what do you photograph your snakes on?

[Ladydragon]

After searching forever and not finding anything I decided to start this thread on backgrounds. I want to know what are the various backgrounds that everyone uses when photographing their snakes.

for example, I do not have a designated area, so I end up using the dining room table. I use material, either a piece of faux white mink fur or black satin. I use a large cardboard box as the "wall" behind the snake and cover it and the table for my backdrop. Then I place the snake and use the overhead lighting, any ambient outdoor lighting and the flash from my camera.

I want to try different backgrounds but am curious as to what other people use. Post a picture to give an example, we wont mind, we like pictures. So, share with us what you do.

my examples:
new pinnie male on the faux fur - you can see the fur sticking up


him on the black satin - you can see the soft sheen

[Luke Martin]

I use white melamine. I crack the blinds on the window open to get just the right sunlight and don't use any flash.

Here's a few examples

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/Pas08-2F.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/Cin08-7M.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...s/Cin08-4F.jpg

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u.../Norm08-4M.jpg

[Sputnik]

I prefer to do all shots outdoors whenever possible - mother nature provides the best lighting.

On a rock, piece of log.... natural looks best imo.

[shiftto5]

i just use whatever i have around but then again i in no way consider my self a photographer. but heres a few i took. i think their pretty good considering that i useally just point and click


http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/i...random1096.jpg

[Holbeird]

I use different things but love mother nature best. I like to put the snakes in our flowers, on a tree branch (who says balls aren't arboreal!), on rocks or logs. I've also photographed in tubs, in a light box I set up, on fish tank rocks (black and river stones) and I've also taken pictures on black silk sheets I had for my old bed that are just sitting in the closet.

I personally love outdoor pictures best though.

[Ladydragon]

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii295/shiftto5/random1096.jpg

nice pics. those eyes are amazing. now for the newbie question, what kind of snake is that?

[karbogast]

I use spot lights for lighting and a couple different things for background depending on what mood I'm in.

My favorite is moss because it reminds me of some of the great naturalistic photos from books I read in my early years of herp keeping.


Plain white paper


Top to a black storage box - underside
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...ns/pf5-003.jpg

topside of box top


Not exactly a pro set-up but it work well enough.

[Ladydragon]

wow, so far I'm seeing really nice pics and gorgeous snakes. keep em coming.

[blackcrystal22]

I used this dark maroon looking table, and I liked the way it looks as a backdrop.




Another is a cream table that I have in my kitchen.. but I don't have those pictures yet.. I'm working on it.

[BallzOfSteel]

i've been using a 32q sterilite tub cover lately..works well..i also use a black binder sometimes for black background shots(obviously}