The year of exploration. 2018 review.

Dedicated exclusively to field herping.

Moderator: Scott Waters

Post Reply
User avatar
Chad M. Lane
Posts: 567
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 4:40 pm
Location: Manteca, CA

The year of exploration. 2018 review.

Post by Chad M. Lane »

Last year and this year the majority of places I had went to were new to me, one of the most enjoyable years field herping to date. Commentary will be short.

ImageCalifornia Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSouthern Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum sigillatum) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSouthern Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum sigillatum) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSierra Nevada Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii platensis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSierra Nevada Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii platensis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSierra Nevada Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii platensis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSierra Nevada Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii platensis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSouthern Long-toed Salamander ( Ambystoma macrodactylum sigillatum) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSouthern Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum sigillatum) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSanta Cruz Black Salamander (Aneides flavipunctatus niger) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSanta Cruz Black Salamander (Aneides flavipunctatus niger) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSanta Cruz Black Salamander (Aneides flavipunctatus niger) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageArboreal Salamander (Aneides lugubris) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageYellow-eyed Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageRed-Bellied Newt (Taricha rivularis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageYellow-eyed Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageNorthern California Legless Lizard "Bronze Phase" (Anniella pulchra) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageNorthern California Legless Lizard (Anniella pulchra) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageYellow-eyed Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageYellow-eyed Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica) In courtship. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageYellow-eyed Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica) In courtship. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageMountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

Image"Pin-Banded" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImagePacific Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

Image"San Joaquin Banded Aberrant Black Belly" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

Image"San Joaquin Banded Aberrant Black Belly" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

Image"San Joaquin Banded Aberrant Black Belly" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

Image"San Joaquin Banded Aberrant Black Belly" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

Image"San Joaquin Banded Aberrant Black Belly" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImagePacific Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageWestern Red-tailed Skink (Plestiodon gilberti rubricaudatus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageYellow-blotched Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii croceater) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageYellow-blotched Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii croceater) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageKern Canyon Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps simatus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageChaparral Whipsnake (Masticophis lateralis lateralis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageFairview Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps bramei) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageFairview Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps bramei) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageYellow-blotched Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii croceater) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageYellow-blotched Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii croceater) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageBakersfield Legless Lizard (Anniella grinnelli) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageBakersfield Legless Lizard (Anniella grinnelli) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageValley Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageLimestone Salamander (Hydromantes brunus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageLimestone Salamander (Hydromantes brunus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageHell Hollow Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps diabolicus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageHell Hollow Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps diabolicus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageForest Sharp-tailed Snake (Contia longicaudae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageWestern Yellow-bellied Racer (Coluber constrictor mormon) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageWestern Yellow-bellied Racer (Coluber constrictor mormon) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) Insitu by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) Rattle. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) insitu by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCoral-bellied Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus pulchellus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCoral-bellied Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus pulchellus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

Image"Eiseni" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

Image"Eiseni" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

Image"Eiseni" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

Image"San Joaquin Banded Aberrant Black Belly" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

