Search found 590 matches

by Stohlgren
April 29th, 2016, 6:13 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Photo Critique
Replies: 12
Views: 18881

Re: Photo Critique

You should post larger images here. I get a much different feel from the photos when viewed large on your flickr than when looking at the small images in your post. As Bill said, your exposure and focus are spot on, so no need to worry about that. It all comes down to composition and depth of field....
by Stohlgren
April 18th, 2016, 6:36 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Louisiana "Snake Rodeo" Killfest (GRAPHIC)
Replies: 10
Views: 7603

Re: Louisiana "Snake Rodeo" Killfest (GRAPHIC)

Not that it's any better, but there are at least a 3 cottons in this photo: https://www.facebook.com/1432378320390588/photos/pb.1432378320390588.-2207520000.1460986382./1440786516216435/?type=3&theater It looks as though the bird might have actually been in the stomach of one of the cottonmouths...
by Stohlgren
April 16th, 2016, 11:40 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Best GPS for field use
Replies: 16
Views: 6917

Re: Best GPS for field use

Also, the directional pad sucks. I don't know how many times I hit one direction and get something different. I don't tend to take notes in the GPS, but if you are someone who does, a touch screen is a must, rather than dealing with the arrow pad. The arrow pad and having to delete points individua...
by Stohlgren
April 12th, 2016, 4:34 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Best GPS for field use
Replies: 16
Views: 6917

Re: Best GPS for field use

5-10 meters is ok for most navigational purposes, but for some research purposes you would likely want better. Such as if you needed to record telemetry locations or if you are trying to delineate a habitat like a wetland. I've never had a problem getting down to 3 m with my 60CSx or with the Oregon...
by Stohlgren
April 8th, 2016, 4:47 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Best GPS for field use
Replies: 16
Views: 6917

Re: Best GPS for field use

I have a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx personally, and it is a great unit, but for work I was using one of the touch screen models (Garmin Oregon 550), which I did not think I would like but was converted so I feel the need to preach it a little. It is so much easier and quicker to do most every task, such as...
by Stohlgren
March 30th, 2016, 4:04 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: My favorite shots from Costa Rica
Replies: 5
Views: 3516

Re: My favorite shots from Costa Rica

Great stuff. Costa Rica is indeed an amazing place. And definitely one of the most affordable places to visit. Gotta love the Cruziohyla. Your Dipsas bicolor looks to actually be Sibon nebulatus, by the way.
by Stohlgren
March 8th, 2016, 4:32 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: ...florida python hunt results ...
Replies: 35
Views: 13380

Re: ...florida python hunt results ...

Despite the addition of so many exotic species in ENP, the ecosystem has proven to be resilient and remains functioning and productive. Its biodiversity is greater today then at any time since the settlement of Florida. I think you mean, because of the addition of so many exotic species, its biodiv...
by Stohlgren
February 25th, 2016, 4:28 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Underwater Photography Question
Replies: 14
Views: 9926

Re: Underwater Photography Question

I've thought about trying this, but haven't gotten around to it yet. I think it might work, though. There is more than enough room in the bag to pop up the flash, and most of the bag is clear so I think it should be able to trigger an external flash, but I could see the bag and/or water causing some...
by Stohlgren
February 24th, 2016, 8:28 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Underwater Photography Question
Replies: 14
Views: 9926

Re: Underwater Photography Question

I have the same underwater case Chris mentioned, but in the WS-10 size. It fits my A77 well. I haven't used it a lot, but it is a bit clumsy and takes some getting used to. It does get the job done, though, and as others have mentioned, real housings are even more clumsy in shallow water. A waterpro...
by Stohlgren
February 17th, 2016, 12:23 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: different snake species basking together?
Replies: 23
Views: 9955

Re: different snake species basking together?

I actually meant: cases where animals really lie on top of each other. I have seen copperheads actually laying on top of timbers, but this: I always GUESSED they were doing it because of the limited shared(seasonally) habitat, and not because of any of the behaviors you mentioned. is almost certain...
by Stohlgren
February 17th, 2016, 4:38 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: different snake species basking together?
Replies: 23
Views: 9955

Re: different snake species basking together?

Timber rattlesnakes and copperheads commonly bask together in the Appalachians. I have occasionally, but not commonly, seen garter snakes basking amongst a group of rattlesnakes.

