Camera Labs

yes the photos make it.
Just wondering is it worthwhile to list links to posts that have had some of these practices applied. Like this one.
http://www.cameralabs.com/forum/viewtop ... sc&start=0

I particular enjoyed the " Some Bears" and the you tube video from kpr after reading the guide, puts it into perspective. There is many others posts that you will all know better than me.


I can add a few bits on Red Belly Black Snakes after trying to get some shots in our local wetlands with my new lens, they are fortunately fairly placid. It was amazing watching it work its way through the low grass without disturbing anything hunting for prey, not what I expected and certainly very hard to spot even in the low grass and very easy to step on.
Amazing creatures and as often as I have come across them bushwalking, I have found them to be placid. They generally let you get within about 5 feet or 1.5 m or less, if you are slow and careful. I lost sight of this one in the low grass even though it was right in front of me. I got a bit gun shy then and gave up looking for the head shot. I got more shots on film from the days pre wife, kids and house renovations when I had time for bushwalking , I just need to dig them out and scan them.

Basically with snakes leave them alone and never corner them, or try and touch them, I believe most people are bitten trying to kill them or accidental stepping on them. They are inoffensive and shy creatures and as you walk through the bush they will hear or feel you come and get out of you way.
I have been on numerous bushwalks and except for one incidence where someone surprised a tiger snake, have never heard of anyone getting bitten and that was a dry bite that didn`t inject poison into his boot. That doesn`t make you jump any less when you see the stick across the track move as you are about to step on a 6 foot Tiger Snake that is resting in the sun. Don`t just jump over logs, without looking on the other side, there may well be one basking in the sunshine. If you camp in the bush and head out at night, take a torch. My dad surprised a brown snake once when he waved his gold detector in front of one. I am sure there was a few nuggets found there and then.

Essentially the best way to photograph a snake is to spot one as its sunning and photograph it there with minimal disturbance, alternatively if you come across one moving try and guess where its going and position yourself ahead of it in a position that you can photograph it as it comes past, try and stand on a log, rock or behind a tree etc. Obviously stand still and don`t move as it comes closer. This can be fun as they get your heart rate going as they get closer.



the last shot shows how well they just disappear in grass.





What snakes do you get your way and have you had success taking photos of them?

_________________
Canon Powershot S95, Canon 7D, 15-85, Canon 85 1.8 USM, Sigma 30 1.4, 50mm 1.8, Canon 100 2.8L IS Macro, Canon 70-300L IS USM+Kenko 1.4 Pro 300DGX, Canon 430EX II and RS 4 Classic

We have several different types of snakes here in saskatchewan Max with rattlesnakes down south being our most dangerous and only venomous one I believe. there are several different types of garter snakes as well as bull snakes and a few other speicies as well if I remember right. We also have black widow spiders and scorpions in the same area. Saskatchewan is large and several different habitats can be found within it. The extreme north which has no roads leading to it has subarctic conditions, a bit south and you are into boreal forests and the canadian shield. In my region we have prairie and going south you enter several areas of badlands.

I've never focused much on reptiles and anphibians in the past but writing this post has made me realise a lot of things i have missed in this province. Seeing I am planning on spending this summer here photographing the Canadian prairies and Saskatchewan as a whole I plan on spending at least some of that time focusing on things i ignored before.

I've made the mistake over and over in the past of always travelling away from home when on vacations and photo-outings. After moving away I realised I never really spent time in the area and then regretted it. I do not want to make that same mistake again and plan on seeing as much of the prairies and Saskatchewan as I can this spring, summer and early fall.

Seeing I have photographed much of central Saskatchewan I plan on spending a lot of time in the badlands and grasslands regions in the south and just as much time in the boreal regions of the north.

I also remembered an attempt I made at underwater photography a few years back in Haida Gwaii using a superzoom as well as a pocket camera. Found the images and did more PP on them. The results were pleasently surprizing so I added them to the underwater marine life section in the post.