Image"San Joaquin Banded Aberrant Black Belly" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCoast Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis multifasciata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCoast Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis multifasciata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageTwo-striped Gartersnake (Thamnophis hammondii) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCoast Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis multifasciata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCoast Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis multifasciata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCoast Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis multifasciata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae). by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSouthwestern Pond Turtle (Actinemys pallida) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Treefrog (Pseudacris cadaverina) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Treefrog (Pseudacris cadaverina) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageTwo-striped Gartersnake (Thamnophis hammondii) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageChaparral Whipsnake (Masticophis lateralis lateralis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageChaparral Whipsnake (Masticophis lateralis lateralis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageChaparral Whipsnake (Masticophis lateralis lateralis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageWestern Yellow-bellied Racer (Coluber constrictor mormon) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageChaparral (Masticophis lateralis lateralis) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageChaparral (Masticophis lateralis lateralis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSierra Gartersnake (Thamnophis couchii) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageValley Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageDamselfly (ID needed) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Rubber Boa (Charina bottae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Rubber Boa (Charina bottae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageChaparral (Masticophis lateralis lateralis) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageChaparral Whipsnake (Masticophis lateralis lateralis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageChaparral Whipsnake (Masticophis lateralis lateralis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageBlunt-nosed Leopard Lizard (Gambelia sila) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageBlunt-nosed Leopard Lizard (Gambelia sila) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSan Joaquin Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum ruddocki) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSan Joaquin Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum ruddocki) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSan Joaquin Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum ruddocki) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSan Joaquin Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum ruddocki) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageNorthern California Legless Lizard (Anniella pulchra) "Black phase". Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Rubber Boa (Charina bottae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageForest Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageValley Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageFoothill Yellow-legged Frog (Rana boylii) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris munda) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageValley Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSierra Gartersnake (Thamnophis couchii) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageMountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageGreat Basin Spadefoot (Spea intermontana) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageMount Lyell salamander (Hydromantes platycephalus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageMount Lyell Salamander (Hydromantes platycephalus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageGreat Basin Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis longipes) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Sagebrush Lizard (Sceloporus graciosus graciosus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Sagebrush Lizard (Sceloporus graciosus graciosus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageWandering Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans vagrans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageMount Lyell Salamander (Hydromantes platycephalus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageFoothill Yellow-legged Frog (Rana boylii) In-situ. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageFoothill Yellow-legged Frog (Rana boylii) in-situ. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageShasta Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea shastensis) In-situ. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageShasta Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea shastensis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageShasta Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea shastensis) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImagePacific Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCascades Frog (Rana cascadae) In-situ. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCascades Frog (Rana cascadae) In-situ. Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCascades Frog (Rana cascadae) in-situ. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCascades Frog (Rana cascadae) In-situ. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageMountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSierra Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea palmeri) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSierra Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea palmeri) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSierra Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea palmeri) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageMountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSierra Nevada Yellow-legged Frog (Rana sierrae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSierra Nevada Yellow-legged Frog (Rana sierrae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageMountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageMountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageMountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSouthern Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum sigillatum) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageMountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageMountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageMountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCoast Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans terrestris) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCoast Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans terrestris) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageAquatic Gartersnake intergrade (Thamnophis atratus spp) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSan Francisco Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea coerulea) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Red-Sided Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSan Francisco Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea coerulea) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSan Francisco Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea coerulea) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageMountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSpeckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSpeckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSpeckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSpeckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageBanded Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus klauberi) In-situ. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageBanded Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus klauberi) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageRed-Spotted Toad (Anaxyrus punctatus) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSonoran Coralsnake (Micruroides euryxanthus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageGreen Ratsnake (Senticolis triaspis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageGreen Ratsnake (Senticolis triaspis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageGreen Ratsnake (Senticolis triaspis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageMountain Patchnose Snake (Salvadora grahamiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageMountain Patchnose Snake (Salvadora grahamiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageMountain Patchnose Snake (Salvadora grahamiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageBlack-Tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageBlack-Tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageBlack-Tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageSonoran Coralsnake (Micruroides euryxanthus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageArizona Ridgenose Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi willardi) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageArizona Ridgenose Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi willardi) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageArizona Ridgenose Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi willardi) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageBanded Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus klauberi) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageDesert Patchnose (Salvadora hexalepis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCheckered Gartersnake (Thamnophis marcianus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCommon Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula) Intergrade. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCommon Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula) Intergrade. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageNorthern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImagePacific Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImagePacific Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageCalifornia Nightsnake (Hypsiglena ochrorhyncha nuchalata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageGreat Basin Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer deserticola) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageBlack Toad (Anaxyrus exsul) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageGreat Basin Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer deserticola) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageInyo Mountains Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps campi) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageInyo Mountains Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps campi) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImagePanamint Alligator Lizard (Elgaria panamintina) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImagePanamint Alligator Lizard (Elgaria panamintina) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImagePanamint Alligator Lizard (Elgaria panamintina) by Chad Lane, on Flickr

And closed the year out with this gem.

ImageYellow-eyed Ensatina x Sierra Nevada Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica x Ensatina eschscholtzii platensis) intergrade/hybrid. by Chad Lane, on Flickr

ImageYellow-eyed Ensatina x Sierra Nevada Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica x Ensatina eschscholtzii platensis) intergrade/hybrid. by Chad Lane, on Flickr


Thank you for wading through all those images!

