Search found 56 matches

by gabrielgartner
September 26th, 2017, 2:18 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Nikon Coolpix P900 Thoughts?
Replies: 8
Views: 19253

Re: Nikon Coolpix P900 Thoughts?

The image stabilization in the p900 and 6xx series are in camera and outstanding. Good photos can be taken without a tripod for sure. For herps and bridge cameras, I prefer a faster lens and smaller size. The p900 is a huge camera. Also take a look at Panasonic lumix series...very fast at the wide e...
by gabrielgartner
January 6th, 2017, 2:02 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Costa Rica Guide
Replies: 4
Views: 3193

Costa Rica Guide

I'm looking for a good guide on Costa Rican herps. Size is irrelevant (does not need to be carried in the field). I already have the Savage tome "Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica". I'm looking for something with a few more plates/images of various herps. Thanks in advance, Gabriel I p...
by gabrielgartner
January 6th, 2017, 11:47 am
Forum: Reading Room
Topic: Opinion: Best guide to herps of Costa Rica
Replies: 1
Views: 11021

Opinion: Best guide to herps of Costa Rica

Size is irrelevant (does not need to be carried in the field). I already have the Savage tome "Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica". I'm looking for something with a few more plates/images of various herps.

Thanks in advance,
Gabriel
by gabrielgartner
December 8th, 2015, 3:22 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: One of the most awesome frogs IMO!
Replies: 17
Views: 12019

Re: One of the most awesome frogs IMO!

Hi Kurt,

What are you using for diffusion here? It looks like your using a hotshoe mounted flash, correct?

Thanks!
Gabriel
by gabrielgartner
November 23rd, 2015, 10:57 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Traveling with hook.
Replies: 15
Views: 7415

Re: Traveling with hook.

Another friend purchased a collapsible aluminum walking stick. It works fine for helping to position a snake for a photo and probably appears a bit more innocuous to TSA or other baggage inspectors. Won't work well to flip things or to hook anything with size. But he never brings a hook when he tra...
by gabrielgartner
November 17th, 2015, 9:01 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Traveling with hook.
Replies: 15
Views: 7415

Traveling with hook.

Hi all, I have never traveled with a hook but will be for a South America trip this year. I have several standard field hooks, none of which will fit in my large backpack I'm bringing. How do you all travel with hooks or do you just bring collapsible hooks? If I need to purchase collapsible gear, an...
by gabrielgartner
July 24th, 2015, 9:17 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Gartersnake (cyrtopsis) behavior - Rhabdophis impersonation
Replies: 41
Views: 16806

Re: Gartersnake (cyrtopsis) behavior - Rhabdophis impersonat

I believe all snakes share similiar portfolio of [esp] defensive behaviors. All snakes have a linear, limbless form and other signature physical organization. Rearing, lunging, tail rattling, gaping, neck flattening, puffing up, I think almost all species have the capacity or intrinsic tendency to ...
by gabrielgartner
April 20th, 2015, 3:56 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: video of a rattlesnake encountering a rival
Replies: 8
Views: 3952

Re: video of a rattlesnake encountering a rival

Very cool...I've never seen of/heard of such an aggressive encounter between two crotalids. The "wandering" male didn't even attempt combat...might be worth writing up what you saw in for the natural history notes section of herp review.

Cheers,
Gabe
by gabrielgartner
December 23rd, 2014, 7:22 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Southern Africa (part 2 is up with some namibian niceness)
Replies: 42
Views: 13858

Re: Southern Africa (part 1 is up)

And Mr. Dwarf Bitis himself, Bryan Maritz...
by gabrielgartner
December 20th, 2014, 4:48 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Any Big Plans For Next Year?
Replies: 20
Views: 8830

Re: Any Big Plans For Next Year?

Doing Colombia for the 1st three weeks of 2015...mostly birds, but a couple select locations specifically for snakes...leave on Christmas Day.
by gabrielgartner
January 27th, 2014, 11:01 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herp Guide for Mindo Parish, Ecuador
Replies: 0
Views: 1295

Herp Guide for Mindo Parish, Ecuador

I thought this might be of interest to forum members given the number of posts from Amazonia! Link is to Anole Annals review with links to publisher and ordering information.

