Search found 314 matches
- November 23rd, 2014, 6:42 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
- Replies: 40
- Views: 19457
Re: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
Thanks for the compliments! I'm hoping I can make good progress next year. I figure if I can get to 75 species by this time next year, I'll be doing really well.
- November 18th, 2014, 8:39 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
- Replies: 40
- Views: 19457
Re: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
It may be interesting to note that many of the species already covered are possible or probable composites of cryptic species [ Desmognathus marmoratus, D.ocoee, D.quadramaculatus, D.conanti, Aneides aeneus, Eurycea spp ., etc], as are a number of those yet-to-be-recorded. Yea, I know. Those and th...
- November 18th, 2014, 6:38 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
- Replies: 40
- Views: 19457
Re: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
I must say I really actually enjoyed the white backgrounds that displayed the species range maps. This has really opened my eyes to what salamanders I have yet to see in Northwest Florida and has inspired me to get the heck out there this winter and really scope out some areas more closely on Eglin...
- November 17th, 2014, 2:48 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: NAFHA - Hands off Amphibs policy?
- Replies: 31
- Views: 19138
Re: NAFHA - Hands off Amphibs policy?
I wrote my response fast. What you suggest would also be acceptable, although much more difficult to execute. Oh, I definitely agree. I think, realistically, think it has the best chance of actually limiting the spread of the disease, but it would, also realistically, be difficult to execute (and w...
- November 17th, 2014, 9:54 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: NAFHA - Hands off Amphibs policy?
- Replies: 31
- Views: 19138
Re: NAFHA - Hands off Amphibs policy?
If you really dont want to see our populations decimated by this new disease you will support importation bans on animals that could be infected (ie. salamanders from Europe and Asia). IMO, this is a bad or worse policy to take. I don't think bans would be good because it would force the market und...
- November 17th, 2014, 8:58 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: NAFHA - Hands off Amphibs policy?
- Replies: 31
- Views: 19138
Re: NAFHA - Hands off Amphibs policy?
My $0.02 and take it for what you will, but a hands off policy isn't really going to do much in the way of stopping the movement of chytrid, if that is the purpose of the hands-off policy. Chytrid can be transported on any gear one takes into the field, so while you may not directly transfer chytrid...
- November 17th, 2014, 8:33 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
- Replies: 40
- Views: 19457
Re: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
You should come and explore - it's a wonderful place to visit (and to live). I worked closely with a guy back in the early '80s who was a weekend pot hunter and he used to talk about finding salamanders in quite a few of the small caves where he was looking for artifacts. He was an all-round natura...
- November 17th, 2014, 6:09 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
- Replies: 40
- Views: 19457
Re: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
I can't believe the range restrictions on some of these. It really shows the value of Appalachia. This is a neat project. I wish you the best of luck. Whenever I get to spend more time on the West Coast, you'll see that it's just as impressive. Then there's the odd Eurycea radiation in and around A...
- November 15th, 2014, 9:13 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
- Replies: 40
- Views: 19457
Re: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
\cbernz, I don't think it's D. ocoee. It was found just south of Johnson City, TN, which would be out of the range of D. ocoee, as best as I can tell. That would make it carolinensis or orestes, depending on where you are. I'm not certain where the divide is, or whether there is any overlap. Desmog...
- November 15th, 2014, 4:20 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
- Replies: 40
- Views: 19457
Re: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
http://i1376.photobucket.com/albums/ah40/JPLarry/Desmognathusfuscus_zpsbe18bb7d.jpg This looks to be a young quadramaculatus. The two rows of white spots along the sides are indicative. The belly is just beginning to develop the black coloration. And I agree that your pygmy is probably an ochrophae...
- November 15th, 2014, 3:17 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
- Replies: 40
- Views: 19457
Re: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
As opposed to a coffee table book (which of course is up to you, and I'd still buy it), how about a good-sized book that mostly chronicles in detail your major searches and successes (and possible failures: Eurycea robusta , perhaps) and has color plates of each US species in the center. Throughout...
- November 15th, 2014, 2:37 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
- Replies: 40
- Views: 19457
Re: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
I'd love to make some sort of book at the end of the project. I haven't quite thought that far ahead, but I think this sort of style would lend itself well to a coffee table type of book. Chrish, I've thought about cross polarization in the past, and it might be worth looking into, not only for the ...
- November 14th, 2014, 10:11 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
- Replies: 40
- Views: 19457
My Quest: Salamanders of the U.S. - Year 1
I decided at the beginning of the year that I wanted to go with a Year of the Salamander photo project to photograph salamanders in the Meet Your Neighbours style (read: on white). I know some don't like this particular style of photography, but I think it's useful to highlight the animal, which for...
