2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Moderator: Scott Waters
2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Well I havent been on here in a long time (dang, that avatar pic of me is old!). I think it has been a whopping three years since my last post. In those last three years I have changed my perspective on herp photography, and 2014 was when my new perspective really came to fruition.
I have been seriously photoing herps for just over four years now. I bought my first DSLR in Jan of 2010, and, with the help of some incredible people like the great Young Cage, learned how to use it later that year. Until the beginning of this year, I was trying to balance shooting as voucher shots and art, and was getting overwhelmed with the task. In 2014 I decided that I would shoot for art, and stop trying to document every animal I came across. The following photos are the result of this decision.
I have lived in Northern California my whole life, but I finally started herping this wonderful part of the state this year. I only took three out of state trips (West Texas, Arizona, and Michigan) and no out of country trips (though Peru is happening in January). I hope you guys like Northern California herps, cause here we go...
First lizard of the year that wasn't a Scelop:
California Alligator Lizard - Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Northern Western Pond Turtle - Actinemys marmorata by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Forest Sharptail, Contia longicaudae by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
California Giant Salamander - Dicamptodon ensatus by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Santa Cruz Gartersnake, Thamnophis atratus atratus by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
From my back yard:
San Diego Alligator Lizard, Elgaria multicarinata webbii by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis, California Red-Sided Gartersnake by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Northern Rubber Boa, Charina bottae by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Red-legged Frog, Rana draytonii by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Sharp-tailed snake, Contia tenius by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Foothill Yellow-legged Frog, Rana boylii by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Rubber boa, Charina bottae by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Giant Garter Snake, Thamnophis gigas by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
From my front yard:
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, Crotalus oreganus by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Rubber Boa, Charina bottae by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
This is the first pic I got Explored on Flickr. I still can't figure out why.
Mountain Gartersnake, Thamnophis elegans elegans by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
California Kingsnake by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
And now a quick break for some non-California stuff....
Got to go to West Texas earlier this year. The herping was BRUTAL, so brutal that this was the only pic that I liked from that trip.
West Texas Herping by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Then I went to Michigan for a bit....
Northern Leopard Frog, Lithobates pipiens, in situ by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
...where I took this pic that was my second Explored pic on Flickr...
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, Sistrurus catenatus catenatus by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
....and another star shot of Lake Michigan.
Michigan Stars 1 by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
And then I went to Arizona for the monsoons...
Huachuca Storm by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
...which brought out some awesome animals.
Sonoran Coral Snake, Micruroides euryxanthus by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Crotalus lepidus klauberi, Banded Rock Rattlesnake by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Crotalus cerberus, Arizona Black Rattlesnake by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
This one's for you, Young
Sonoran Desert Tortoise, Gopherus morafkai by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
And then I came back to NorCal, and went back out to get more of these...
California Red-sided Gartersnake, Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Even got a pic of a bird!
Golden Eagle by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
And a dead bird!
Noble peace by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Probably the most common herp in Nor Cal
California Slender Salamander, Batrachoseps attenuatus by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
A variation on that theme:
Hell Hollow Slender Salamander - Batrachoseps diabolicus by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Coastal Giant Salamander, Dicamptodon tenebrosus by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Landscapes? Anyone like landscapes?
Fern Canyon by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
How about artistic shots?
Redwood treetops by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
City scapes?
Rainy Bay by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Man, you guys are hard to please. Fine, fine, I'll get back to the herps.
Hands down, my most popular picture of all time. It got Explored on Flickr and I'm overwhelmed with the response...
Coastal Giant Salamander, Dicamptodon tenebrosus by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
From last weekend:
Little dude, big world (Taricha torosa- California Newt) by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
This one got Explored on Flickr, though I don't know why...
Pacific Ring-necked Snake - Diadophis punctatus amabilis by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
And last but not least, a little shot of a little guy from yesterday.
Southern Torrent Salamander - Rhyacotriton variegatus by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
---------
So yeah that's been my year. Thanks so much for sticking with me through this post. If you really like my photography you might like my calendar! It's for sale here: http://www.lulu.com/shop/my-calendar/ca ... 54989.html
Thanks for looking, and happy herping!
-Marisa
I have been seriously photoing herps for just over four years now. I bought my first DSLR in Jan of 2010, and, with the help of some incredible people like the great Young Cage, learned how to use it later that year. Until the beginning of this year, I was trying to balance shooting as voucher shots and art, and was getting overwhelmed with the task. In 2014 I decided that I would shoot for art, and stop trying to document every animal I came across. The following photos are the result of this decision.
