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Creeping up on grass snakes: |
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Robert V Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 717  View other posts by Robert V |
Posted: 28 Aug 2004
Tony Phelps........ tony, in one of your past topic postings, you said that anyone that got close enough to a 'Grassie' to photograph without actually catching it, deserved a medal. does this one of a gravid snake awaiting ovulation count? And if so, what sort of medal is it! Lol. Robert
RobV |
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B Lewis Krag Committee Joined: 24 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 146  View other posts by B Lewis |
Posted: 28 Aug 2004 Hi Rob & Tony, I have regularly photographed 'Grassies' without catching them and enjoy the sport. I agree it can be tricky but that's what makes it more interesting. I will send one to the admin.. that I recently took in Sussex. I was out on a survey and it was resting up in the middle of a field an hour or so before the sun had moved around to warm it up. Enjoy!
Brett L.
(sorry about earlier posting error of piccy) Lewis Ecology Brett Lewis Photography Kent Reptile & Amphibian Group DICE - University of Kent |
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Gemma Fairchild Krag Committee Joined: 14 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 193 View other posts by Gemma Fairchild |
Posted: 29 Aug 2004 My best shot of a grassie in the wild came when quietly watching 2 adders mating on Hindhead Common, the grass snake came up to bask out of the bracken right in front of me whilst I had the camera poised to photograph the adders :0) ----RAUK e-Forum---- 
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Robert V Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 717 View other posts by Robert V |
Posted: 30 Aug 2004 Gemma, thanks for that! Brett, great pic, looks like a male to me, beautiful, well done. Mine was late afternoon so colour's a bit scrappy, plus the fact it was under some overhanging branches. What do you think? keep up the good work you guys. robert RobV |
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B Lewis Krag Committee Joined: 24 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 146 View other posts by B Lewis |
Posted: 31 Aug 2004 Hi Robert, I like the picture and the snake seems to be a fine specimen. Was this a chance encounter or was you on a survey or looking for G. snakes in particular. Interestingly I have had a few problems with light and photos this summer especially on bright days and the animals are sitting in very dry grass or hay. The contrast plays havoc. Anyway, nice to see others have had the opportunity to get some nice pics. Thanks for sharing it. Brett. Lewis Ecology Brett Lewis Photography Kent Reptile & Amphibian Group DICE - University of Kent |
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Robert V Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 717 View other posts by Robert V |
Posted: 31 Aug 2004
Brett, I've been studying an area for many years so know now roughly where they going to be. What you say about the contrast bit is absolutely right. Some of my shots look very bland and you only have to get a stem in the wrong place at the wrong time, bang, whole pic ruined. Still, like you say, the fun is in the trying to outwit them. Great to know others are doing it too. happy hunting. rob RobV |
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David Bird Forum Specialist Joined: 17 Feb 2003 No. of posts: 515 View other posts by David Bird |
Posted: 02 Sep 2004 Glad to see and hear other people like to take pictures of reptiles in situ. Far too many so called professional photographers mess about with the reptiles then take set up pictures usually omitting this from the description of the photograph when it is published. This does seem to be the norm in the publishing world, I would rather see a picture with grass and twigs in the way of parts of the body, as this is what one normaly sees in the wild, than a pristine obviously photographed on a set picture. The skill is knowing your animal and photographing it in the wild not in the studio. You are out there and you know who you are and most people who use a camera know who you are as well. British Herpetological Society Librarian and member of B.H.S Conservation Committee. Self employed Herpetological Consultant and Field Worker. |
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Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575 View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 02 Sep 2004 Taking pics of animals in situ is the most satisfying part of photography it requires knowledge of the animals, right time of day/year, etc. I have lots of pics of smooth snakes taken in situ simply knowing the conditions that you are most likely to see them on the surface-have got mating this way and also males fighting. However, if photography is part of your income then you have to deliver what publishers want, and as long as a pic shows natural behaviour then thats OK. (I was once asked to film a smooth snake up a tree, I refused; the producer thought it would look great, but settled for a terrestrial shot in the end). When I worked for the BBC Nat Hist Unit I specialised in constructing sets for a variety of creatures, nothing wrong with that as long as you are showing natural behaviour. When it comes to books readers like clear pics of snakes etc to see the salient features. However, I never understand why some very well known reptile photographers seem to specialise in photographing snakes on carpet tiles or similar backgrounds. Tony |
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Alan Hyde Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 1416 View other posts by Alan Hyde |
Posted: 02 Sep 2004 The Picture of mine used in Species ID was taken in situ 
Getting clear pictures without twigs etc is rare but not normally a problem if one is prepared to put in the time and move extremely slowly . The snake moved off straight after the picture was taken . O-> O+> |
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Robert V Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 717 View other posts by Robert V |
Posted: 02 Sep 2004 Tony and David, I can't make out if you're having a friendly dig at each other or not?! If you are saying that your own pic on show was taken in a tank/ vivarium then good luck, it still looks good. All I can say is that I had to crawl on my belly through long grass and wet moss, pestered by midges and then gamble on the timer of my EOS to get that one. Incidentally, I know of no fairly modern cameras (sigma, canon, nikon etc) that takes a cable release. My old Ricoh could, but I couldn't get an attachment for my 80-400mm Cosina lens or my 50-500 sigma. If either of you two know of such a cable release model, I'd be over the moon if you could let the secret on. As for all of my shots, all 'eau naturale', no tanks involved and all in the wild. They may not have the resolution or the contrast of the tank shots but then I don't get asked to do magazine shoots!.... Over to you guys. RobV |
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B Lewis Krag Committee Joined: 24 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 146 View other posts by B Lewis |
Posted: 02 Sep 2004 Since we are showing some great pictures I thought I'd share a few more to encourage more people to photograph animals in-situ. This will be my last on this subject as I feel I could swamp the administrator in pictures. Do forgive me..! :o) Enjoy. Brett.