Image
by Stohlgren
February 9th, 2016, 2:13 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: We're Not Out of The Woods Yet (TX,LA,MS,AL,FL): 2015 EOY
Replies: 34
Views: 31874

Re: We're Not Out of The Woods Yet (TX,LA,MS,AL,FL): 2015 EO

Great animals and great photos, as usual, Kyle. Crazy how different those Leptodeira are from the ones further south.
by Stohlgren
February 9th, 2016, 2:11 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Costa Rica December 2015
Replies: 19
Views: 11675

Re: Costa Rica December 2015

Awesome post! that eyelash viper is great. also the humming bird pictures are fantastic. what kind of camera gear do you use? also was there a feeder or something near by or were you able to get close enough to get those pics of all the hummingbirds without a feeder. either way they were awesome. c...
by Stohlgren
February 7th, 2016, 12:08 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Fill flash for daytime shooting
Replies: 12
Views: 10392

Re: Fill flash for daytime shooting

Hey Daniel, could you provide us the settings (shutter speed, aperture, ISO (and flash setting if you remember it)) for the image? I am reading the photo differently than Chris is. It seems to me the sun is the primary light source, coming from above and to the left, casting a shadow on the right ha...
by Stohlgren
February 6th, 2016, 3:00 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Fill flash for daytime shooting
Replies: 12
Views: 10392

Re: Fill flash for daytime shooting

Nicely done. Harsh sunlight is never a photographers friend, but the image is well exposed and the fill flash brought detail out of the shaded area. No one's mentioned it but using flash also will allow you to capture greater depth-of-field because of the brighter light/smaller aperture. It depends ...
by Stohlgren
February 4th, 2016, 3:40 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Fill flash for daytime shooting
Replies: 12
Views: 10392

Re: Fill flash for daytime shooting

In my experience, dappled lighting, like in your example photo, is tough to deal with. You would be better of moving the animal to a place with even light or shading the animal with your body or a collapsible diffuser. But if you are trying to get in situ shots, you have to work with tough lighting ...
by Stohlgren
February 1st, 2016, 4:43 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Calling all Sony A Mount Users
Replies: 6
Views: 4924

Re: Calling all Sony A Mount Users

I concur with Owen. I got that lens for that price and it looked like it had never been used. Covers a good range and can be pretty sharp.
by Stohlgren
January 28th, 2016, 2:59 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Osa hummingbird ID help
Replies: 3
Views: 13074

Re: Osa hummingbird ID help

Looks like a Charming Hummingbird, Amazilia decora. Thanks. I had a dream last night about a small bird and when I woke up I really wanted to look at some birds up close, like waking up thirsty. This little beauty really hit the spot. Thanks. Haha. Glad it could be of use. This guy was fun to watch...
by Stohlgren
January 27th, 2016, 5:57 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Costa Rica December 2015
Replies: 19
Views: 11675

Re: Costa Rica December 2015

Thanks, everybody. Everyone should make a trip to Costa Rica at some point in their life. Beautiful place. One correction: your spider monkey is actually a squirrel monkey. Thanks for pointing that out. I knew that, just mislabeled it (I labeled it right on flickr if that counts for anything). It's ...
by Stohlgren
January 25th, 2016, 4:14 pm
Forum: Bird Forum
Topic: Osa hummingbird ID help
Replies: 3
Views: 13074

Osa hummingbird ID help

I need help IDing this hummingbird from the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica. Thanks.

Image

Image

-Kevin
by Stohlgren
January 24th, 2016, 4:43 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Costa Rica December 2015
Replies: 19
Views: 11675

Re: Costa Rica December 2015

I did not go to Corcovado, so I am not sure whether you need a guide or not.
by Stohlgren
January 23rd, 2016, 1:10 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Costa Rica December 2015
Replies: 19
Views: 11675

Costa Rica December 2015

Here are some images from a trip to Costa Rica back in December. We spent several day down in the Osa Peninsula and then a few more up in the Monteverde area. Photos are in somewhat chronological order, so the Osa is up first. (note that very few of these critters were actually spotted by me. A lot ...
by Stohlgren
January 19th, 2016, 11:36 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: quick improvements on a cheap point-n-shoot?
Replies: 5
Views: 15301

Re: quick improvements on a cheap point-n-shoot?

Hey Rhyno, I think one of the best ways to improve quickly is to find some photos online that you like and really try to dissect them and figure out what you like about them and how to recreate that in your own images. Then you can diverge from there into developing your own style. But here are just...
by Stohlgren
January 2nd, 2016, 5:50 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: All them salamanders of 2015
Replies: 19
Views: 10866

Re: All them salamanders of 2015

Damn, this is like KW's old pre-crash salamander post, but with better photos. And all from one year. Epic, Jake. Were gonna have to meet up in MD next time you are up there and chase after some redback salamanders and two-lineds.
by Stohlgren
December 24th, 2015, 5:45 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: RAW vs JPEG back to back samples ?
Replies: 10
Views: 7894

Re: RAW vs JPEG back to back samples ?

