Photographing snakes....

[DragnDrop]

Finally!
I managed to get some pictures of Ruby, an amel motley corn, our first
snake. She's got the distinction of teaching me that feeding pinkies
isn't all that gross... well... almost not quite all that gross. Kinda.

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/509/321r04-med.jpg

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/509/321r06-med.jpg

I've also learned there's a world of difference between photographing
geckos, chams and snakes. Chams just sit and stare at you, alternating
eyes. Geckos might sit, stare and lick their eyes, or slowly explore,
but it's still possible to keep them in the view finder. Snakes.... they
wind under, over, around, behind, between and through anything and
everything. You almost have to hold them to get more than a few
unconnected centimetres of snake backside here and there in the
picture.

If anyone has helpful hints on snake photography, I'm listening.

[Alicewave]

That certainly goes for colubrids. Slower moving boas are a bit easier. Beautiful snake too. :)

[Big Mike]

I know what you mean...that's why digital cams are so helpful...just take 40 pics and use the 3 good ones...lol

Try using a solid contrasting back ground...here are the best shots I could get of my snow corn...
http://www.printroom.com/_vti_bin/ViewImage.dll?userid=Oilfan94&album_id=109987&image_id=4&param=62177
http://www.printroom.com/_vti_bin/ViewImage.dll?userid=Oilfan94&album_id=109987&image_id=5&param=12250

[Cas]

A good way to get cornsnakes to hold still for a bit (at least as long as the snake isn't especially high strung), is to put a hide of some sort on whatever surface you want to take a pic of them on. Let them crawl inside and get cozy for a bit, then pull the hide box up. Most times, the snake will be surprised enough to just sit there for awhile not moving... long enough to capture a good shot or two anyway. (that's why so many good pics of corns have them all curled up, btw ;) ). It's a great trick if you like taking macro pics.... gives enough time for the camera to do fine focusing.

<img width="512" height="384" src="http://image.photoloft.com/opx-bin/OpxFIDISA.dll?s=cano&src=/PhotoLoft/Asset19/2002/04/27/9365/9365907_0_5791.fpx,0,0,1,1,512,384,FFFFFF">

Dawn

[Tim_Cranwill]

That's a good trick, Dawn. I like the colse ups that show every little detail in their pattern. Your pic is worthy of a book...:)

[DragnDrop]

Thanks for the tips, everyone. Looks like I'll be doing some test phtography with Riuby over the next few days. I've been itching to get some more of her (it's that 'new pet thing'), but I just didn't know how to actually get a lot of her into the picture too :)

[Clownfishie]

Those are all great pics :)

Ruby is beautiful Dragn -- congrats ;) And those pics look pretty good to me, considering that it sounds like she wasn't cooperating! Thankfully, I don't have that problem with Xander -- he moves pretty slowly ;)

[Lisa]

I like taking feeding pics, they're too busy eating to worry about the camera. also i end up taking a dozen pix