I have lived in Northern California my whole life, but I finally started herping this wonderful part of the state this year. I only took three out of state trips (West Texas, Arizona, and Michigan) and no out of country trips (though Peru is happening in January). I hope you guys like Northern California herps, cause here we go...
First lizard of the year that wasn't a Scelop:
California Alligator Lizard - Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Northern Western Pond Turtle - Actinemys marmorata by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Forest Sharptail, Contia longicaudae by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
California Giant Salamander - Dicamptodon ensatus by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Santa Cruz Gartersnake, Thamnophis atratus atratus by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
From my back yard:
San Diego Alligator Lizard, Elgaria multicarinata webbii by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis, California Red-Sided Gartersnake by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Northern Rubber Boa, Charina bottae by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Red-legged Frog, Rana draytonii by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Sharp-tailed snake, Contia tenius by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Foothill Yellow-legged Frog, Rana boylii by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Rubber boa, Charina bottae by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Giant Garter Snake, Thamnophis gigas by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
From my front yard:
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, Crotalus oreganus by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Rubber Boa, Charina bottae by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
This is the first pic I got Explored on Flickr. I still can't figure out why.
Mountain Gartersnake, Thamnophis elegans elegans by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
California Kingsnake by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
And now a quick break for some non-California stuff....
Got to go to West Texas earlier this year. The herping was BRUTAL, so brutal that this was the only pic that I liked from that trip.
West Texas Herping by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Then I went to Michigan for a bit....
Northern Leopard Frog, Lithobates pipiens, in situ by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
...where I took this pic that was my second Explored pic on Flickr...
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, Sistrurus catenatus catenatus by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
....and another star shot of Lake Michigan.
Michigan Stars 1 by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
And then I went to Arizona for the monsoons...
Huachuca Storm by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
...which brought out some awesome animals.
Sonoran Coral Snake, Micruroides euryxanthus by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Crotalus lepidus klauberi, Banded Rock Rattlesnake by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Crotalus cerberus, Arizona Black Rattlesnake by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
This one's for you, Young
Sonoran Desert Tortoise, Gopherus morafkai by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
And then I came back to NorCal, and went back out to get more of these...
California Red-sided Gartersnake, Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Even got a pic of a bird!
Golden Eagle by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
And a dead bird!
Noble peace by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Probably the most common herp in Nor Cal
California Slender Salamander, Batrachoseps attenuatus by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
A variation on that theme:
Hell Hollow Slender Salamander - Batrachoseps diabolicus by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Coastal Giant Salamander, Dicamptodon tenebrosus by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Landscapes? Anyone like landscapes?
Fern Canyon by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
How about artistic shots?
Redwood treetops by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
City scapes?
Rainy Bay by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
Man, you guys are hard to please. Fine, fine, I'll get back to the herps.
Hands down, my most popular picture of all time. It got Explored on Flickr and I'm overwhelmed with the response...
Coastal Giant Salamander, Dicamptodon tenebrosus by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
From last weekend:
Little dude, big world (Taricha torosa- California Newt) by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
This one got Explored on Flickr, though I don't know why...
Pacific Ring-necked Snake - Diadophis punctatus amabilis by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
And last but not least, a little shot of a little guy from yesterday.
Southern Torrent Salamander - Rhyacotriton variegatus by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
---------
So yeah that's been my year. Thanks so much for sticking with me through this post. If you really like my photography you might like my calendar! It's for sale here: http://www.lulu.com/shop/my-calendar/ca ... 54989.html
Thanks for looking, and happy herping!
-Marisa
- Josh Holbrook
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Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Welcome back. I love the salamander diversity, the NW is certainly blessed in the caudate department.
- The Real Snake Man
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Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Very nice photography, and some great animals too (I really liked seeing the giant garter). Where was the Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander you posted on Facebook?
-Gene
-Gene
Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
This is one of those posts that makes me embarrassed that I've ever used the word "photography" to describe the photos I take. Exceptionally great work. Thanks for sharing!
JimM
JimM
Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Gene-
I tried to stick with my best work for this post, and the SC Long-toed doesn't really apply to that since it was in situ on dirt and not a great pic. Here it is anyway
Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander - Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
-M
I tried to stick with my best work for this post, and the SC Long-toed doesn't really apply to that since it was in situ on dirt and not a great pic. Here it is anyway
Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander - Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum by Marisa.Ishimatsu, on Flickr
-M
- The Real Snake Man
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Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
I know the photo wasn't your favorite, but a lot of folks on here mainly want to see great animals, and that one's definitely a looker (and not often posted). Thanks for sharing!