I expect I will shoot in both so I can compare so not to over correct, Im sold on RAW! I shot in RAW+jpeg for a while for exactly this reason. I struggled with how to get the best out of my RAW images and they often looked worse than the out-of-camera jpegs. It was good to have something to compare...
by Stohlgren
November 28th, 2015, 8:05 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Q on Sistrurus m. b. natural history
Replies: 6
Views: 3753

Re: Q on Sistrurus m. b. natural history

In the southeast, most rattlesnakes mate in the fall and retain sperm until they ovulate in the spring (when the eggs are actually fertilized). So while most mating activity occurs in the fall, it can happen anytime up until ovulation. They can actually retain sperm for years if they do not have eno...
by Stohlgren
November 28th, 2015, 6:24 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Herping the smokies
Replies: 14
Views: 5731

Re: Herping the smokies

Nice shots! The Smokies are always a good place to be if you're doing 'mandering! Just a few notes on species: 1. Your Jordan's is not a Jordan's; it's an Imitator, which mimics the Jordan's 2. Your huge Seal isn't a seal, that's a Black-belly, a pretty ubiquitous species anywhere in the Smokies 3....
by Stohlgren
November 26th, 2015, 4:25 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Tantilla!!!
Replies: 17
Views: 6912

Re: Tantilla!!!

Yes, neither of these is T. coronata . T. coronata and T. r. relicta look very similar (see photos below). Noah, I agree your specimens look like neilli and relicta , but there is probably a decent amount of integredation going on in the area. I wouldn't spend too much time worrying about it, rather...
by Stohlgren
November 20th, 2015, 6:05 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Nc smoky mountains help
Replies: 10
Views: 3448

Re: Nc smoky mountains help

You can flip salamanders when there is snow and ice on the ground.
by Stohlgren
November 3rd, 2015, 3:11 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: On the River With an Old Friend
Replies: 10
Views: 6893

Re: On the River With an Old Friend

baurii certainly warrants further genetic studies, and I haven't heard of the idea of hippocrepis as being a western variety of baurii , that's really interesting. You'll need a PhD project before too long, right? Your female looks like a typical subrubrum to me, but that male is interesting. You c...
by Stohlgren
October 29th, 2015, 6:51 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Review: Fstoppers flash disc
Replies: 5
Views: 10468

Re: Review: Fstoppers flash disc

BTW you take less time in the field for great shots than some folks I've been out with. Haha. Well, that's not always the case. But I do try to be quick when I can. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Meking-31cm-Multi-function-Speedlight-Flashlight/dp/B00URHR3TW/ref=pd_sim_421_1?ie=UTF8&dpI...
by Stohlgren
October 28th, 2015, 9:19 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Review: Fstoppers flash disc
Replies: 5
Views: 10468

Re: Review: Fstoppers flash disc

Updating this review now that I have had a chance to use it in the field. First, there is a knock-off Chinese version of this on Amazon for half the price (which is much more in line with what this item is worth), so I picked one up. It is identical to the fstoppers version, save for some branding. ...
by Stohlgren
October 28th, 2015, 8:02 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: New to Florida area
Replies: 16
Views: 5915

Re: New to Florida area

mtratcliffe wrote:The winters can get too cold there for herps
False! Salamanders and chorus frogs all winter long.
by Stohlgren
October 22nd, 2015, 10:48 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: On the River With an Old Friend
Replies: 10
Views: 6893

Re: On the River With an Old Friend

However, at least one turtle researcher has suggested that hippocrepis might in fact just be a western population of K. baurii with no carapace striping. The fact that panhandle (adults anyway) do not possess the carapace stripes seems to support this idea. Interesting. In my very limited search ef...
by Stohlgren
October 22nd, 2015, 7:13 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: On the River With an Old Friend
Replies: 10
Views: 6893

Re: On the River With an Old Friend

Any trip with a Macrochelys is a good trip. The first (and still only) one I have personally snorkeled up I caught a glimpse of the tail around a boulder and thought was an alligator, too, until I saw the shell. Interesting mud turtles. In southeastern Georgia, K. baurii are pretty easy to identify ...
by Stohlgren
October 19th, 2015, 6:46 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Interbreeding question
Replies: 7
Views: 3664

Re: Interbreeding question

You are correct. Subspecies are typically described based on morphology. Which often times does not line up with the genetics (see rat snakes for an example). We attempt to put boundaries on these subspecies, but as you mention, they usually occur as a gradient.
by Stohlgren
October 18th, 2015, 8:39 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Interbreeding question
Replies: 7
Views: 3664