Cheers,
Gabriel

http://www.anoleannals.org/2014/01/22/t ... -new-book/
by gabrielgartner
December 12th, 2013, 9:09 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Job Posting: Bronx Zoo Collections Manager
Replies: 0
Views: 1408

Job Posting: Bronx Zoo Collections Manager

Hi all, Here is a position I thought may be of interest to Forum members. My apologies if already posted. Link and description follow. Cheers, Gabriel https://sh.webhire.com/servlet/av/jd?ai=907&ji=2715836&sn=I Title: Collections Manager, Herpetology Location: Bronx Zoo Job Type: New York Ci...
by gabrielgartner
September 23rd, 2013, 8:38 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: RIP Robert Stebbins
Replies: 12
Views: 2738

RIP Robert Stebbins

Just got news that Bob Stebbins passed away this morning...truly a giant in California herpetology.

Cheers,
Gabriel
by gabrielgartner
May 24th, 2013, 7:24 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: EDB-like WDBs?
Replies: 25
Views: 7361

Re: EDB-like WDBs?

You all are trying to fit a square peg in a round hole...dollars to donuts it's an EDB. I haven't seen anyone suggest that it might be an oddly colored C. basiliscus...seems more likely to me than a WDB. And everything about the snake in the photo suggests it is not C. ruber or any population of rub...
by gabrielgartner
February 12th, 2013, 9:20 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: thoughts on the AF MICRO NIKKOR 105mm 1:2.8 D Macro Lens
Replies: 12
Views: 6642

Re: thoughts on the AF MICRO NIKKOR 105mm 1:2.8 D Macro Lens

I misspoke above...let me clarify what I was saying about depth of field so that we're all in agreement. Yes, if both lenses are at 0.5x magnification or (1:1 it doesn't matter) and say f4, the depth of field will be the same, but to achieve that same magnification, the 60mm lens will need to be muc...
by gabrielgartner
February 11th, 2013, 1:43 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: thoughts on the AF MICRO NIKKOR 105mm 1:2.8 D Macro Lens
Replies: 12
Views: 6642

Re: thoughts on the AF MICRO NIKKOR 105mm 1:2.8 D Macro Lens

Thanks a ton for the feedback! Plus I heard that with the 60 sometimes you have to get so close when shooting macro that it limits your light, another reason why I thought the 105 was a better idea. If you're actually shooting macro and don't want just a sharp portrait lens, you're going to need so...
by gabrielgartner
February 11th, 2013, 11:07 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: thoughts on the AF MICRO NIKKOR 105mm 1:2.8 D Macro Lens
Replies: 12
Views: 6642

Re: thoughts on the AF MICRO NIKKOR 105mm 1:2.8 D Macro Lens

I love the 105, but on a crop sensor camera, you might be better off with a 60mm. It's easier to fill the frame on a 60 with most animals plus you'll get more depth of field to work with which if you're handholding and trying to shoot closeups or true 1:1 you definitely want. Any decent sized snake ...
by gabrielgartner
October 31st, 2012, 4:07 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Field Guide for Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia???
Replies: 25
Views: 7384

Re: Field Guide for Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia???

cool, thanks...I'll check out the Cox et al. book.
by gabrielgartner
October 31st, 2012, 10:44 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Field Guide for Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia???
Replies: 25
Views: 7384

Re: Field Guide for Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia???

I have a substantial herp library that I can use to identify stuff once back in the states, but I am looking for something that I can carry with me in the field (thus, the grismer book doesn't do me much good...) so no consensus, huh. Pictures versus drawings doesn't usually bug me particularly if t...
by gabrielgartner
October 27th, 2012, 11:24 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Field Guide for Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia???
Replies: 25
Views: 7384

Field Guide for Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia???

Any recommendations for a herp field guide for Thailand and surrounding countries? I'll be there December and January--a bad time of year, but it's what worked out.

Thanks in advance!