-Gene
-Gene
- Mike Pingleton
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Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Wonderful. You've come such a long way in a short time. (No way I can pick a favorite!)
-Mike
-Mike
- kyle loucks
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Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Awesome post Marisa, and as someone said earlier, photos like these are why I am embarrassed to post! Nice work!
- Jeroen Speybroeck
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Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Outstanding composition/framing! And of course great herps!
- Calfirecap
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Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Incredible work Marisa, I can't pick out any favorites, there are just too many of them. Thank you very much for posting those, and I even recognized at least one out of the batch.
Lawrence
Lawrence
- Fieldnotes
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Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
WoW! incredible photographs! I'm a fan of your photography style..."herps in Habitat"
- Daniel D Dye
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Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Stunning photography as usual, Marisa. You have learned a lot no doubt. It was good seeing you in New Mexico.
DDD
DDD
Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Spectacular shots, love the Contia.
- Mulebrother
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Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Its your world, I'm just living in it now.
Hell, I even like the one of the dead bird. Love the one of the cut in texas!
Hell, I even like the one of the dead bird. Love the one of the cut in texas!
Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Cool shots. Makes me want to get somewhere to find salamanders again.
- Chad M. Lane
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Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Those infernalis, and tenebrosus shots... How can I forget that Coral shot?
Thanks for taking the time!
Cheers,
Chad
Thanks for taking the time!
Cheers,
Chad
Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
You know I am a big fan of your work and watching your skills develop is awesome! Seeing it all in one place like this really drives it home though. Great job, great year.
Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
JAMAUGHN wrote:This is one of those posts that makes me embarrassed that I've ever used the word "photography" to describe the photos I take. Exceptionally great work. Thanks for sharing!
JimM
I could not have said it better. Your photography is amazing, keep up the good work. I love photos that capture the natural beauty of these animals, and yours do such a great job of it. Awesome!
Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Looks like your house is the place to herp. I need to see one of those blue red-sided garters. Very cool! Great photos!!!
- Tim Borski
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Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Infernalis and MI stars = awesome! I'm feeling an obligation now to do a EOY! Thanks for a super great post!
Tim
Tim
- orionmystery
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Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Wonderful set! Esp love the red sided garter snake pics, and the sally.
- ZantiMissKnit
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Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
This is an amazing post, Marisa. I am in AWE of your photography. I think my favorite animals in these are the red-sided garters and the coastal giant salamanders.
Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Fantastic photos, Marisa!
I hope you know I wasn't being sarcastic with that croceum; I think that IS a great photo in situ.
Awesome job all around.
-Jake
I hope you know I wasn't being sarcastic with that croceum; I think that IS a great photo in situ.
Awesome job all around.
-Jake
Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Great photography Marisa, I'm diggin' the Coral Snake.
Dave
Dave
- Mike VanValen
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Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
The Giant Garter remains my favorite.
Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Holy Moly ... That red sided garter pic has it all! Great great shot for sure. Thanks for posting.
- John Delgado
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Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
ALL spectacular -- Every one just stunning, I can't name a fav... because I love'em all.
My only complaint -- NOT enough crotes...!
I'd sure like to learn how to photograph like that...
Seriously... those are come of the BEST compositions of reptile/amphibians I' have ever seen -- my compliments.
My only complaint -- NOT enough crotes...!
I'd sure like to learn how to photograph like that...
Seriously... those are come of the BEST compositions of reptile/amphibians I' have ever seen -- my compliments.
-
- Posts: 639
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 1:14 pm
Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Could you provide the general locality or County in which you photographed Contia longicaudae?
When I published my discovery of the species, I believe only one of the specimens I surveyed was of the uniform, gray phenotype as is the specimen you photographed. Most of the specimens on which I recorded data including coloration, came from Mendocino and Humboldt Counties and a few from Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties.
Most of those specimens were not too dissimilar from the usual C. tenuis dorsal coloration.
Richard F. Hoyer (Corvallis, Oregon)
When I published my discovery of the species, I believe only one of the specimens I surveyed was of the uniform, gray phenotype as is the specimen you photographed. Most of the specimens on which I recorded data including coloration, came from Mendocino and Humboldt Counties and a few from Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties.
Most of those specimens were not too dissimilar from the usual C. tenuis dorsal coloration.
Richard F. Hoyer (Corvallis, Oregon)
- todd battey
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Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Spectacular photography. Well done!
- FloridaSerpent
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Re: 2014 in Photography (mainly Northern California)
Gorgeous photography. I love the Gartersnakes especially the California Red-Sided Gartersnake, what a beauty! The Northern Rubber Boa and the California Giant Salamander are also interesting.