Cheers,
Chad
User avatar
csalemi731
Posts: 23
Joined: July 24th, 2015, 9:48 am
Location: New York

Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.

Post by csalemi731 »

amazing!!!
User avatar
Kelly Mc
Posts: 4529
Joined: October 18th, 2011, 1:03 pm

Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.

Post by Kelly Mc »

Im moved. There is a spirit and relevance in your photography I get the feeling that if there were no internet sharing, your work would still be just as honed and your understanding of your subjects just as keen.

Even if no one would see it, it would still be done like this.
rhyno
Posts: 16
Joined: July 7th, 2015, 10:05 am

Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.

Post by rhyno »

WOW. I think I have a new favorite post. Every photo is stunning.
User avatar
BillMcGighan
Posts: 2362
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 9:23 am
Location: Unicoi, TN

Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.

Post by BillMcGighan »

Lots of good stuff! :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:
OkanaganSFLT
Posts: 20
Joined: May 26th, 2018, 8:08 am

Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.

Post by OkanaganSFLT »

Awesome photos, Chad! As someone who is still just starting out in wildlife/herp photography, I’ve been looking at your body of work with such awe and inspiration.

Keep it up!

Andrew
User avatar
technoendo
Posts: 112
Joined: December 13th, 2014, 5:27 pm

Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.

Post by technoendo »

Huge fan of your work Chad! I think you are one of the best of the best when it comes to herp photography in the west. Last year some of your alligator lizard + habitat shots really turned my head (some are shown above). A fairly common animal that turns up in photos often but rarely look anywhere near as majestic as yours. You are on a small list of people who I'd love to be a fly on the wall observing your herp photography techniques someday. You are crushing herp photography! \o/
Jimi
Posts: 1955
Joined: December 3rd, 2010, 12:06 pm

Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.

Post by Jimi »

Wow that represents a lot of work, several times over. Thanks for sharing. You're an artist, as well as an accomplished herper. Great depictions of the subjects. I like how much habitat you include in your portraits.

I was glad to see (after a lot of scrolling) that you were able to get outside of the herper's paradise of California! Ha ha ha.

I also share the enthusiasm for your treatment of Elgaria. Was sorry not to see some Madreans too. Better luck next time! Tip - they aren't too hard to cruise in the late afternoon, and they occur pretty far out into the open country (like, grassland / valleys). You don't need to walk them in the oak canyons, that's just where we often get them as bycatch. Ha ha ha.

Cheers
User avatar
Chad M. Lane
Posts: 567
Joined: June 7th, 2010, 4:40 pm
Location: Manteca, CA

Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.

Post by Chad M. Lane »

Thank you everyone for the kind words! Appreciate it all!


Thanks,
Chad
User avatar
zeevng
Posts: 54
Joined: April 27th, 2013, 8:46 pm
Contact:

Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.

Post by zeevng »

Bringing this thread back because your work never, ever ceases to amaze me Chad! It's herp art, plain and simple.

So much depth, richness, respect, and lushness in your photographs. :beer:
User avatar
Porter
Posts: 2418
Joined: March 19th, 2011, 7:43 pm

Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.

Post by Porter »

I don't agree with the composition on some of these 🤨(as you know)... some are off balance and it bugs me Lol But, all of them have an emotional quality and beauty that is all your own. Great stuff and always a treat to see :thumb:

I do have to say... I think those ensatina getting fresh are probably hybrids and she's just getting a piggyback ride, but with the way things are now-a-days... I guess that kinda thing is probably normal 🤷‍♂️

Great stuff dude :beer:
User avatar
Porter
Posts: 2418
Joined: March 19th, 2011, 7:43 pm

Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.

Post by Porter »

I also have an additional request…. In case people don’t know, Chad puts in serious work for his photography. I thought I was tough, until I went in herping with Chad lol He’s has calves like Popeye and can scale a mountain like a Billygoat. One time he took me out to one of Brian Hubbs’s old spots to find a mountain kingsnake and the steepness of the slope was at a 70° angle. He practically ran up it, eager to get the early wormflip. I made it up there at a slower pace, but At 270lbs on broken down sk8er knees and ankles, my legs were Jell-O by the time I reached the top. Chad… you should do a YouTube channel, in addition to your photography. Something you could include with your photography FHF posts.
You’ve got a ton of your own secret spots you visit regularly. Not many people have the ability to document such secluded locations. When you posted the striped rattlesnake, I remember thinking Goddamn I want to see some video of that thing :lol: Applying your skilled artistic portrait knowledge along with your naturalist point of view, You could produce some real quality content :thumb: Anyways, just a thought.

