A sense of place in herp photos
Moderator: Scott Waters
A sense of place in herp photos
I was looking at some of the shots on some recent FHF posts and started wondering what it takes to create a sense of place. So here's the challenge...find a photo that "says" a particular place.
It isn't just a herp-in-habitat shot, but one that anyone who looks at it (and knows the general part of the country/world) will say that it is a typical representative shot of that area.
Here's an example of what I mean. This shot just screams quiet South Texas farm road to me -
Anybody else have shots that capture the essence of a specific region? (No cheating by including road signs, etc!)
It isn't just a herp-in-habitat shot, but one that anyone who looks at it (and knows the general part of the country/world) will say that it is a typical representative shot of that area.
Here's an example of what I mean. This shot just screams quiet South Texas farm road to me -
Anybody else have shots that capture the essence of a specific region? (No cheating by including road signs, etc!)
- MHollanders
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Re: A sense of place in herp photos
Chris,
I'm not completely sure if you also mean typical habitat for a species. For example, this shot pretty clearly screams petrified wood of northern Arizona.
However, I think this is more what you're looking for. This is a shot of a typical Dutch canal with cultivated fields and planted trees in the background.
Later, Matt
I'm not completely sure if you also mean typical habitat for a species. For example, this shot pretty clearly screams petrified wood of northern Arizona.
However, I think this is more what you're looking for. This is a shot of a typical Dutch canal with cultivated fields and planted trees in the background.
Later, Matt
- herpseeker1978
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Re: A sense of place in herp photos
Interesting idea, I have a few that I feel qualify.
Morelets Croc in Mexico, you can see some buildings in the background and perhaps a few people on here will even recognize them.
Chris, I know you're familiar with the area, is this the type of shot you meant?
Green sea turtle in Hawaii, the black volcanic sand beach is the dead giveaway.
And another one, i feel like this shows a typical rainforest scene with an eyelash viper. Perhaps looking at it one couldn't narrow it down to specifically Costa Rica but I'm sure one would know that it is from central America.
Wish I hadn't screwed up my settings when photographing this.
Morelets Croc in Mexico, you can see some buildings in the background and perhaps a few people on here will even recognize them.
Chris, I know you're familiar with the area, is this the type of shot you meant?
Green sea turtle in Hawaii, the black volcanic sand beach is the dead giveaway.
And another one, i feel like this shows a typical rainforest scene with an eyelash viper. Perhaps looking at it one couldn't narrow it down to specifically Costa Rica but I'm sure one would know that it is from central America.
Wish I hadn't screwed up my settings when photographing this.
- Ross Padilla
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Re: A sense of place in herp photos
Cool post idea - I love these types of shots. Here's a few:
western pond turtle in southern California stream
eastern coachwhip in Florida scrub
cottonmouth in Florida swamp
western pond turtle in southern California stream
eastern coachwhip in Florida scrub
cottonmouth in Florida swamp
Re: A sense of place in herp photos
This is probably gonna be an area I try to improve in and concentrate on next year. In the meantime, I'll see what I have. Cool topic, Chris!
Re: A sense of place in herp photos
These are all great. You look at these shots and you understand where they were. Maybe not exactly where, but you know the general spot.
For some (like the croc), I know exactly where you were standing!
I think the goal is to find a "typical scene" for a particular area. It isn't about typical habitat for an animal so much as a shot of an area with a typical animal the way you would find it.
For some (like the croc), I know exactly where you were standing!
I think the goal is to find a "typical scene" for a particular area. It isn't about typical habitat for an animal so much as a shot of an area with a typical animal the way you would find it.
- herpseeker1978
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- Mike Waters
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Re: A sense of place in herp photos
one of my most favorite places
- MHollanders
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Re: A sense of place in herp photos
Was that in situ? Awesome situation you have there...herpseeker1978 wrote:
Josh
Re: A sense of place in herp photos
Chris, this is an outstanding idea. I'm jealous of such amazing pics guys. I think I will make an attempt at this style on occasion now. To everyone these are very inspiring shots, keep them coming.
- herpseeker1978
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Re: A sense of place in herp photos
MHollanders wrote:Was that in situ? Awesome situation you have there...herpseeker1978 wrote:
Josh
Uhhh yeah of course that was in situ, "harassing" a snake in a national park is illegal.
