Search found 64 matches

by reptileexperts
November 5th, 2013, 3:45 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?...
Replies: 381
Views: 998252

Re: What was your last lifer?...

Eurasian Magpie ;) currently birding Germany
by reptileexperts
October 15th, 2013, 7:58 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Herps on White
Replies: 12
Views: 6306

Re: Herps on White

Yes.
by reptileexperts
October 14th, 2013, 10:52 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Herps on White
Replies: 12
Views: 6306

Re: Herps on White

http://www.pbase.com/codyconway/image/152881120/large.jpg This is roughly straight from the camera. Using flash bounces appropriately, and playing around with angles from remote triggers, all you really need is two sheets of white styofoam board (2.98 USD at walmart per sheet) and this will work fo...
by reptileexperts
October 14th, 2013, 5:32 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: East Texas and West Texas, Terlingua Report
Replies: 11
Views: 3580

Re: East Texas and West Texas, Terlingua Report

Image
Another shot of the Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix :thumb:
by reptileexperts
October 14th, 2013, 5:31 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: East Texas and West Texas, Terlingua Report
Replies: 11
Views: 3580

Re: East Texas and West Texas, Terlingua Report

In ALL my field text, it's still referred to as the Northern Black-tailed Rattlesnake, C molossus :| I did confirm via scale counts on the head that the other Crotalus was not Mojave, but the scale count also does not agree with Atrox? Is there some variation to the atrox count that Im not aware of?...
by reptileexperts
October 13th, 2013, 3:55 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: East Texas and West Texas, Terlingua Report
Replies: 11
Views: 3580

Re: East Texas and West Texas, Terlingua Report

Thanks Brian, I had not checked specific locale range on both species, according to the transpecos region maps, both occur within big bend, but we were nearly certain on the ID being Sonoran, thanks for clearing that up.
by reptileexperts
October 12th, 2013, 4:06 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: East Texas and West Texas, Terlingua Report
Replies: 11
Views: 3580

East Texas and West Texas, Terlingua Report

Just returned from a week of herping in Terlingua, Texas, after a few days in East Texas herping. With the closure of the national park, hiking during the day was cut a bit, but we managed to do some hiking in Closed Canyon, within the Big Bend Ranch State Park. Most herping was done at night, but w...
by reptileexperts
October 3rd, 2013, 11:02 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Arizona Monsoons Sept 2013
Replies: 4
Views: 2432

Re: Arizona Monsoons Sept 2013

Grats on finding your Pyro! I was fortunate enough to find mine last time I was in Arizona, but had miserable luck with crots of any sorts (was just after the major wildfires).
by reptileexperts
October 1st, 2013, 11:24 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Birder in the making.
Replies: 5
Views: 3599

Re: Birder in the making.

Beautiful pictures. About the owl pictures, I assume you are using flash. Do you worry about the bird not being able to see to hunt after the flash, for a while? How close are you that the flash is actually effective? :lol: I use flashes on Owls without worry, even when used with a better beamer to...
by reptileexperts
September 23rd, 2013, 3:32 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: What was your last lifer?...
Replies: 381
Views: 998252

Re: What was your last lifer?...

http://www.pbase.com/codyconway/image/152277069/original.jpg First lifer when I arrived in Panama 2 weeks ago, Southern Lapwing - these guys were completely absent last time I was present in the country. . . Also picked up Mottled Owl, Rufous-capped Warbler, and my last Lifer as of right now - Tody...
by reptileexperts
September 19th, 2013, 11:42 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Panama Field Herping, Gamboa and El Valle
Replies: 5
Views: 3481

Re: Panama Field Herping, Gamboa and El Valle

Part 2: We only had Mario for our first and second night in Panama, so this time we set out to find other species, and went to areas specific for Fer-de-lance, and potential bushmaster (Mario said, even though rare in El Valle, there is one spot that has turned up bushmaters on occasion for a few pe...
by reptileexperts
September 17th, 2013, 12:52 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Panama Field Herping, Gamboa and El Valle
Replies: 5
Views: 3481

Panama Field Herping, Gamboa and El Valle

Hi Guys, Just got back from a brief field herping trip / some birding in Gamboa and El Valle / El Cope' Panama. Most of the trip was a great success, and we were able to come away with our target photographed species - Bothriechis schlegelii You can view all the images at www.pbase.com/codyconway/pa...
by reptileexperts
September 16th, 2013, 7:30 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC
Replies: 9
Views: 7666

Re: Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC

Image
Eyelash Viper, photographed with the Sigma 18-35 and 1D Mark III in the cloud forest of Panama. Photographed as found.
by reptileexperts
September 2nd, 2013, 6:25 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC
Replies: 9
Views: 7666