And to the viewers out there, who might be confused about my Ensatina comment.. It’s in regards to the beautiful work Disney has done destroying the integrity and quality of two of the greatest film series of all time (i.e., Star Wars, and Indiana Jones’s) to please the deluded demands of the wake movement. What a goddamn travesty that is, to have to watch happen, before my very eyes. The way I wrote it I know it’s kind of confusing….lol it made a lot more sense in a tired mind at 4am
User avatar
Jeff
Posts: 620
Joined: June 11th, 2010, 6:01 am
Location: Louisiana

Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.

Post by Jeff »

From a Californian, temporarily (31 years) exiled to Louisiana: words cannot describe. Friends of mine and I got some great photos, including what we called "habitat shots". like your Kern Canyon Slender with the mountainous backdrop. All were taken with slide film, using a 28 mm polarized lens without a flash. None can compare with your artistic portrayals. My friends and I found the same assortment of creatures (this was back in the 1970s and 80s), and I can relate to the peregrinations upon which you must have embarked to find them (ours originating and returning to the natal homeland of San Jose).
I greatly enjoyed every picture of your post. Here is a meager offering, a San Joaquin Coachwhip from the Salinas Valley
Jeff
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
Fieldherper
Posts: 252
Joined: June 11th, 2010, 10:46 am

Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.

Post by Fieldherper »

Awesome coachwhip! I grew up in the Salinas area. Never saw a coachwhip on the West side of the valley, but a few years ago I did see one on a road on the east side. I was blown away to see a bright red snake on ths road. Of course it jetted off into a pasture. I followed and found it resting motionless. As I got closer, it shot down a burrow. I’ve always regretted that I failed to get a photo. Haven’t been back there since, but someday I’d like to try again. It reminded me of some of the red W. TX coachwhips.
Darian
Posts: 12
Joined: May 8th, 2015, 3:32 pm

Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.

Post by Darian »

I still browse here every so often!

Awesome photos. Chad if youre still around, can I assume the wide angle shots with no lens data in the EXIF were taken with the Laowa 15mm Macro?
User avatar
Porter
Posts: 2418
Joined: March 19th, 2011, 7:43 pm

Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.

Post by Porter »

Jeff wrote: August 12th, 2023, 4:37 pm From a Californian, temporarily (31 years) exiled to Louisiana: words cannot describe. Friends of mine and I got some great photos, including what we called "habitat shots". like your Kern Canyon Slender with the mountainous backdrop. All were taken with slide film, using a 28 mm polarized lens without a flash. None can compare with your artistic portrayals. My friends and I found the same assortment of creatures (this was back in the 1970s and 80s), and I can relate to the peregrinations upon which you must have embarked to find them (ours originating and returning to the natal homeland of San Jose).
I greatly enjoyed every picture of your post. Here is a meager offering, a San Joaquin Coachwhip from the Salinas Valley
Jeff
I have never even seen another photograph of a San Joaquin Coachwhip that red :thumb: cool shot

I wouldn’t call that meager, Jeff. I’m sure it was epic for its time. When I first came to the “internet herping world” back around 2010, all the photography was pretty much the same. It was like a standard textbook angle viewpoint. A nice pose of a snake that was framed displaying the coil body. Some people had better photos than others, but it usually was only because they had a more expensive camera or lens. I couldn’t afford those cameras so I just started doing herp photography for the first time with a $70 Walmart Samsung point-and-shoot. I tried to take a more artistic approach to it, and applied that art knowledge to the point-of-views and angles. More trying to emulate something I would draw as opposed to just a photo of a snake sitting there displaying its pattern.

