Borneo

Dedicated exclusively to field herping.

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TJA
Posts: 26
Joined: September 2nd, 2015, 12:52 pm

Borneo

Post by TJA »

Hello -- I am a new member after having lurked a little in the past. Earlier this summer I was lucky enough to attend a macrophotography workshop in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, followed by a few days in the Danum Valley on my own. Below are a few of the herps I saw when I wasn't shooting arthropods! (Wasn't sure how many to post at one time, so I started with an even dozen.)

[url=https://flic.kr/p/wr5yrY][img]http ... .jpg[/img]Bent-Toe Gecko 2 by Tom Astle, on Flickr[/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/vuTt3i][img]http ... .jpg[/img]Bent-Toe Gecko by Tom Astle, on Flickr[/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/wtVkWX][img]http ... .jpg[/img]Giant River Toad by Tom Astle, on Flickr[/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/wbQC8d][img]http ... .jpg[/img]Giant River Toad 2 by Tom Astle, on Flickr[/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/vDhozb][img]http ... .jpg[/img]Flying Draco Lizard by Tom Astle, on Flickr[/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/vD6jGp][img]http ... .jpg[/img]Four-Lined Tree Frog - Borneo by Tom Astle, on Flickr[/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/vUoHwR][img]http ... .jpg[/img]Juvenile Agamid - Night by Tom Astle, on Flickr[/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/vUrcUD][img]http ... .jpg[/img]Frog Portrait by Tom Astle, on Flickr[/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/vvTU7X][img]http ... .jpg[/img]Gonocephalus grandis male by Tom Astle, on Flickr[/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/vNnRkZ][img]http ... .jpg[/img]Gonocephalus grandis female by Tom Astle, on Flickr[/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/vybBzd][img]http ... .jpg[/img]White Lipped Frog (Hylarana sp.) by Tom Astle, on Flickr[/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/vRFR67][img]http ... .jpg[/img]Dark-Eared Tree Frog (Polypedates macrotis) by Tom Astle, on Flickr[/url]
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Field Herper
Posts: 52
Joined: July 7th, 2012, 6:15 am
Location: Oz

Re: Borneo

Post by Field Herper »

You've taken some very good shots there Tom.
I'm curious about the diffuser that you've used. It creates a soft, even light without harsh reflections often apparent on frog skin. Do you mind telling us what gear you're using including the diffuser?
Jim Wetherall
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Joined: December 4th, 2014, 1:56 am

Re: Borneo

Post by Jim Wetherall »

Stunning photos! Looks like it was a great trip.
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Martti Niskanen
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Joined: June 11th, 2010, 11:19 am
Location: Helsinki, Finland

Re: Borneo

Post by Martti Niskanen »

Excellent first posts.
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TJA
Posts: 26
Joined: September 2nd, 2015, 12:52 pm

Re: Borneo

Post by TJA »

Thank you. It was a great trip with many lucky finds. Happy to answer the camera gear question. Macro shooters I've met use all sorts of homemade or DIY techniques, so there are lots of effective (and very affordable) things to try, but it all comes down to using diffusion material held as far in front of the flash head as possible. (It could be as simple as tracing paper inside a clear plastic sleeve, mounted out in front of the flash.) In my case, I use a Nikon D800 with the Nikon 105mm macro lens, often (but not always) with a Raynox 150 attached. Lighting consists of two wireless SB-R200 flashes mounted on flexible arms, which gives me a broader light swath than a single flash. Each flash has a cheap, ebay-found mini softbox attached -- I removed the not-very-effective diffusion cloth that they came with, and stapled on a double layer of Rosco Tough White Diffusion (more durable than cloth, and doesn't become more transparent when wet). In addition, since the workshop, I also attach a single piece of diffusion to the front of the lens. As part of the photo workshop, our instructor (Nicky Bay) gave us lens-mountable homemade diffusers. He made them from a piece of flexible, thin, white-frosted-plastic cutting board covered on both sides with thin packing foam. By using this single piece of diffusion material out in front of the lens in addition to the diffused flash units, I don't get a double catch-light from the twin flashes. I am constantly modifying (that's half the fun), but here is my crazy-looking rig at the moment:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/um1nlllzuom00 ... 0.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/o9sescu8ueh07 ... 2.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/irxuyqjj5rvz3 ... r.jpg?dl=0
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Hans Breuer (twoton)
Posts: 3230
Joined: June 8th, 2010, 3:19 am
Location: Kuching, Sarawak (Borneo)
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Re: Borneo

Post by Hans Breuer (twoton) »

Welcome to the forum, and What A Load Of Wonderful Stuff! Nicky Bay rules ... I hope to actually meet him here in Sarawak one of these days.

How did you get the Bent-toed Gecko to stay still, and how the hell did you nail down a G. grandis? I've been in Borneo for four years now and only ever saw one - and that one shredded my finger before disappearing without so much as giving me a photo op ...

And please show the arthropods, too - there's a bug forum here - and post as many as you like! Like oysters, a dozen photos merely make for a solid appetizer :-)

Cheers from Kuching

Hans
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Field Herper
Posts: 52
Joined: July 7th, 2012, 6:15 am
Location: Oz

Re: Borneo

Post by Field Herper »

Thanks very much for your generous reply to my question re camera gear/flash rig.
Your set-up is innovative and I appreciate you sharing it with us. The results are well worth the effort.
I look forward to seeing more of your excellent photography and making something like this myself.
NACairns
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Joined: December 30th, 2013, 7:27 am

Re: Borneo

Post by NACairns »

Wonderful post, great photos from a dream destination. I love the juvenile agamid shot.
Thanks for sharing.
Nick
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TJA
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Joined: September 2nd, 2015, 12:52 pm

Re: Borneo

Post by TJA »

Thank you -- Hans, for whatever reason the gecko was pretty cooperative. It let several of us shoot before scurrying up a tree. The G.grandis female I found during the day alongside a stream, and that night someone in our group found the big male in the same area. Perhaps it was because it was night, but he remained perfectly still -- Nicky Bay even managed to get close enough to shoot just his eye! I hope you get a chance to meet Nicky; it was a real pleasure getting to know him and attending his workshop.
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Hans Breuer (twoton)
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Joined: June 8th, 2010, 3:19 am
Location: Kuching, Sarawak (Borneo)
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Re: Borneo

Post by Hans Breuer (twoton) »

Thanks for your answer!!
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Keeper
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Re: Borneo

Post by Keeper »

Awesome photos and herps! Love the Gonocephelus!

Cheers

Kai
dthor68
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Re: Borneo

Post by dthor68 »

TJA, beautiful photos!

I got to say, I feel pretty bad for Borneo with fire destroying so much pristine forest. My niece works at Sabangau Forest and updates us frequently on what is going on there, its really sad. Stay Safe!

Derek
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Berkeley Boone
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Joined: June 8th, 2010, 4:02 am

Re: Borneo

Post by Berkeley Boone »

TJA wrote: (Wasn't sure how many to post at one time, so I started with an even dozen.)
Don't worry about that, Tom. I don't think I have ever heard anyone on this forum complain about 'too many pictures', particularly from a place that is so exotic for most of us!

Welcome! Keep on sharing!

--Berkeley
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jason folt
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Re: Borneo

Post by jason folt »

Awesome shots! What are those wild looking flexible arms? I have been looking for something like that for my R200s for about a year now without any luck.

Nice work!

Jason
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