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.
California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Southern Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum sigillatum) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Southern Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum sigillatum) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Sierra Nevada Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii platensis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Sierra Nevada Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii platensis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Sierra Nevada Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii platensis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Sierra Nevada Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii platensis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Southern Long-toed Salamander ( Ambystoma macrodactylum sigillatum) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Southern Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum sigillatum) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Santa Cruz Black Salamander (Aneides flavipunctatus niger) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Santa Cruz Black Salamander (Aneides flavipunctatus niger) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Santa Cruz Black Salamander (Aneides flavipunctatus niger) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Arboreal Salamander (Aneides lugubris) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Yellow-eyed Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Red-Bellied Newt (Taricha rivularis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Yellow-eyed Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Northern California Legless Lizard "Bronze Phase" (Anniella pulchra) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Northern California Legless Lizard (Anniella pulchra) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Yellow-eyed Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Yellow-eyed Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica) In courtship. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Yellow-eyed Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica) In courtship. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Mountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
"Pin-Banded" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Pacific Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
"San Joaquin Banded Aberrant Black Belly" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
"San Joaquin Banded Aberrant Black Belly" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
"San Joaquin Banded Aberrant Black Belly" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
"San Joaquin Banded Aberrant Black Belly" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
"San Joaquin Banded Aberrant Black Belly" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Pacific Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Western Red-tailed Skink (Plestiodon gilberti rubricaudatus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Yellow-blotched Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii croceater) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Yellow-blotched Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii croceater) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Kern Canyon Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps simatus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Chaparral Whipsnake (Masticophis lateralis lateralis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Fairview Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps bramei) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Fairview Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps bramei) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Yellow-blotched Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii croceater) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Yellow-blotched Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii croceater) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Bakersfield Legless Lizard (Anniella grinnelli) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Bakersfield Legless Lizard (Anniella grinnelli) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Valley Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Limestone Salamander (Hydromantes brunus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Limestone Salamander (Hydromantes brunus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Hell Hollow Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps diabolicus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Hell Hollow Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps diabolicus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Forest Sharp-tailed Snake (Contia longicaudae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Western Yellow-bellied Racer (Coluber constrictor mormon) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Western Yellow-bellied Racer (Coluber constrictor mormon) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) Insitu by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) Rattle. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) insitu by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Coral-bellied Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus pulchellus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Coral-bellied Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus pulchellus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
"Eiseni" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
"Eiseni" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
"Eiseni" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
"San Joaquin Banded Aberrant Black Belly" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
"San Joaquin Banded Aberrant Black Belly" California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Coast Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis multifasciata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Coast Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis multifasciata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Two-striped Gartersnake (Thamnophis hammondii) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Coast Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis multifasciata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Coast Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis multifasciata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Coast Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis multifasciata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae). by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Southwestern Pond Turtle (Actinemys pallida) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Treefrog (Pseudacris cadaverina) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Treefrog (Pseudacris cadaverina) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Two-striped Gartersnake (Thamnophis hammondii) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Chaparral Whipsnake (Masticophis lateralis lateralis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Chaparral Whipsnake (Masticophis lateralis lateralis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Chaparral Whipsnake (Masticophis lateralis lateralis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Western Yellow-bellied Racer (Coluber constrictor mormon) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Chaparral (Masticophis lateralis lateralis) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Chaparral (Masticophis lateralis lateralis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Sierra Gartersnake (Thamnophis couchii) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Valley Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Damselfly (ID needed) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Northern Rubber Boa (Charina bottae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Northern Rubber Boa (Charina bottae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Chaparral (Masticophis lateralis lateralis) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Chaparral Whipsnake (Masticophis lateralis lateralis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Chaparral Whipsnake (Masticophis lateralis lateralis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard (Gambelia sila) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard (Gambelia sila) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
San Joaquin Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum ruddocki) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
San Joaquin Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum ruddocki) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
San Joaquin Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum ruddocki) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