Boy, you would not believe the jealousy. seems like they would try anything they could to give me a bad rap. Called me a spot moocher for going to a bunch of spots they knew of that were, “well known” spots, by people at least 20 years their senior. Old veterans from the forum spots. Called me an animal abuser for relocating a bunch of snakes out of the construction site area, (but using a large equipment bag with mesh on the sides so they could breathe to transport all the species together in). Called me a creep for hand drawing a portrait of the girl I had a crush on, in an attempt to impress her. Then I spent an entire year, making a frog cartoon to try to impress any girl out there, who is into these types of animals. They made a joke out of it, called me a troll, and literally destroyed all hope of ever finding a girl within their community within a matter of one hour of Facebook time. My entire experience with getting involved with field herpers on the Internet has been nothing but a train wreck of tragedy. Mostly because they’re just younger and come from a generation (self entitled wake movement) that think it’s cool and normal to be righteous and “jelly”. But it definitely has had some life long lasting effects. And the crazy thing is, anytime I went out in the field with those people I quickly realized that I had much more knowledge than any of them, and was far more skilled in the act of actually finding snakes. They were just really good at remembering scientific names to earn respect and get spots from the old guys. That’s pretty much it. 💁🏻‍♂️

Anyways, I go on Instagram and look through all the current photography They’re doing of snakes and other herps these days, and see how far is progressed. It’s amazing! All of it can be tied back to this one photo of a San Joaquin Coachwhip I took in 2011 (among others). This could be the very photo that sparked the entire genre of artistic herp photography. But none of them have ever considered me be cool enough to be a part of their cool club. Just like the Carlton carnivore guy, posting his videos all together in one thread on the forum. He can’t even admit to himself that he saw me doing it and decided to start doing that for himself. :lol: I’ve been on this forum for 10 years, and no one has ever done that with videos on here before I did, The Mattress thread. But he literally saw it, copied the idea, and really doesn’t even have any idea himself where the idea came from. Same thing with this photo. Everybody saw what I was doing with a little cheap point and shoot camera. They copied and incorporated it into their own photography. (Just like I copied Gary Nafis and Devlin in the starting doing video). Then other people copied that copied photography and incorporated expensive cameras and lenses. Now there’s an entire genre of herpers doing my style of photography and they have no idea who I even am or where it all came from :) only some of the younger kids who were lurking the forum back in those days, would even admit it. Honestly, I really don’t care. I just wish I could’ve gotten a girlfriend out of it all 💁🏻‍♂️ :lol: since that was the source of inspiration from the beginning

I’ll tell you why I like Chad. I could tell right from the beginning that he had a deep passion for the Artistic aspect of these animals. He and I haven’t liked each other from day one. It’s been a competitive battle of antlers as far back as I can remember from his first comment to me on a different forum. He has a lot more technical knowledge about photography than I have ever had, even to this day. I have no interest in that aspect . If I’m a Kurt Cobain, he is definitely a Van Halen of the craft . And I’ve always viewed him as being one of the first to anpply all the old guy knowledge in going out and really pushing the boundaries of exploration to new habitat/new locals. And that should be considered as a great achievement of those old guys sharing their wisdom. No one will remember Chad being one of the first guys to do that (I’m sure there are others I’m not aware of). Nowadays, all the kids are on YouTube and looking up to NKF as being that person. Which Noah definitely deserves! He put in the work, and he is one of only a few channels I watch (Lou Boyer, smetlogic, nature in your face, and those kids that go out to the jungle. The English accent guys I can’t remember their channel name. But they were picking up blue, coral snakes, with her hands and stuff like that) I follow a couple other channels, but they don’t post much, I think. I watch a lot more skateboarding than the field herping stuff. But I see other random channels, pop up every now and then.

Anyways, I can’t believe I’m commenting into this post again. And Chad is going to love this if he ever reads it ( :lol: ) but my point is this. I think all of us were important at one time or another. And things happened exactly the way they were supposed to happen. I’m not sure what kind of life or longevity the forum has, but I know that it will only last as long as the people who want it to last, breathe life into it. I feel like as long as the naturalists don’t let their egos get out of control, the animals are in good hands, (at least with one group of reptile and amphibian lovers. 🙄 )
… and if I wasn’t such an eager, testicle "insert profanity here", I wouldn’t post this picture that sparked the change of herp photography as we know it. But I’m never going to be able to move forward with my life until I do so here it is:

FotoJet (12).jpeg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Post Reply