Search found 88 matches

by fvachss
May 21st, 2012, 7:52 pm
Forum: Invertebrate Forum
Topic: Hummingbird Moth
Replies: 7
Views: 2564

Re: Hummingbird Moth

A great pose and a very impressive in-flight shot.
by fvachss
May 10th, 2012, 4:01 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: The unusual Sceloporus occidentalis thread
Replies: 27
Views: 5828

Re: The unusual Sceloporus occidentalis thread

Owen wrote:
Just giving a little love to the common stuff :D
I don't know that I'd call a forked tailed lizard common - even if it is a Western Fence. Thanks for the cool picture.
by fvachss
May 10th, 2012, 3:53 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Speedlite vs ringflash
Replies: 8
Views: 3020

Re: Speedlite vs ringflash

I got tired of the ring flash highlights myself: I hear you. Jumpers with their bulging reflective eyes are a challenge for any flash system. They and water droplets on bugs are probably the worst subjects for the ringflash: http://www.pbase.com/fvachss/image/113739952/large.jpg I keep this picture...
by fvachss
May 7th, 2012, 3:15 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Speedlite vs ringflash
Replies: 8
Views: 3020

Re: Speedlite vs ringflash

The Canon MR14-EX ringflash incorporates Canon's ETTL flash exposure control, but the ring shaped highlights remain (and are just as distracting) as in the days of the old ML-3: http://www.pbase.com/fvachss/image/142517450/large.jpg Many folks prefer the MT24-EX twin flash for macro work. It's much ...
by fvachss
May 3rd, 2012, 2:00 pm
Forum: Invertebrate Forum
Topic: Love and Death
Replies: 3
Views: 1698

Love and Death

When wondering around taking bug pics every so often I'll encounter insects preying on one another or copulating with one another. Yesterday I was lucky enough to find a pair of each about 50 yards apart. She's no Lady: http://www.pbase.com/fvachss/image/143061763/original.jpg Even a Damsel's gotta ...
by fvachss
April 30th, 2012, 12:39 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Re: Tejon Ranch survey April 28 - UPDATED WITH PART II
Replies: 19
Views: 1644

Re: Tejon Ranch survey April 28 - part I

I love those Coastal Horned Lizards. I see them only very rarely in the Santa Monica mountains.
by fvachss
April 29th, 2012, 4:11 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: San Francisco outting that blew my mind
Replies: 12
Views: 1958

Re: San Francisco outting that blew my mind

Very cool. I used to fly gliders near that lake, but it never occurred to me to go herping there.
by fvachss
April 27th, 2012, 9:53 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Herp-a-day (pt II)
Replies: 492
Views: 197989

Re: Herp-a-day (pt II)

Juvenile Desert Iguana (I think)

Image
by fvachss
April 26th, 2012, 8:04 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Exploring Death Valley National Park – April 2012
Replies: 22
Views: 5251

Re: Exploring Death Valley National Park – April 2012

Wonderful travelogue and great pictures. You found WAY more cool critters on your trip than I've managed in Death Valley in the last few years ...and to top it all off you got to go cruising around off-road in a Porsche Cayenne.
by fvachss
April 23rd, 2012, 7:42 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Playing Hooky
Replies: 5
Views: 887

Playing Hooky

I managed to get out of work today and headed up into the western Mojave for a quick day trip. Much cooler than the weekend but still up in the mid-80s by noon. Anyway, it seemed Whiptails were everywhere, but a couple Horned Lizards showed up too - and were kind enough to pose. A couple of adults: ...
by fvachss
April 19th, 2012, 7:17 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Watch your step
Replies: 8
Views: 1220

Watch your step

Earlier today on a quick trip through Joshua Tree I was creeping through the Creosote letting my eyes stray to the middle distance on the lookout for lizards. Then I looked down and found this little guy not 2 feet in front of me. http://upload.pbase.com/fvachss/image/142785452/original.jpg He was n...
by fvachss
April 13th, 2012, 2:58 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Twin Flash or Two Flashes?
Replies: 8
Views: 3360

Re: Twin Flash or Two Flashes?

I'm curious, why would you buy a Full Frame camera for macro work? Sure the 5d series give outstanding high ISO performance and low pixel densities, particularly at high ISO. But the pixel densities of lower resolution APS-C camera bodies is almost as good as long as you aren't printing billboard s...
by fvachss
April 11th, 2012, 8:23 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Make your own macro lighting ring.
Replies: 5
Views: 3174

Re: Make your own macro lighting ring.

These ring lights do work OK for macro, and one can buy similar units ready made on Ebay for not too much ($35-40 from various Asian vendors). The downside is that they're not flashes, so the motion freezing aspect of flash illumination is absent. If you shoot stationary bugs or herps from a tripod ...
by fvachss
April 8th, 2012, 4:14 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Tamron Lens Too Good To Be True?
Replies: 1
Views: 1707

Re: Tamron Lens Too Good To Be True?