Re: Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC

Added fact: I added a 12mm extension tube (kenko auto tube) to the Sigma on my 5D Mark II full frame and had a loss of vignetting, and still retained a workable focal range at the lens starting around 20mm. I took some sky "vignetting" examples, I will attempt to get up this evening showin...
by reptileexperts
August 31st, 2013, 4:13 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC
Replies: 9
Views: 7666

Re: Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Publications/DxOMark-Reviews/Sigma-18-35mm-F1.8-DC-HSM-A-Canon-mount-lens-review-fixed-focal-length-quality-in-a-zoom/Sigma-18-35mm-F1.8-DC-HSM-A-Canon-versus-primes - Dmark test scores against other prime lenses reference. http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Lenses/Com...
by reptileexperts
August 30th, 2013, 12:41 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC
Replies: 9
Views: 7666

Re: Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC

Yeah I'll get the Dmark benchmark review when I get home this evening. And I'll try and put some real life comparisons together. I've been shooting with it on and off all day just generic shots as my fun lens for the day. Will try it with some nerodia in the field tonight.
by reptileexperts
August 29th, 2013, 7:56 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC
Replies: 9
Views: 7666

Re: Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC

The thing that gives it potential in my book is simply how sharp this lens is. It's sharper than the 100mm f2.8 macro lens according to the dmark scale with a rating of 25-26 on the canon 60D and 70D bodies. Whether the working focal distance will be right is still up for question. Most of my field ...
by reptileexperts
August 29th, 2013, 6:21 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Peruvian Amazonia, or is that Amazonian Peru?
Replies: 63
Views: 109658

Re: Peruvian Amazonia, or is that Amazonian Peru?

Absolutely great trip report, and a fantastic set of images. Love the final habitat shot with the Amazonian Bushmaster.
by reptileexperts
August 29th, 2013, 5:51 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC
Replies: 9
Views: 7666

Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC

Alright guys, this will be the start of a thread that I want to put together to talk about this new lens that just become available again in the US this week on the 26th on Canon mount. This is a very unique lens, and the DMarks on it are showing it to be the sharpest lens tested to date when used o...
by reptileexperts
August 29th, 2013, 5:14 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Best Editing Software
Replies: 10
Views: 5637

Re: Best Editing Software

Lightroom 5 is on special till 730 PM EST tomorrow, August 30, for 99.99 boxed retail or instant download. No sales tax outside of new york :-) full version. Just wanted to get that out there!
by reptileexperts
August 25th, 2013, 7:16 pm
Forum: Mammal Forum
Topic: Monkey's from the amazon
Replies: 6
Views: 5051

Re: Monkey's from the amazon

Thanks J-miz! The Tamarin was def one of the high points.
by reptileexperts
August 25th, 2013, 11:18 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: What herps do you have problems photographing?
Replies: 22
Views: 9514

Re: What herps do you have problems photographing?

Hat trick works for me, but there are some species that will not calm down even after the hat, but its mainly small colubrids who flee regradless of what you're doing. Another reason I love hots is most of them stand their ground when confronted, no repositioning required :beer:
by reptileexperts
August 25th, 2013, 3:22 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Why I bring birding gear herping . . .
Replies: 2
Views: 2328

Re: Why I bring birding gear herping . . .

Heh yeah it's an amazing setup for action and reach (aps-h crop factor is nice while maintaining great clarity). But when I'm doing more demanding work on light or not action shots of wildlife I usually use my 5D Mark II body. I prefer it worlds over the 1D as far as image quality goes. But the 1D j...
by reptileexperts
August 24th, 2013, 10:06 am
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Why I bring birding gear herping . . .
Replies: 2
Views: 2328

Why I bring birding gear herping . . .

You never know when the moment will be right to capture an image that you can be happy with in bird photography. So when I go into the field for anything - mainly birding and herping - I will try and lug around the 500mm F4 IS L just incase a moment should happen upon me. My last visit out to 1985 i...
by reptileexperts
August 24th, 2013, 10:03 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Best Editing Software
Replies: 10
Views: 5637

Re: Best Editing Software

As others have stated - Lightroom 5 - Get it while you can! More than likely Lightroom boxed retail will be a thing of the past and will be exclusive to the Creative Cloud by Adobe - forcing people to pay a monthly fee to use their products! Don't worry its only 49.99 p/month if you want the full co...
by reptileexperts
August 11th, 2013, 12:45 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Big Bend Country RFI
Replies: 15
Views: 3964

Re: Big Bend Country RFI

Hah yes! Best to not look even more suspicious!
by reptileexperts
August 10th, 2013, 11:02 am
Forum: Herpetoculture Forum
Topic: A little of what I keep
Replies: 7
Views: 4227