Josh
- Jason Mintzer
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- Tim Borski
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Re: A sense of place in herp photos
Being endemic, these surely give sense of place.
Image 1
Image 2
And then, there is a world famous road in south Florida that thousands have cruised after dark for herps.
Image 3
Image 1
Image 2
And then, there is a world famous road in south Florida that thousands have cruised after dark for herps.
Image 3
- Bill Love
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Re: A sense of place in herp photos
Here's a favorite of mine (from the pre-crash era) of a recreated scene in southern Georgia. It was set-up with one of a pair of chain kings Lampropeltis getula getula found minutes earlier about 20 feet to the left of where this was taken. Three other DORs of the same species were seen that day within about 30 miles of this spot too....
Hey, what is that crossing the road in the post above this one?
Hey, what is that crossing the road in the post above this one?
-
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Re: A sense of place in herp photos
Thanks Bob! This was my first outing with a dSLR so I was pretty much "monkey see, monkey do" with my more experienced friends. To shoot the lizard, we waited until late afternoon when the light started to mellow and then took turns holding those reflective disks for one another to reflect more light onto the scene. I was also using a single on-camera flash for fill.
Alice
Alice
- David Tobler
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Re: A sense of place in herp photos
I think that's Chucky Manson's house in the background.Mike Waters wrote:one of my most favorite places
- Christopher
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Re: A sense of place in herp photos
Tim, that snake in t he last shot is a real beauty.
- Bryan Hamilton
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Re: A sense of place in herp photos
I've posted this before:
You all have some outstanding photography skills. I really like the Uma on sand dune photo.
You all have some outstanding photography skills. I really like the Uma on sand dune photo.
Re: A sense of place in herp photos
This one right here to me very well portrays a Texas Hill Country creek.
These two just shout Eastern Colorado plains to me.
Although this one is not a herp.
This one is.
This one also screams Texas Hill country creek.
And I would say that this one shows a quiet Texas house..... but the Veiled Chameleon that we found just sorta ruins the mood.
These two just shout Eastern Colorado plains to me.
Although this one is not a herp.
This one is.
This one also screams Texas Hill country creek.
And I would say that this one shows a quiet Texas house..... but the Veiled Chameleon that we found just sorta ruins the mood.
- MHollanders
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- Nick Scobel
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Re: A sense of place in herp photos
Cottonmouth on Snake Road
Kingsnake at an abandoned barn in Illinois
Blue Racer at an abandoned home site in Michigan
Wood Turtle from Northern Michigan
Eastern Massasauga from a grassland in southeast Michigan
Eastern Box Turtle found along a powerline cut in western Michigan
Northern Leopard Frog in a lakeside pool in Ontario
Smooth Green Snake in alvar habitat in northern Ontario
Kingsnake at an abandoned barn in Illinois
Blue Racer at an abandoned home site in Michigan
Wood Turtle from Northern Michigan
Eastern Massasauga from a grassland in southeast Michigan
Eastern Box Turtle found along a powerline cut in western Michigan
Northern Leopard Frog in a lakeside pool in Ontario
Smooth Green Snake in alvar habitat in northern Ontario
-
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Re: A sense of place in herp photos
Tim were the Boa's at the deering estate? Am I missing something? Those are morphs...
- Jason_Hood
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Re: A sense of place in herp photos
Only one that I have that screams a location, taken with a point and shoot... need to do it again with the DSLR
Jason
Jason
Re: A sense of place in herp photos
Awesome, Jason! I wish that thing was crawling when I visited a couple years back.
-
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Re: A sense of place in herp photos
looks familiar...
Re: A sense of place in herp photos
Did you guys find a Milk there on the North Entrance of Levee Road? Was this staged? Doesn't matter those bluffs are unmistakeable but I've only seen red ears on that piece of road.
- soulsurvivor
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Re: A sense of place in herp photos
This is the best I got......a broadheaded skink near the east coast of Florida:
Second best......one of the many canals in the everglades area:
Second best......one of the many canals in the everglades area:
-
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Re: A sense of place in herp photos
the shot was staged, but the snake was found right there AOR. I've found pretty much every large snake species on that road.
Re: A sense of place in herp photos
Do video stills count? Typical herper shot of Crotalus helleri on a lonely road in California. I like the flung open doors on the truck, the words "Snake! Snake!" still hanging in the air...