- November 9th, 2014, 6:31 am
- Forum: Reading Room
- Topic: County Record Database?
- Replies: 2
- Views: 3794
County Record Database?
I'm not sure if this is the correct spot, but if it isn't I apologize. I would like to entertain the idea of making range maps base on county records for salamanders (which may extend to herps in general). I figure it would be easy enough to create such a map on ArcGIS, but I'm not sure where I can ...
- September 22nd, 2014, 9:16 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Suggestions for spots to herp
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2231
Re: Suggestions for spots to herp
Fantastic, thanks! I guess I'm still adjusting to the idea that, unlike MS (or most other states), Texas is a bit bigger and things aren't a relatively short drive away. What about seeing the Eurycea in/around the Austin area? I know a number of them are protected, so it is the sort of thing where I...
- September 20th, 2014, 4:25 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Suggestions for spots to herp
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2231
Re: Suggestions for spots to herp
Google Maps has be going via I-20 from Jackson to Tyler.
- September 19th, 2014, 5:18 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Suggestions for spots to herp
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2231
Suggestions for spots to herp
I'm going to be driving from Mississippi to Austin mid next month for a wedding, and I am toying with going a little early and seeing what I can find along the way. I don't really care what I see as long as I see stuff (well, I really would like to find a horned lizard and any of the rattlesnakes wo...
- September 7th, 2014, 4:58 pm
- Forum: Image Lab
- Topic: Canon VS. Nikon Debate
- Replies: 19
- Views: 10067
Re: Canon VS. Nikon Debate
Guilty as charged on one count, my comment about the MP-E was hyperbolic. It isn't useless, it just isn't a lens that 95% of Canon users would never consider buying....nor Nikon users for that matter. I guarantee Canon sell a lot more 400mm lenses than they do MP-Es. I'm actually not so sure about ...
- September 7th, 2014, 8:23 am
- Forum: Image Lab
- Topic: Canon VS. Nikon Debate
- Replies: 19
- Views: 10067
Re: Canon VS. Nikon Debate
The useless comment was in reference to chrish's comment about the MP-E being a useless lens. I would alter his comment to Canon has a wider variety of specialized lenses, which for people who are wildlife photographers or wedding photographers or landscape photographers can be great intrigue. I swi...
- September 7th, 2014, 8:00 am
- Forum: Image Lab
- Topic: Canon VS. Nikon Debate
- Replies: 19
- Views: 10067
Re: Canon VS. Nikon Debate
That sounds like a criticism from a Nikon user ;) I wouldn't call the MP-E useless. I love mine. The clarity of photos of subjects that I could not normally shoot is fantastic. I've heard a number of Nikon users lament not having an option like that. Totally not useless. You'll have to admit this i...
- September 7th, 2014, 7:13 am
- Forum: Image Lab
- Topic: Canon VS. Nikon Debate
- Replies: 19
- Views: 10067
Re: Canon VS. Nikon Debate
That sounds like a criticism from a Nikon user
I wouldn't call the MP-E useless. I love mine. The clarity of photos of subjects that I could not normally shoot is fantastic. I've heard a number of Nikon users lament not having an option like that. Totally not useless.
I wouldn't call the MP-E useless. I love mine. The clarity of photos of subjects that I could not normally shoot is fantastic. I've heard a number of Nikon users lament not having an option like that. Totally not useless.
- September 4th, 2014, 9:36 pm
- Forum: Image Lab
- Topic: Getting started with flash photography
- Replies: 4
- Views: 4079
Re: Getting started with flash photography
I'll generally shoot with MT-24EX twin flash for most of my macro work with a homemade diffuser (same as what Alex Wild uses for his invert photos). Otherwise, I'll use the 430EX flash with a softbox diffuser. Both work quite well in the tropics, in my experience. If I use the 430EX, I'll have it re...
- September 4th, 2014, 9:30 pm
- Forum: Image Lab
- Topic: General Macro Questions
- Replies: 10
- Views: 5637
Re: General Macro Questions
I typically shoot in manual mode. For flash photography, I'll general shoot around f11 or f13 at 1/250 second and ISO at 100. I may shift that around to get the right lighting, but usually my first step is to adjust the exposure on the flash (which you should be able to do with the 60D, I would thin...
- September 4th, 2014, 9:25 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Mississippi Herpers?
- Replies: 1
- Views: 1035
Re: Mississippi Herpers?
I've found Sternotherus and Kinosternon minor up in northern MS (minnow trap overnight with a piece of fish skin, and I had half a dozen turtles in the trap). I'd like to get down to southern MS to look for some Diamondbacks (both of the snake and the turtle varieties).