Re: A little of what I keep

Thanks Chris those are my favorites as well. Shots and snakes! Het albino is obvious in some retics where they just POP with iridescence. Reticulated pythons are already known for this. But when you compare a het albino to a non het it's clear as day. Especially when you start to see a green sheen c...
by reptileexperts
August 9th, 2013, 8:01 pm
Forum: Herpetoculture Forum
Topic: A little of what I keep
Replies: 7
Views: 4227

Re: A little of what I keep

Image
Tiger Motley het Albino, 25% Kalatoa, 12.5% Jampea, 62.5% Mainland blood. Insane amazing girl!
by reptileexperts
August 9th, 2013, 6:50 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Sometimes you get lucky....
Replies: 4
Views: 2798

Re: Sometimes you get lucky....

Ironically Chris this was the second time id witnessed an eaki destroying a tree frog at Sabine woods!
by reptileexperts
August 9th, 2013, 12:59 pm
Forum: Herpetoculture Forum
Topic: A little of what I keep
Replies: 7
Views: 4227

Re: A little of what I keep

Heh there are quite a few retic keepers in Germany. Just not in city states mainly. Still learning the laws for Berlin, to see what I can and can not bring with me during my move next year.
by reptileexperts
August 9th, 2013, 11:35 am
Forum: Herpetoculture Forum
Topic: A little of what I keep
Replies: 7
Views: 4227

Re: A little of what I keep

Retics found on different islands around the mainland of Sulawesi are generally much smaller growing snakes. When they were imported in giving eggs at 6' in length they were successfully proven to be a smaller breed (locale). The phrase super dwarf was then coined. Smaller and smaller morphs are now...
by reptileexperts
August 9th, 2013, 8:17 am
Forum: Herpetoculture Forum
Topic: A little of what I keep
Replies: 7
Views: 4227

A little of what I keep

Since I'm new posting here, and I haven't really posted any of my home captives, here's some shots from last night. Having my first evening off last night, I decided to do a little bit of work with some snake photography and photograph a little bit of the collection. Many were just coming out of rec...
by reptileexperts
August 8th, 2013, 2:06 pm
Forum: Herpetoculture Forum
Topic: Some recent shots...
Replies: 6
Views: 3900

Re: Some recent shots...

Great work as always Chris! glad to finally see where you have been hanging out with your absence else where in the internet buzz. And everyone knows that Afrocks are only mad at the world because they have all them teeth, and no tooth brush ;-)
by reptileexperts
August 8th, 2013, 2:01 pm
Forum: Herpetoculture Forum
Topic: How many keep their Eastern Hognoses on rodents?
Replies: 5
Views: 3615

Re: How many keep their Eastern Hognoses on rodents?

Good post - many keepers avoid housing Easterns just because of their inability to make the switch most of the time at least from scented items (i.e. pinkys scented with a toad). In my experience I have never been able to get a WC Eastern Hognose to go off of their amphibian feast preference. And, i...
by reptileexperts
August 8th, 2013, 1:50 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Sometimes you get lucky....
Replies: 4
Views: 2798

Re: Sometimes you get lucky....

speaking of kingbirds, cuckoo, recordings, and herps. . . I had an interesting similiar situation happen on the upper texas coast with an Eastern Kingbird and his little Hyla friend.



Cheers

*refuge was Sabine Woods, TOS Sanctuary*
by reptileexperts
August 8th, 2013, 12:30 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: A couple macro questions
Replies: 12
Views: 6172

Re: A couple macro questions

The biggest thing with macro lenses is working distance, how much do you need, how much do you want. When you work with some subjects, like bugs that sit still, you dont need a 180mm macro lens that is more beneficial when trying to photograph a skittish frog in suto. With the remark to extension tu...
by reptileexperts
August 6th, 2013, 2:36 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Couple shots from my last trip to Ecuador
Replies: 8
Views: 4535

Re: Couple shots from my last trip to Ecuador

Thanks J-miz, if you are serious about birding, Ecuador and Columbia should both be high on your list to visit. If Columbia scares you too much though, at least go to Panama, the birding is ALMOST as good, but the conditions are worlds safer. If I had a choice between Panama and Ecuador, I would do...
by reptileexperts
August 6th, 2013, 7:51 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: timbers from wisconsin
Replies: 19
Views: 5728

Re: timbers from wisconsin

Very cool indeed. Habitat management for timbers is a must! Hopefully we can bump them up from being threatened in Texas :?
by reptileexperts
August 6th, 2013, 5:42 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Full Frame Herp Lens?
Replies: 15
Views: 8563

Re: Full Frame Herp Lens?