Gabriel.
by gabrielgartner
October 1st, 2012, 6:53 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Hydrophis donaldi - news
Replies: 65
Views: 14994

Re: Hydrophis donaldi - news

Hi All... A few points. 1) Stop feeding the troll...seriously 2) This statement keeps appearing "They don't have to pickle every single thing and multiple numbers to do so..." Indigo, Do you understand the difficulty in obtaining legal permission to collect specimens??? You need to rationa...
by gabrielgartner
September 28th, 2012, 5:45 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Another NEW data request 9-25-2012
Replies: 27
Views: 14059

Re: Another NEW data request 9-25-2012

ah ha...got it. So only those individuals whose data is being requested participate. Makes more sense.

thanks!

Gabe
by gabrielgartner
September 28th, 2012, 1:41 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Another NEW data request 9-25-2012
Replies: 27
Views: 14059

Re: Another NEW data request 9-25-2012

Sorry if I haven't been following this as closely as I should. Am I understanding this correctly--all requests for data have a two week arbitration period prior to being voted on after which the data may or may not be released? There's got to be a better way--this is akin to having a million dollars...
by gabrielgartner
September 8th, 2012, 11:06 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: China post #42, Hainan Island
Replies: 26
Views: 15220

Re: China post #42, Hainan Island

Kevin,

Great Shots! I am going to SE Asia in Dec/Jan (not the best time) and reviewing your posts keeps me excited!

Just a quick question...what kind of lighting/flash system are you using on your night shots. Are you using a 60mm macro lens?

Thanks,
Gabriel.
by gabrielgartner
August 1st, 2012, 11:40 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Best Binoculars for Lizard watching?
Replies: 12
Views: 3239

Re: Best Binoculars for Lizard watching?

generally, you want lens diameter around 5 times that of the magnification (the larger this number, the more light the bins capture). 8x42 is perfect, and 10x42 is suitable. I have both magnifications and use both the monarchs and eagle-optics rangers. 8x42 is the standard size--they are much much m...
by gabrielgartner
August 1st, 2012, 11:24 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Best Binoculars for Lizard watching?
Replies: 12
Views: 3239

Re: Best Binoculars for Lizard watching?

probably something with close focus either 8X42 or 10x42. My favorite reasonable priced but very good pair are the rangers from eagle optics. Some people prefer the nikon monarchs which are a bit cheaper but I feel not as well built. Both can be had (in either magnification) for between 250 and 300 ...
by gabrielgartner
July 1st, 2012, 7:53 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: REVIEW- AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor
10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED
Replies: 12
Views: 14152

Re: REVIEW- AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor
10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED

Don, and anyone else that may be interested for that matter, The horned lizard picture you mentioned brings up another issue with this lens that I forgot to mention. If you look at the mountains in the background there is some strange edge effects going on. I was shooting a garter snake just after ...
by gabrielgartner
July 1st, 2012, 7:46 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: REVIEW- AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor
10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED
Replies: 12
Views: 14152

Re: REVIEW- AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor
10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED

Tokina makes a 12-24 fixed aperture f/4 for DX lenses, though the minimum focusing distance is nearly 12 inches (.3 meters). Also, as mentioned, as long as distortion is barrel or pincushion (as opposed to moustache distortion), it can be fixed in photoshop/lightroom etc. regardless of the focal len...
by gabrielgartner
June 25th, 2012, 10:12 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: OT: Herp Professors
Replies: 33
Views: 7409

Re: OT: Herp Professors

Ah ha, got it on the stats now... It's not cynicism, it's reality. Unfortunately, there are probably 50 PhDs produced in biology for every tenure track job that becomes available. The vast, vast majority of students in PhD programs (except for those at the very top programs) either (a) fail to finis...
by gabrielgartner
June 25th, 2012, 7:38 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: OT: Herp Professors
Replies: 33
Views: 7409

Re: OT: Herp Professors

If you are interested in physiology (e.g., salt balance, protein uptake and dietary physiology in general) you need to look at Steve Secor at the University of Alabama. An incredibly nice guy who does really cool stuff in a part of the country that you will probably feel comfortable with. Along thos...
by gabrielgartner
June 24th, 2012, 12:44 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: OT: Herp Professors
Replies: 33
Views: 7409

