipulate it to get your shot. Less energy burnt for both as well. Makes more sense than picking the snake back up over and over, to try and get your shot, wouldn't you think?...

If you wouldn't do it, thats fine....but the moment you state your opinion on an open board and thread, is when it becomes arguable, or open to criticism.

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Originally Posted by CeraDigital

There's the thing. You stated your opinion, so you received an opinion. There is a difference between "freezing cold" and cool/cold. You're not sticking the animal in sub-zero temperatures, or temperatures below 50F. Its more around the 60's-70's. They are not build like us either, so they do not react the same way as we do to cold or cool temperatures. It is much less stressful to both snake and the photographer to cool them, and have them sit still, than trying to repeatedly manipulate it to get your shot. Less energy burnt for both as well. Makes more sense than picking the snake back up over and over, to try and get your shot, wouldn't you think?...

If you wouldn't do it, thats fine....but the moment you state your opinion on an open board and thread, is when it becomes arguable, or open to criticism.

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You are so correct. Opinions, are just that. And if you are the type of person that is so inclined to argue the opinion of another person because you have nothing better to do then so be it. I never said it was right or wrong. I simply said I didn't agree with it. Seems to me it is more productive to argue something that can be proven. Not something that is merely an opinion. :D

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Originally Posted by instinct27

Well... I've been trying to take some pictures of my bp and to be quite honest, they all suck. I want to get some good close ups of him but he constantly moves away or is never in focus.

I'm pretty much looking for any tips or any suggestions anyone might have.

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The opinion debate aside, I tend to take my pictures in the bathtub. They're usually calm for me. That, or place them on the bed. I am of the the opinion that the softness of your blankets can relax them.

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Originally Posted by Melicious

The opinion debate aside, I tend to take my pictures in the bathtub. They're usually calm for me. That, or place them on the bed. I am of the the opinion that the softness of your blankets can relax them.

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No bathtubs are much to hard and blankets are much to soft but cypress is just right. :D JK :rofl:

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Originally Posted by snakecharmer3638

You are so correct. Opinions, are just that. And if you are the type of person that is so inclined to argue the opinion of another person because you have nothing better to do then so be it. I never said it was right or wrong. I simply said I didn't agree with it. Seems to me it is more productive to argue something that can be proven. Not something that is merely an opinion. :D

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It depends on what you mean by proven. As I said, don't you feel it is much less stressful to have the snake cooled and relaxed, than having to manipulate the animal repeatedly to get your shot? There is plausible information there, Vs. a simple you disagree with that person or this person with nothing informative to back that up.

They're not being cooled to the point of jeopardizing their immune system, or allowing them to get sick. They're not being damaged in any way/shape or form by being cooled. It puts them under less risk of damage by retaliating when they're cooled as well. So what negatively comes of it? They're cooled to those same levels during the breeding season for most species of boids...

As I said before, having your opinion is one thing, but posting it on an open board is another, so be ready for criticism.

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Originally Posted by snakecharmer3638

No bathtubs are much to hard and blankets are much to soft but cypress is just right. :D JK :rofl:

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Well, that's your opinion. ^_^ Newspaper isn't bad either.

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Originally Posted by CeraDigital

It depends on what you mean by proven. As I said, don't you feel it is much less stressful to have the snake cooled and relaxed, than having to manipulate the animal repeatedly to get your shot? There is plausible information there, Vs. a simple you disagree with that person or this person with nothing informative to back that up.

They're not being cooled to the point of jeopardizing their immune system, or allowing them to get sick. They're not being damaged in any way/shape or form by being cooled. It puts them under less risk of damage by retaliating when they're cooled as well. So what negatively comes of it? They're cooled to those same levels during the breeding season for most species of boids...

As I said before, having your opinion is one thing, but posting it on an open board is another, so be ready for criticism.

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Yes, I think it is less stressful to let the snake move around as it wants and just get the best shots you can. I personally would not get stressed by the situation but that's just me. That is my opinion. Again you do as you like, no need to defend your opinion. That's what's so great about it. It's yours, you own it. And, I think we have finally hit the road to nowhere. But that's okay I see two exits up ahead you take one and I'll take the other. I'm sure they both lead to somewhere. Who knows, maybe we'll end up at the same place. Have A Nice Day!! :D

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Originally Posted by snakecharmer3638

Yes, I think it is less stressful to let the snake move around as it wants and just get the best shots you can. I personally would not get stressed by the situation but that's just me. That is my opinion. Again you do as you like, no need to defend your opinion. That's what's so great about it. It's yours, you own it. And, I think we have finally hit the road to nowhere. But that's okay I see two exits up ahead you take one and I'll take the other. I'm sure they both lead to somewhere. Who knows, maybe we'll end up at the same place. Have A Nice Day!! :D

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And that is what separates good photography, from "try and snap the best shot you can before the snake flies off the bed"...

Deal with larger animals and then call it less stressful. How many times have you used this technique to call it uncomfortable for the snake, or stressful on them? Lets just say curiosity gets the best of me when people voice their opinion. If you have a very active snake, it keeps the possibilities of them getting injured much lower. Especially when they may take off from the background, when you deal with larger, or more active animals...even more dangerous or venomous animals...

Quite the debate about the metal (or non-metal) freezer bowl. :)

I first heard this technique from Celia Chien whom I consider to be an avid and professional photographer of reptiles.

I'm not saying leave a metal bowl in the freezer overnight and leave it over the snake for an hour but a few minutes each way can help to take better photos if you are having problems with an overly active snake. That or wait for another time. Just because you want to take a picture doesn't always mean the snake wants to be taken unfortunately :(

To each his/her own. My opinion is to listen to people who know more about something than I do and pass that information onto others to be helpful. *shrug*

Most Cameras have a micro setting so you can get up close to your snake and it isn't blurry. Have you tried this?

I think its funny how people think that they can just throw info around that they call "knowledge". But dont you have to have the experience before that info turns into knowledge?