Image
Not the sharpest image - needs some more post processing, but shows how images CAN look with this set up.

Again, this was with the Canon 5D Mark II, and the 17-40mm F4 USM L, @ 17mm with 12mm extension tube added
by reptileexperts
August 6th, 2013, 3:18 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Full Frame Herp Lens?
Replies: 15
Views: 8563

Re: Full Frame Herp Lens?

Yes with the I believe 12mm extender (smallest) you can get focus with a full frame camera at the front of the lens. Makes for some difficult shots but interesting effects. Ill try to put the shot up on Flickr or pbase this morning with it actually in practice. I used the same setup with a western c...
by reptileexperts
August 5th, 2013, 1:03 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Full Frame Herp Lens?
Replies: 15
Views: 8563

Re: Full Frame Herp Lens?

Just to add to the point - Yes the 100mm F2.8 works wonderfully with the Kenko extension tubes. You do lose your ability to focus to infinity, which hurts you a lot more than you may think, because your focal distances - the front side and the back - are changed dramatically. So they will not work i...
by reptileexperts
August 5th, 2013, 12:49 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Any herpers in Germany?
Replies: 5
Views: 1538

Re: Any herpers in Germany?

Sounds good, I'll actually be there in December in Jena for holidays with her family, but the weather is a tad cool to herp ;-)

Cheers
by reptileexperts
August 5th, 2013, 12:13 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Couple shots from my last trip to Ecuador
Replies: 8
Views: 4535

Re: Couple shots from my last trip to Ecuador

Thanks J-miz, if you are serious about birding, Ecuador and Columbia should both be high on your list to visit. If Columbia scares you too much though, at least go to Panama, the birding is ALMOST as good, but the conditions are worlds safer.
by reptileexperts
August 5th, 2013, 12:11 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herping Panama and Norway - Photo warning
Replies: 14
Views: 6742

Re: Herping Panama and Norway - Photo warning

Great report, good numbers of herps can be found with the proper amount of people searching! Good upbeat for my upcoming trip back into Panama in one months time, spending most of my time in the El Valle area after a couple days in the Canal Zone. Chris - The Canopy Lodge company is opening their pr...
by reptileexperts
August 5th, 2013, 11:53 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Traveling with snake hooks and other gear?
Replies: 30
Views: 11590

Re: Traveling with snake hooks and other gear?

I travel all over central and south america with my gear. I do not like the collapsible hook from midwest as others have pointed out, but I love my collapsible gentle giants, and have never had any hassel checking them at security in my luggage. I also travel with a micro 14" hook that I use fo...
by reptileexperts
August 5th, 2013, 10:29 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Any herpers in Germany?
Replies: 5
Views: 1538

Re: Any herpers in Germany?

I will be moving to east Berlin next may with my better half who is from Jena, so I will be in that area "attempting" to herp next year.
by reptileexperts
August 2nd, 2013, 2:50 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Big Bend Country RFI
Replies: 15
Views: 3964

Re: Big Bend Country RFI

heh, I know right? Does not help our case and the fight in these matters though. A sherriff harrassing people for photography, needs to not be sherriff IMO - and is a prime candidate to one of the many youtube videos out there of "cop who harasses my rights". *sigh*. those videos in fact m...
by reptileexperts
August 2nd, 2013, 2:32 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Canon Telephoto help needed
Replies: 14
Views: 8275

Re: Canon Telephoto help needed

Definitely made the right choice, I have the 300 F4 IS, the 400 F5.6 NON IS, and have used the 100-400 F5.6 IS. . . the 300 F4 is the sharpest out of the lot, with the 400 f5.6 coming in at a close second. The 300 F4 in contrast will accept a Canon EF II 1.4x TC wonderfully! And give you a 420mm F5....
by reptileexperts
August 2nd, 2013, 2:22 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Anyone Use a Dash Cam?
Replies: 23
Views: 37744

Re: Anyone Use a Dash Cam?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJW7BoPyxJ8 I have a gopro "dashcam" that i use for cruising and driving scenic biways as well as kayaking. But my favorite new thing to do with it is mounting it on my tongs. This is an AWESOME POV for capturing a large rattler, and you can get the camera r...
by reptileexperts
August 2nd, 2013, 2:17 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Big Bend Country RFI
Replies: 15
Views: 3964

Re: Big Bend Country RFI

Thanks, I think the clarification of what consist of hunting from the road vs shooting photography from a public place is a VERY under examined area and one that will get you in trouble. As long as you do not touch or impede the snake, you can see stuff on the road and stop to observe it. There is n...