- August 4th, 2014, 1:39 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Head torches/headlamps
- Replies: 57
- Views: 31199
Re: Head torches
I'm a Zebralight user! I'm surprised there aren't more here. Absolutely love mine (the H600). Battery lasts forever. Incredibly bright. Incredibly light(weight). Highly recommended.
- May 28th, 2014, 7:32 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: How were your Ambystoma this year? plus belly patterns
- Replies: 14
- Views: 2893
Re: How were your Ambystoma this year? plus belly patterns
I spent last week going through the southern Appalachians, and while I don't have long-term data on the salamanders there, I did notice finding Plethodons was very hit and miss. In some areas, I could find salamanders under every third log, and in others I could flip for hours and not come up with a...
- May 22nd, 2014, 10:26 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: tree frog I.D. help Agua Buena, Panama
- Replies: 2
- Views: 702
Re: tree frog I.D. help Agua Buena, Panama
Do you have any side shots or head shots? It strikes me as a Smilsca species, personally.
- May 14th, 2014, 6:05 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Visiting the Blue Ridge Mountains - Good places to herp?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1153
Re: Visiting the Blue Ridge Mountains - Good places to herp?
I'm going to be going up the Appalachians over the next week. I'm mainly going to be stationed in Tellico Plains, Erwin, and Whitetop, and hitting places along the way. I feel like I'll be in the range of the greatest variety of species in those areas.
- April 13th, 2014, 9:17 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: 2014 NAFHA Spring trip: ANF!
- Replies: 132
- Views: 26916
Re: 2014 NAFHA Spring trip: ANF!
I should mention that by "collecting" this means that we'll be bringing some specimens back to camp for photographs then releasing back where they were found (i.e. "detaining")- as with all NAFHA events, this is a "no collecting" event. Just for clarification, it is ok...
- April 13th, 2014, 7:00 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: 2014 NAFHA Spring trip: ANF!
- Replies: 132
- Views: 26916
Re: 2014 NAFHA Spring trip: ANF!
I'm 95% sure I'm going to go. I'm currently deciding if it's worth ducking out of the E.O. Wilson symposium thursday afternoon and getting there in the evening on thursday or coming down sometime friday.
- April 8th, 2014, 4:29 pm
- Forum: Image Lab
- Topic: Tips for night photography?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4641
Re: Tips for night photography?
Diffusers will help greatly. You won't completely get rid of hotspots, but they won't be as large as a direct flash.
- February 23rd, 2014, 12:32 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: 2014 NAFHA Spring trip: ANF!
- Replies: 132
- Views: 26916
Re: 2014 NAFHA Spring trip: ANF!
I'm going to chime in as a strong maybe. I'd really like to get that EDB that eluded me last year.
- February 23rd, 2014, 9:36 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: NC/TN Salamandering Trip
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2071
Re: NC/TN Salamandering Trip
That's unfortunate to hear about the larger Plethodon. How about the smaller ones?
- February 23rd, 2014, 6:20 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: NC/TN Salamandering Trip
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2071
Re: NC/TN Salamandering Trip
I'm going to bring waders to flip the rocks for Hellbenders. At least, that's the plan. We'll see if that actually happens. I suspect I'll be restricted to the edges and only flipping in still pools. So I may not get full grown adults, but larvae could be a possibility. I'm coming from Mississippi, ...
- February 22nd, 2014, 9:37 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: NC/TN Salamandering Trip
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2071
Re: NC/TN Salamandering Trip
Sounds good and ordered
I'm glad for the recommendation because I was otherwise going to use my Conant and Collins and/or Audubon guide for ID, but I'm not confident in either for groups like Desmogs.
I'm glad for the recommendation because I was otherwise going to use my Conant and Collins and/or Audubon guide for ID, but I'm not confident in either for groups like Desmogs.
- February 21st, 2014, 9:20 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: NC/TN Salamandering Trip
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2071
NC/TN Salamandering Trip
I'm 90% sure that I'm going to be doing a salamandering trip from March 7-16 along the NC/TN border. In conjunction with the PARC Year of the Salamander, I am doing my own Year of the Salamander photography project for the year to document as much salamander diversity as I can. NC/TN is almost a req...
- February 2nd, 2014, 1:03 pm
- Forum: Image Lab
- Topic: Playing with the new toy: Nitecore CU6
- Replies: 18
- Views: 11618
Re: Playing with the new toy: Nitecore CU6
I might have to consider getting one. I already have a Zebralight which uses the 18650s (which really lasts forever), so I have the equipment to charge (just would need more 18650s). I always kick myself not bringing my UV light, and it'd just be easiest to put it in the pack and forget about it (ma...