A few frames later
Red-bellied blacksnake Pseudechis porphyriacus by the chookhouse (henhouse)
Eastern bearded dragon Pogona barbata looking for a place to lay eggs, roadside in NSW, Australia
Probably not suitable for this thread, but I like the 'habitat' and that there's a pair in the photo (taken in situ). Fence lizards Sceloporus occidentalis on an actual fence.
Same species, more natural habitat
S. magister higher up the slopes.
Stopping to stretch the legs in jump-up country, central Queensland, Australia. Lophognathus burnsi looking on.
Chlamydosaurus kingii in typical habitat of skinny, charred trees and termite mounds in northeastern Queensland
Varanus panoptes that didn't make it across the road quickly enough in the Northern Territory
Healthier one in central Queensland. Typical central Queensland countryside, bar the water.
Varanus varius in a picnic ground, NSW, Australia
Same species on stone wall at a scenic lookout, Sydney, NSW
Typical savannah on the island of Rinca, Indonesia, with one of the inhabitants.
Close-up of above
A few frames later
Red-bellied blacksnake Pseudechis porphyriacus by the chookhouse (henhouse)
Eastern bearded dragon Pogona barbata looking for a place to lay eggs, roadside in NSW, Australia
Probably not suitable for this thread, but I like the 'habitat' and that there's a pair in the photo (taken in situ). Fence lizards Sceloporus occidentalis on an actual fence.
Same species, more natural habitat
S. magister higher up the slopes.
Stopping to stretch the legs in jump-up country, central Queensland, Australia. Lophognathus burnsi looking on.
Chlamydosaurus kingii in typical habitat of skinny, charred trees and termite mounds in northeastern Queensland
Varanus panoptes that didn't make it across the road quickly enough in the Northern Territory
Healthier one in central Queensland. Typical central Queensland countryside, bar the water.
Varanus varius in a picnic ground, NSW, Australia
Same species on stone wall at a scenic lookout, Sydney, NSW
Typical savannah on the island of Rinca, Indonesia, with one of the inhabitants.
Close-up of above
- StephenZozaya
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Re: A sense of place in herp photos
I love the lacie on the lookout, Dave. That lookout is where I saw my very first goanna with you back in '08. I also like the shot of the Burn's dragon with the 4wd in the background. Good stuff.
Stephen
Stephen
Re: A sense of place in herp photos
Blotched watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster transversa)
South/ Central Texas Creek, a tributary of the Guadalupe.
Red Ear Slider, same area, dry creek bed.
Ornate Tree Lizard, enchanted rock.
RES, tributary of the Guadalupe.
Texas Spiny Lizard, sense of place? It ran up my freaking pantleg.
South/ Central Texas Creek, a tributary of the Guadalupe.
Red Ear Slider, same area, dry creek bed.
Ornate Tree Lizard, enchanted rock.
RES, tributary of the Guadalupe.
Texas Spiny Lizard, sense of place? It ran up my freaking pantleg.
Re: A sense of place in herp photos
I just recently took this one, and thought it would fit. This is a Western Ribbon Snake.
This is a "Shawnee King" from just outside of the Snake Road area.
This is a "Shawnee King" from just outside of the Snake Road area.
Re: A sense of place in herp photos
justinm wrote:I just recently took this one, and thought it would fit. This is a Western Ribbon Snake.
If nothing else, that's a great habitat shot, Justin
Re: A sense of place in herp photos
Crotaphytus insularis - Isla Angel de la Gurada, Baja California.
Re: A sense of place in herp photos
A sad one, but one I'm sure is familiar to all of us. (In this case, an Eastern Milk, Boone Co., KY)
Re: A sense of place in herp photos
Some Black Racers (Coluber c. priapus) in steamy central east coast of Florida.
one bolting away as he saw me.....
another one cruising the fence line for some tasty brown anoles
one bolting away as he saw me.....
another one cruising the fence line for some tasty brown anoles
- Bill Love
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Re: A sense of place in herp photos
I really like Rob Schell's shot of Crotaphytus insularis . That's approaching perfection in the Grismeresque image style!
- justin caaz
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Re: A sense of place in herp photos
my contribution......
anyone else been here?
anyone else been here?