Re: OT: Herp Professors

also, Emily Taylor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo--she was a Dale Denardo student at Arizona St. and now has a very active lab.
by gabrielgartner
June 22nd, 2012, 8:59 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: OT: Herp Professors
Replies: 33
Views: 7409

Re: OT: Herp Professors

Another vote for UT Arlington--they have a new faculty member, Matthew Fujita who's just finishing up a postdoc at Harvard (UC Berkeley PHd). He's a herp guy who may be looking for students, but he does genomics as opposed to straight up ecology. Also, Jonathan Campbell is the chair at UTA--a big ti...
by gabrielgartner
June 22nd, 2012, 7:25 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: OT: Herp Professors
Replies: 33
Views: 7409

Re: OT: Herp Professors

Several of those faculty are old or retired or not taking students including Nussbaum, Savage and Kluge (maybe I'm wrong about Nussbaum). Also, Nussbaum and Kluge are at Michigan, I thought you wanted warm!? UT Austin has an outstanding ecology graduate group with some herp oriented faculty includin...
by gabrielgartner
June 10th, 2012, 1:41 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: How do heat-sensing snakes interpret heat?
Replies: 4
Views: 1449

Re: How do heat-sensing snakes interpret heat?

This is the most recent stuff that I know of.

Gracheva EO, Ingolia NT, Kelly YM, Cordero-Morales JF, Hollopeter G, Chesler AT, Sánchez EE, Perez JC, Weissman JS and Julius D (2010) Molecular basis of infrared detection by snakes. Nature 464: 1006-1011.


Let me know if you need a PDF.

Gabriel.
by gabrielgartner
June 6th, 2012, 8:38 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Underexposed with Flash?
Replies: 13
Views: 5036

Re: Underexposed with Flash?

Also, if you do want to go below 1/60th of a second to allow for more ambient light in your photos, set your flash to slow-sync (usually on camera), but you'll need to either have your subject stay motionless or put your camera on a tripod, otherwise you'll get blur. Also, with these slower shutter ...
by gabrielgartner
June 6th, 2012, 8:31 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Underexposed with Flash?
Replies: 13
Views: 5036

Re: Underexposed with Flash?

your flash is likely trying to fill in for ambient light, which is obviously too low. If you are getting what appears to be a constant shutter speed of 1/60th of a second, then this is the problem--your camera wants more light, but the slowest your camera will allow is 1/60th to avoid motion blur. S...
by gabrielgartner
June 5th, 2012, 11:17 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: exporting jpg's from RAW files in photoshop - questions
Replies: 7
Views: 4424

Re: exporting jpg's from RAW files in photoshop - questions

Thanks for the reply! I'm a little confused about your editing remark. Some I edit, and some I think already look good as soon as I open the RAW image file up in photoshop. I always shoot in RAW in case I want to post edit, but I tend to make a lot of manual adjustments in the field so I can end up...
by gabrielgartner
June 5th, 2012, 11:07 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: exporting jpg's from RAW files in photoshop - questions
Replies: 7
Views: 4424

Re: exporting jpg's from RAW files in photoshop - questions

Color space is a completely separate issue from from RAW vs. JPG. You can set your camera to shoot in any color space you want. For instance, my nikon can be set for AdobeRGB, or sRGB, or if you import into lightroom, ProPhotoRGB. Nearly all web images need to be converted to sRGB because the wider ...
by gabrielgartner
June 1st, 2012, 9:47 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Interesting anole observation
Replies: 9
Views: 2232

Re: Interesting anole observation

Hi All, Here is a link to a website whose sole focus is on Anolis biology. This particular link will lead you to a post on research on female dewlaps. In each pair of photos, males are on the top, females on the bottom. Cheers, Gabriel http://www.anoleannals.org/2012/05/31/female-dewlaps/#more-8608 ...
by gabrielgartner
May 7th, 2012, 6:57 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: May 1st in San Mateo. Day of the Snakes
Replies: 72
Views: 10182

Re: May 1st in San Mateo. Day of the Snakes

I actually convinced this neo-hippy chick (after SHE smoked a doob) that we'd see more wildlife, if we were nude. That was a good day... :crazyeyes: :lol: :lol: jim :lol: :lol: :lol: Back in the 80's, there was a "Noose a Cnemi [Cnemidophorus] naked club" in the herpetology class at UC Be...
by gabrielgartner
February 22nd, 2012, 10:00 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Fang to Body Size Ratio?
Replies: 8
Views: 3180

Re: Fang to Body Size Ratio?