Reviews suggest that, like other superzooms, it misses on the "good" part of too good to be true...

http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showprod ... 410/cat/23 (current PZD version)

http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/412-t ... on?start=2 (non-PZD version)
by fvachss
April 5th, 2012, 9:40 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: A Cold Day in Joshua Tree
Replies: 8
Views: 1372

A Cold Day in Joshua Tree

I went looking for lizards on a not too promising day this week in Joshua Tree. Cloudy and cool - the rocks in the sun, such as it was, were cool too the touch and any self-respecting lizard was staying hidden. Sure enough the only things I could find were little guys: http://www.pbase.com/fvachss/i...
by fvachss
April 1st, 2012, 8:43 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: REVIEW- AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4D IF-ED
Replies: 6
Views: 11466

Re: REVIEW- AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4D IF-ED

It's worth mentioning that image stabilization is VERY helpful at this focal length. I've been using Canon's equivalent lens, the 300/4IS, as my primary herp lens for years and the IS makes all the difference. I never shoot this lens from a tripod and rarely need to pump the ISO over 400. Shutter sp...
by fvachss
March 22nd, 2012, 2:23 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Some Palm Springs Lizards
Replies: 4
Views: 1137

Some Palm Springs Lizards

Got to do a quick hike yesterday out near Palm Springs. Not a whole lot of activity, but saw a few of the usual suspects... http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7067/6860668990_00268d12a4_b.jpg http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7202/7006784131_8245b6440a_b.jpg http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7255/6860668710_902b...
by fvachss
March 19th, 2012, 9:54 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Ringtail Cats
Replies: 131
Views: 28189

Re: Ringtail Cats

There's Pronghorn herds that run around the Soda Lake area (between Paso Robles and Bakersfield). I only got this quick snap, but I've seen them out there a couple of times:

Image
by fvachss
March 4th, 2012, 8:41 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: flickr herpers
Replies: 31
Views: 9182

Re: flickr herpers

I've been primarily a Pbase user for the last 8 or so years, but the slow service and $22/yr fee is starting to wear me down so I've been on Flickr for the last month or so... http://www.flickr.com/photos/vachss
(as much bugs and birds as herps, oh well).
by fvachss
March 2nd, 2012, 7:44 am
Forum: Invertebrate Forum
Topic: Davy had bugs!!
Replies: 4
Views: 1630

Re: Davy had bugs!!

and as the OP observed, the Box Elders do have a penchant for public displays of Box Elder hanky panky...

Image
by fvachss
February 26th, 2012, 8:47 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: REVIEW - Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG OS MACRO HSM
Replies: 7
Views: 8336

Re: REVIEW - Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG OS MACRO HSM

I shoot more insects than herps. How about one of those jumping spider shots, too? Love to see what it does with subjects that size. -Frank I haven't shot with the Sigma 150, but I have with Canon's 180 macro and I find that, while the extra working distance helps with jumpers, if they can be coaxe...
by fvachss
February 23rd, 2012, 10:02 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Looking for good Coyote pics for info flyer
Replies: 5
Views: 2375

Re: Looking for good Coyote pics for info flyer

I once took a bunch of pictures of a local coyote pack. A good 8 years ago so the equipment (and the results) were kind of primitive, but you're welcome to use any of them you like. http://www.pbase.com/fvachss/coyotes_of_chatsworth_reservoir and from around the same time, a happy looking yote from ...
by fvachss
February 13th, 2012, 5:03 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Canon 100mm Macro Help
Replies: 6
Views: 2362

Re: Canon 100mm Macro Help

Are you using Auto Focus or manual? If AF what is the AF mode (One Shot, AI Servo, etc.) and are you using just center point or letting the camera choose the AF point? Have you checked the viewfinder diopter setting? If it's off it can screw up the apparent focus of the image in the viewfinder. Fina...
by fvachss
February 11th, 2012, 10:43 am
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Peregrine falcons defending nest from So. Pac. rattlesnake
Replies: 7
Views: 4315

Re: Peregrine falcons defending nest from So. Pac. rattlesna

While this is the first time I've seen a falcon dive bombing a rattler I've seen redtails and other local hawks flying off with smaller snakes in their talons any number of times.
by fvachss
February 5th, 2012, 9:05 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: UV Filters
Replies: 9
Views: 2963

Re: UV Filters

Whether or not to use protective UV filters is one of those "holy war" topics among photographers that will never be resolved. That said, most agree that *if* you decide to use UV filters then opting for one of the high end brands is a wise choice as cheap filters have been shown quite oft...
by fvachss
February 3rd, 2012, 1:49 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: A few South FL herps
Replies: 1
Views: 805