Lewis Ecology Brett Lewis Photography Kent Reptile & Amphibian Group DICE - University of Kent |
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Robert V Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 717 View other posts by Robert V |
Posted: 02 Sep 2004
Ok, here's another Brett. How would you like to plunge your hand into this little lot and pick them up - tempting, but hey, no, I thought let them do what nature intended! Lol.
RobV |
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Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575 View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 02 Sep 2004 I havn't posted any pics lately but maybe I'll send some taken in situ to gemma. Tony |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090  View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 03 Sep 2004 Tony's Pictures :0) Vipera ursinii Gran Sasso Massif Cent Italy 2003
Smooth snake male - Hartland 2004
Gaboon Adder - St Lucia KwaZulu-natal 2003
Vipera aspis - imm male - Tolfa Mts Cent Italy
Male agilis - Hartland 2004
 Fem smooth snake & Male adder basking together
Hartland - 2004
 Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 03 Sep 2004 Just a note about posting pictures to the forum for new members. We did have a picture hosting facility but unfortunately it caused problems with our bandwidth usage so it has now been withdrawn. Mostly I have no problem dropping pictures into postings, but will be busy with survey into October so may not be able to put them up promptly. Members can post pictures upto 250KB by using Simply create an album and upload your pictures to their website. Once uploaded you will see some html code under the pictures, copy the one marked 'URL' (click inside the box to highlight the code and press Ctrl C on your comp) Click the green tree icon thingy at the top of the post reply box and paste the picture URL into the box that comes up (Ctrl V). Click OK and your piccy should appear in your post. Just make sure it displays before you submit the post, if it doesn't, it won't show in the post either. Tony remains exempt from all this due to his well established phobia of all things computer related. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 03 Sep 2004 And not to be left out, Male adder in situ about to make his way off, Kent in late March. Note that I cast my shadow to get a good contrast in the bright sunlight for this one. Also note annoying grass blade right by his eye grrrrrrrrrrrr !!! All my adder shots are totally natural, as I can never catch them anyway ;0)
Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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Vicar Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2004 No. of posts: 1181 View other posts by Vicar |
Posted: 03 Sep 2004 [QUOTE=Robert V] Incidentally, I know of no fairly modern cameras (sigma, canon, nikon etc) that takes a cable release. My old Ricoh could, but I couldn't get an attachment for my 80-400mm Cosina lens or my 50-500 sigma. If either of you two know of such a cable release model, I'd be over the moon if you could let the secret on. [/QUOTE] Robert - I'm no officianado when it comes to either modern or cameras, I use an oldish Fuji S602 with no cable-release. Unfortunately, after I bought it they issued the S602 pro. Main differences as far as I can tell are the cable-release facility and the PC-flash connector. I'm hoping I can get a camera repair shop to build in the 'pro' release button into my 602. Nice camera although any lenses have to be bolt-on over the original as the fuji lens doesn't (readily) unbolt from the body. Steve Langham - Chairman 
Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group (SARG). |
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Robert V Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 717 View other posts by Robert V |
Posted: 03 Sep 2004 cheers Vic, thanks for the info on the Fuji but i dont think my lenses will allow attchment. must admit the Fuji gave you pretty impressive result on your common lizard posting - good colour. Tony, thats a brill pic of the smooth snake with the adder. i thought that smooth snakes ate adders??? Gemma/administrator. Fair dos on what you said about the pics but any chance you could insert the multi adder one that I e mailed you for the benefit of this forum. Cheers Robert. Ps. What is it about herp fanatics that turns them into bloody brilliant photgraphers eh! 0) RobV |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 03 Sep 2004 Rob, didn't receive it, try sending again gemmajfairchild@aol.com Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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B Lewis Krag Committee Joined: 24 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 146 View other posts by B Lewis |
Posted: 03 Sep 2004 Hi Rob, I am now using the Canon 300D it has the capability of remote release by cable and through infra-red technology. It really pays however to shop around as I have made some big savings on both body and lenses when compared to high street prices. This model is compatible with their EF lenses only so old ones can't be used unless there is some kind of adaptor (?) I regularly use the 100-300mm EF USM which is a very quiet lens as it doesn't turn like previous lenses, it uses an ultra sonic motor. Images are achieved fast and with good clarity. My previous cameras have all been Minolta but I have no regrets about making the leap to digital and to Canon. Also it would be worth shopping around for memory as you can now get great deals on the web and save upto 50% again on high street prices. Kind regards Brett.
Lewis Ecology Brett Lewis Photography Kent Reptile & Amphibian Group DICE - University of Kent |
- Creeping up on grass snakes |