- February 2nd, 2014, 8:26 am
- Forum: Image Lab
- Topic: Playing with the new toy: Nitecore CU6
- Replies: 18
- Views: 11618
Re: Playing with the new toy: Nitecore CU6
Any idea on how long the light lasts? I have a cheap UV flashlight which worked pretty well and has good throw, but I like that this one looks like it has pretty far throw and is much more compact (something I can toss and leave in my camera bag, which I can't really do with my current UV light). It...
- January 3rd, 2014, 8:55 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: NAFHA SE Chapter 2014 Field Trip(s)?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 11931
Re: NAFHA SE Chapter 2014 Field Trip(s)?
I'm thinking of doing a salamandering trip in western NC, personally, in March. I'm in northern Mississippi, so I don't know how many I'd personally be able to participate in.
- December 13th, 2013, 8:41 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Indigo hunts in Conecuh 2014
- Replies: 68
- Views: 15041
Re: Indigo hunts in Conecuh 2014
I've been thinking of a trip south in January, and the 10-12 would be perfect for me.
- October 12th, 2013, 10:01 am
- Forum: Image Lab
- Topic: Herps on White
- Replies: 12
- Views: 6306
Re: Herps on White
The big cost will be the camera equipment (having the remote flash is a must). I suspect you could do this pretty well with a bright LED light to light your white plastic substrate. White balancing it would be easy since you know exactly what color you wanted it. I have to say though, I'm not a big...
- October 12th, 2013, 9:54 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Purple and black Harlequin toad, is it real?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 7956
Re: Purple and black Harlequin toad, is it real?
The Atelopus is real and from Suriname (I believe). Great to see my Dendrobates auratus photo being used without permission and being incorrectly identified as Atelopus varius. :roll: I've been using your photos without permission to throw darts at, just an fyi. I love your stuff though, I really d...
- October 9th, 2013, 8:29 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Purple and black Harlequin toad, is it real?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 7956
Re: Purple and black Harlequin toad, is it real?
The Atelopus is real and from Suriname (I believe). Great to see my Dendrobates auratus photo being used without permission and being incorrectly identified as Atelopus varius.
- October 9th, 2013, 6:51 pm
- Forum: Image Lab
- Topic: Herps on White
- Replies: 12
- Views: 6306
Re: Herps on White
I think you could do the set up for less than $20 depending on the size you want your table to be. The acrylic was something like $6 for a 12"x12" sheet (estreetplastics.com; you want the 2447 white) and a couple bucks for the PVC and connectors. I make a diffuser for my twin flash to copy...
- October 9th, 2013, 6:35 pm
- Forum: Image Lab
- Topic: Herps on White
- Replies: 12
- Views: 6306
Re: Herps on White
Here is what I use, which works great for the smaller animals (I have been able to do a 7-8" Leptodactylus savagei on it, however). It breaks down and I can fit it all into my camera backpack. This is what I used in the tropics. I have a larger one, but it's cumbersome to take into the field (s...
- May 21st, 2013, 6:40 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Possible Jean Lafitte Preserve Herp Survey
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2315
Re: Possible Jean Lafitte Preserve Herp Survey
I definitely enjoyed myself herping the area. Looking at the list of what has been found there, it's obvious that there were a number of species that avoided detection for the bioblitz. I would love to spend more time in the area (and in the other natural areas around NOLA of which there seems many)...
- May 16th, 2013, 8:01 am
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: NPS/NatGeo Bioblitz - Jean Lafitte NP (New Orleans)
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2183
Re: NPS/NatGeo Bioblitz - Jean Lafitte NP (New Orleans)
I (J.P. Lawrence) think I will be on one of your surveys. I, and a friend, signed up for the longest of the herp surveys for each day. Something like 14 hours of herping all together
- May 7th, 2013, 3:00 pm
- Forum: Image Lab
- Topic: Adobe's slap in the face to long term photoshop users?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4397
Re: Adobe's slap in the face to long term photoshop users?
There are a few things that I would like Photoshop for, but the majority of my editing is done in Lightroom. The price tag for Photoshop to begin with is steep for me, but I could manage the student edition if it came down to it. But I'm really not a fan of this monthly subscription service. $360 a ...
- April 25th, 2013, 3:24 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Photo piracy
- Replies: 16
- Views: 3480
Re: Photo piracy
I’ve come to the conclusion that if you’re sharing your photos on FaceBook, here, any other herp forum, Flickr, Photobucket, etc…you’re basically giving away the photo. There’s really nothing stopping someone from stealing your photo, cropping out the watermark and using it as they see fit. Sucks, ...
- April 24th, 2013, 4:19 pm
- Forum: The Forum
- Topic: Photo piracy
- Replies: 16
- Views: 3480
Re: Photo piracy
Seems as though since this was published, IFLS has started including sources/credits of photos it posts.