A few South FL herps

My visit to South Florida last week was primarily a birding trip, but if a cool looking herp jumped up in front of me I snapped a couple of shots: Couple of necking turtles from Big Cypress: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7161/6813757427_57e0e90697_b.jpg and a very tiny toad (1/2" total length) ...
by fvachss
January 14th, 2012, 10:27 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: south florida in january
Replies: 1
Views: 942

Re: south florida in january

Howdy,

I'll be in the Palm Beach area later in the month, primarily for birding, but if you could give me some tips on where to go I'd bring my herping lenses along too...
by fvachss
January 14th, 2012, 9:33 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Favorite photo of 2011
Replies: 43
Views: 13528

Young herp love in Joshua Tree

I try to get out to JTree a few times each spring to shoot and the playful Chuckwallas put on a nice display this year.

Image
by fvachss
January 14th, 2012, 9:14 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Canon Bodies
Replies: 20
Views: 8580

Re: Canon Bodies

Let's talk herp photography. I own a 5D2 and 7D and have shot scaly critters with both. Though the 7D can produce excellent results I find that I prefer the output of the 5D2 - when I can get close enough to the subject to fill the frame. I can't emphasize that last bit enough. If you are focal leng...
by fvachss
November 16th, 2011, 5:23 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Time for a macro lense but which one?
Replies: 9
Views: 3060

Re: Time for a macro lense but which one?

Every one of your possible choices will be plenty sharp (pretty much all ~100mm macro lenses are). The advantage of the Canon will be its faster and more reliably accurate autofocus. This won't matter so much in the true macro domain where you'll likely use manual focus most of the time. But at grea...
by fvachss
November 7th, 2011, 5:07 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Canon EOS T3i question
Replies: 10
Views: 3853

Re: Canon EOS T3i question

Actually the current 18-55IS kit lens is at least equal and probably better quality than the 28-135. Bigger issues than optical quality for herp photography are probably focal length range and working distance. For the T3i a nice cheap zoom lens is the 55-250IS. This will handily fill the frame with...
by fvachss
October 4th, 2011, 5:01 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Ultra Wide Angle lens suggestions?
Replies: 15
Views: 5458

Re: Ultra Wide Angle lens suggestions?

For crop frame Canons I think the two best UWA lenses are the Canon 10-22 and the Tokina 11-16/2.8. Both very sharp, with the zoom range a bit more on the Canon, but the Tokina a bit faster. Great for scenics, but I really never managed to use my UWAs for herping - you really have to shove the lens ...
by fvachss
July 22nd, 2011, 12:12 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Canon 40d question
Replies: 15
Views: 4016

Re: Canon 40d question

Ah, the plot thickens! So you're saying that autofocus is accurate, but you get backfocus only when you manually focus? If so, that sounds like it might be a focus screen shim problem. Quick check: Do you have still have a problem if you MF using live view and the rear screen? If live view manual fo...
by fvachss
July 21st, 2011, 10:44 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Canon 40d question
Replies: 15
Views: 4016

Re: Canon 40d question

First off, make sure you're in One Shot autofocus mode and select only the center point for AF. Canon DSLRs allow for a plethora of AF modes and focus points that add flexibility, but can complicate and confuse the process as well. If you've restricted yourself to one shot / center point and you sti...
by fvachss
June 4th, 2011, 8:13 am
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: HDR, not of Herps
Replies: 11
Views: 2972

Re: HDR, not of Herps

Heavy HDR with that Photomatix look can make for dramatic looking scenes, but they often look a bit "overcooked" to me. I will use HDR techniques in herp photos, but usually much more subtly. Often I'll blend in a differently exposed layer to bring back blown highlights on scales (or somet...
by fvachss
May 21st, 2011, 10:22 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: prime lenses
Replies: 3
Views: 1586

Re: prime lenses

I use a Canon 300/4 IS lens as my primary herping lens - often with a 1.4x extender attached. It focuses down to 1.5m, which is plenty close for headshots of most herps (about 1:2.5 magnification with the extender - so minimum subject size is about 1.5 x 2.5 inch on a crop body or 2.5 x 4" on f...
by fvachss
May 12th, 2011, 8:51 pm
Forum: Image Lab
Topic: Yet another which do you prefer threads.
Replies: 14
Views: 3981

Re: Yet another which do you prefer threads.

Pretty subtle difference between the images, but I prefer #2. I think the juxtaposition of the snake's head with the sharp curve in it's body immediately behind draw's the viewer's attention up the neck to the eye a bit more readily.
by fvachss
May 7th, 2011, 9:21 pm
Forum: The Forum
Topic: Productive April
Replies: 8
Views: 1450

Productive April

It was a good April for photographing lizards in the Southern Mojave. No particularly unusual species, but several willing to pose during mating or fighting. A couple of my favorites were this affectionate Chuckwalla couple (during a very "lizardy" day - must have seen a good 40 Chucks ove...