Re: Interbreeding question

^What he said. In general (though there are exceptions), you should not have two separate subspecies of the same species occupying an area. They are just intergrades.
by Stohlgren
October 4th, 2015, 2:37 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Georgia Trip Report
Replies: 12
Views: 4558

Re: Georgia Trip Report

Definitely looks like a fun trip. And all the better that you got to spend it with your family. Good luck on your deployment.
by Stohlgren
October 2nd, 2015, 3:15 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: .
Replies: 24
Views: 8905

Re: Ringed Wall Gecko? Wha...whaa... What happened

Just an aside, the CNAH and SSAR lists are now one and the same:

http://www.cnah.org/createdContent.aspx?cnahId=1773|0
by Stohlgren
September 30th, 2015, 2:15 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Spring and summer in south Georgia and North Florida
Replies: 13
Views: 10385

Re: Spring and summer in south Georgia and North Florida

I guess that is a valid excuse. That creek is awesome when it clears up, but walking the bank very far, even with functional knees, is near impossible.
by Stohlgren
September 30th, 2015, 8:59 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Spring and summer in south Georgia and North Florida
Replies: 13
Views: 10385

Re: Spring and summer in south Georgia and North Florida

Good stuff, for sure. That simus is a beauty, and the basking pine is pretty cool too. Looks like you guys spent too much time road cruising and not enough time in the creek. No Macrochelys? Or any other turtles, for that matter?
by Stohlgren
September 28th, 2015, 12:55 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Gray Ratsnake Range Question
Replies: 9
Views: 5313

Re: Gray Ratsnake Range Question

Where is that one from? And I'm assuming that's an intergrade? It's from Telfair county, which is a couple hours northwest of the swamp. I would call all of the rat snakes in southern Georgia intergrades except the ones in the extreme southwest (gray) or very close to the coast/barrier islands (yel...
by Stohlgren
September 27th, 2015, 7:24 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: RFI: Savannah and Okefenokee
Replies: 14
Views: 4301

Re: RFI: Savannah and Okefenokee

Yeah, I know Joseph. He's a good guy. I look forward to your post.
by Stohlgren
September 27th, 2015, 7:22 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Gray Ratsnake Range Question
Replies: 9
Views: 5313

Re: Gray Ratsnake Range Question

That's an interesting looking rat for the area. You don't really get any pure looking yellow rats in GA except very close to the coast or on the islands (and even those are typically a dull yellow or even gray base color). The background color of yours is normal, but they usually they have a combina...
by Stohlgren
September 27th, 2015, 7:22 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Bright femur marks on Hyla squirella?
Replies: 3
Views: 1866

Re: Bright femur marks on Hyla squirella?

It's a squirella. That's not abnormal, just a pretty specimen.
by Stohlgren
September 16th, 2015, 1:32 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Question: Preferred DOF with reasonable working distance?
Replies: 15
Views: 8077

Re: Question: Preferred DOF with reasonable working distance

As Chris said, it is all about trade-offs. A smaller aperture lets in less light, so you will either have to slow down your shutter speed or up your ISO. This is why flash is a necessary component of macro photography (not to imply it has to be used in every macro photo). I shoot with natural light ...
by Stohlgren
September 15th, 2015, 11:33 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Question: Preferred DOF with reasonable working distance?
Replies: 15
Views: 8077

Re: Question: Preferred DOF with reasonable working distance

There is a lot of personal taste involved when it comes to DOF, and I don't have any real solutions for you if you really desire the entire frame to be in focus, but I am going to make a case that it is not really necessary. So, as you've already noticed, DOF decreases with increasing magnification....
by Stohlgren
September 12th, 2015, 10:19 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Why Did the Crayfish Snake Cross the Road?
Replies: 5
Views: 2852

Re: Why Did the Crayfish Snake Cross the Road?

captainjack0000 wrote: Has anybody else seen striped crayfish snakes in Baker County, Florida?
They have been turned up in Georgia near the swamp, but don't seem to be as common as R. rigida.
by Stohlgren
September 12th, 2015, 6:44 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: RFI: Savannah and Okefenokee
Replies: 14
Views: 4301

Re: RFI: Savannah and Okefenokee

No, I was conducting my own research, but luckily they were able to incorporate the snake into their work, which was just getting off the ground at the time.
by Stohlgren
September 11th, 2015, 3:36 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: RFI: Savannah and Okefenokee
Replies: 14
Views: 4301

Re: RFI: Savannah and Okefenokee

He wasn't anything special in terms of size, maybe a 4 footer or so, but that was back in 2012. Very pretty snake, though. Glad to hear he is still around. Found him in some really dense, nasty stuff, that nobody in their right mind would have any business walking through. This photo is more or less...