_________________
Canon 7D + 50D + EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM + EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Pelican // Black Rapid // Think Tank // Manfrotto // Garmin

Reflections On Canadian Wildlife
My Flickr

thanks gordon... missed your post at the end of the last page. I "think" I've got most of it covered now.

Surprised the heck out of me though to find I had no images of reptiles or amphibians worth posting.

_________________
Canon 7D + 50D + EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM + EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Pelican // Black Rapid // Think Tank // Manfrotto // Garmin

Reflections On Canadian Wildlife
My Flickr

Hi Wolfsong,

When's the book coming out. Seriously!

Bob.

_________________
OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

lol ... ya.. it is kinda getting long isnt it.. you're not the first to suggest it either bob... quite a few people have mentioned it to me over the past year... I'm not sure I would agree however. That and I just have no clue how to go about doing it and have no idea where to start

_________________
Canon 7D + 50D + EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM + EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Pelican // Black Rapid // Think Tank // Manfrotto // Garmin

Reflections On Canadian Wildlife
My Flickr

If you don't mind self-publishing, you can print on demand though services like Blurb.

_________________
Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Wolfsong's book is now out, and Cameralabs is the publisher!

http://www.cameralabs.com/photography_b ... otography/

That was a good read, just wish I lived somewhere with a little more wildlife around, that isn't of the small brown variety.
I do however live very close to Whipsnade Zoo, which is part of London Zoo. They sell an annual pass for about the same price as 3 visits, and it gets you into both Zoo's. You also get free parking and a discount in the restaurants and gift shop too.
I try to go at least once a month, every weekend if life would let me. I usually have a two and a half year old in tow with HIS (my old compact) camera, he has even taken a great shot of a chimps behind. Makes it hard to get the shots you want, but you do get to know the animals and when they are about, so when you get a chance to go for a proper photo session you know where you want to be and when.

If you live near a Zoo see if they do an annual pass, WELL worth the money.

Once again, great thread, thanks for taking the time to put it all together.

_________________
My Stuff: Canon 550d, 18-55mm kit lens, 50mm f1.8, Tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro, Tamron 70-300mm (never buy one of these EVER), and a whole bag of other gadgets, filters, flashguns etc.
My Flickr Photostream

Yes, I'm going to have to say '+1 for sticky'. I must have missed this thread the first time it came around. Great thread!

_________________
Canon 50D
Canon 580 EX II, 430 EX II
Canon 10-22mm F/3.5-4.5
Canon 50mm F/1.8
Canon 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6
'Cannon' 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6

(This is my first post so please excuse me if I make a mistake)

Hi Wolfsong,

Thank you very much for the tutorial...

I just bought the book you guys published after I read this thread...


Hi Gordon,

This website and the forum is a fantastic place for people like me to learn about photography.


I am planning to buy a Sigma 150-500mm lens soon and hopefully I can shoot some good pictures with it.

I will post some of my photos soon.

Cheers,

Vamsi

Thanks for buying the book Vamsi! Hope you like it!

You sure had a look at my Sigma 150-500 OS review. It certainly is a lens with the reach for wild-life photography.

_________________
Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Wow, that was a loooooooooooooong thread but I enjoyed every second reading it! Great tips and information Wolf and I might even be tempted to buy the digibook, even when that goes against my principles of never buying digital books or articles (damn I sound and feel old fashioned!!!)! I have always wanted to specialise myself in wildlife and nature photography, I just haven't got the time to go out and explore that much... Hope I will be able to in the near future though; after reading your story it sounds even better to me than before .

_________________
Cameras: Canon EOS 7D, Canon EOS 40D
Lenses: Canon EF 17-40/4 L USM, Canon EF-S 60/2.8 Macro USM, Canon EF 70-200/2.8 L USM, Canon EF 100-400/4.5-5.6 L IS USM
Want list: Canon EF 24-105/4 L IS USM, Canon EF 100/2.8 Macro L IS USM