San Joaquin Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum ruddocki) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Northern California Legless Lizard (Anniella pulchra) "Black phase". Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Northern Rubber Boa (Charina bottae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Forest Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Valley Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Foothill Yellow-legged Frog (Rana boylii) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris munda) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Valley Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis fitchi) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Sierra Gartersnake (Thamnophis couchii) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Mountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Great Basin Spadefoot (Spea intermontana) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Mount Lyell salamander (Hydromantes platycephalus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Mount Lyell Salamander (Hydromantes platycephalus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Great Basin Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis longipes) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Northern Sagebrush Lizard (Sceloporus graciosus graciosus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Northern Sagebrush Lizard (Sceloporus graciosus graciosus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Wandering Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans vagrans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Mount Lyell Salamander (Hydromantes platycephalus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Foothill Yellow-legged Frog (Rana boylii) In-situ. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Foothill Yellow-legged Frog (Rana boylii) in-situ. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Shasta Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea shastensis) In-situ. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Shasta Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea shastensis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Shasta Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea shastensis) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Pacific Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Cascades Frog (Rana cascadae) In-situ. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Cascades Frog (Rana cascadae) In-situ. Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Cascades Frog (Rana cascadae) in-situ. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Cascades Frog (Rana cascadae) In-situ. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Mountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Sierra Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea palmeri) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Sierra Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea palmeri) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Sierra Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea palmeri) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Mountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Sierra Nevada Yellow-legged Frog (Rana sierrae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Sierra Nevada Yellow-legged Frog (Rana sierrae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Mountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Mountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Mountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Southern Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum sigillatum) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Mountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Mountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Mountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Coast Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans terrestris) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Coast Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans terrestris) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Aquatic Gartersnake intergrade (Thamnophis atratus spp) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
San Francisco Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea coerulea) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Red-Sided Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
San Francisco Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea coerulea) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
San Francisco Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea coerulea) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Mountain Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans elegans) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Banded Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus klauberi) In-situ. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Banded Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus klauberi) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Red-Spotted Toad (Anaxyrus punctatus) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Sonoran Coralsnake (Micruroides euryxanthus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Green Ratsnake (Senticolis triaspis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Green Ratsnake (Senticolis triaspis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Green Ratsnake (Senticolis triaspis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Mountain Patchnose Snake (Salvadora grahamiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Mountain Patchnose Snake (Salvadora grahamiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Mountain Patchnose Snake (Salvadora grahamiae) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Black-Tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Black-Tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Black-Tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Sonoran Coralsnake (Micruroides euryxanthus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Arizona Ridgenose Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi willardi) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Arizona Ridgenose Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi willardi) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Arizona Ridgenose Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi willardi) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Banded Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus klauberi) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Desert Patchnose (Salvadora hexalepis) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Checkered Gartersnake (Thamnophis marcianus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula) Intergrade. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula) Intergrade. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Pacific Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Pacific Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
California Nightsnake (Hypsiglena ochrorhyncha nuchalata) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Great Basin Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer deserticola) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Black Toad (Anaxyrus exsul) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Great Basin Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer deserticola) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Inyo Mountains Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps campi) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Inyo Mountains Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps campi) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Panamint Alligator Lizard (Elgaria panamintina) Explored. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Panamint Alligator Lizard (Elgaria panamintina) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Panamint Alligator Lizard (Elgaria panamintina) by Chad Lane, on Flickr
And closed the year out with this gem.
Yellow-eyed Ensatina x Sierra Nevada Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica x Ensatina eschscholtzii platensis) intergrade/hybrid. by Chad Lane, on Flickr
Yellow-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
The year of exploration. 2018 review.
Moderator: Scott Waters
- Chad M. Lane
- Posts: 567
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 4:40 pm
- Location: Manteca, CA
- csalemi731
- Posts: 23
- Joined: July 24th, 2015, 9:48 am
- Location: New York
Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.
amazing!!!
Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.
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.
Even if no one would see it, it would still be done like this.
Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.
WOW. I think I have a new favorite post. Every photo is stunning.
- BillMcGighan
- Posts: 2362
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 9:23 am
- Location: Unicoi, TN
Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.
Lots of good stuff!
-
- Posts: 20
- Joined: May 26th, 2018, 8:08 am
Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.
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
Keep it up!
Andrew
- technoendo
- Posts: 112
- Joined: December 13th, 2014, 5:27 pm
Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.
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/
Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.
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
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
- Chad M. Lane
- Posts: 567
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 4:40 pm
- Location: Manteca, CA
Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.
Thank you everyone for the kind words! Appreciate it all!
Thanks,
Chad
Thanks,
Chad
Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.
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.
So much depth, richness, respect, and lushness in your photographs.
Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.
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
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
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
Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.
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 Applying your skilled artistic portrait knowledge along with your naturalist point of view, You could produce some real quality content 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
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 Applying your skilled artistic portrait knowledge along with your naturalist point of view, You could produce some real quality content 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
Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.
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 greatly enjoyed every picture of your post. Here is a meager offering, a San Joaquin Coachwhip from the Salinas Valley
Jeff
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- Fieldherper
- Posts: 252
- Joined: June 11th, 2010, 10:46 am
Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.
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.
Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.
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?
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?
Re: The year of exploration. 2018 review.
I have never even seen another photograph of a San Joaquin Coachwhip that red cool shotJeff 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 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. 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 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 ( ) 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:
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