Also check out the following which discusses constraints on gape size in snakes--usually associated with the length of the lower jaw. For instance, Dasypeltis don't appear to have unusually bulky heads, but do have long dentary and quadrate bones and can eat enormous prey relative to their head size...
by gabrielgartner
February 22nd, 2012, 9:52 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Fang to Body Size Ratio?
Replies: 8
Views: 3180

Re: Fang to Body Size Ratio?

Check this out. Let me know if you need a reprint.

Zamudio, K. R., M. Martins, and H. W. Greene. 2000. Fang tip spread, puncture distance, and suction for snake bite. Toxicon 38:723-728.
by gabrielgartner
November 20th, 2011, 6:15 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Arc GIS Software for older Mac
Replies: 8
Views: 1512

Re: Arc GIS Software for older Mac

You can get DIVA-GIS to work on a Mac, though not sure about your particular OS...check out the website. Oh, and it's free...


http://www.diva-gis.org/


Cheers,
Gabriel
by gabrielgartner
July 10th, 2011, 10:12 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Heading out to Portal AZ in August...Best spots??
Replies: 23
Views: 3311

Re: Heading out to Portal AZ in August...Best spots??

bioguy... you are in herp central and at the best time of the year. There are many herp oriented folks in Portal...it was Harry Greene's home base for his long term study of black tails for a long time. I have personally found Gilas within the town limits. If you are at the SWRS, all you need to do ...
by gabrielgartner
February 20th, 2011, 1:27 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Southern Africa....Revisited, and new photos
Replies: 29
Views: 10159

Re: Southern Africa....Revisited, and new photos

Frank,

That trip looks epic and the pics are sick...did you ever contact my fried Re. Telescopus?

Peace,
Gabe
by gabrielgartner
January 7th, 2011, 4:48 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Full Frame Sensors
Replies: 11
Views: 3404

Re: Full Frame Sensors

What the above said...the key is that a full frame 12 mp sensor vs a crop sensor at 12 mp is that the full frame will have considerably less noise at high ISO. This is why the high end nikon cameras (D3 series) are desirable...they work very well in low light because you can crank the ISO with relat...
by gabrielgartner
January 4th, 2011, 10:43 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: In search of a more comfortable backpack
Replies: 14
Views: 5547

Re: In search of a more comfortable backpack

I've carried the bumblebee worldwide. Fully loaded I sometimes have to take the spine guard out, but I find it more annoying keeping it in as it makes the bag hard to open.

On very small planes, the bag may not fit, but I've had no problems on commercial jets.

Cheers,
Gabriel.
by gabrielgartner
December 25th, 2010, 12:02 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Question about snakes' stamina
Replies: 10
Views: 2851

Re: Question about snakes' stamina

Stamina is a relative term and an empirical question that I work on. Chasing a coachwhip around for twenty seconds probably causes the snake to use unsustainable anaerobic metabolism (like when sprinting). Stamina varies by species but is set by the maximum oxygen consumption of the particular anima...
by gabrielgartner
October 8th, 2010, 9:32 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: sigma 150 f2.8
Replies: 6
Views: 2511

Re: sigma 150 f2.8

Agreed Chad, VR is worthless for macro--meaning 1:1 reproduction, but as you move further back from the minimum focusing distance (so you're shooting "close-up" not macro) then VR starts to actually help with stabilization. If I'm shooting real macro, I'm putting the lens on a tripod and t...
by gabrielgartner
October 7th, 2010, 4:05 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: sigma 150 f2.8
Replies: 6
Views: 2511

Re: sigma 150 f2.8

I'm thinking I'll get the nikon 105mm VR. I rarely shoot 1:1 macro, so for more "close-up" style shots, the VR will be useful, will give me enough working distance for most herps, and is optically a good lens. It's just so damned expensive compared to the 3rd party lenses which are optical...