Slither

[Slider]

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to photograph the very rare Green Tree Python. These animals were amazing and almost, it seemed, friendly. And no glass in front of the subjects


Small adult.
D70s / Sigma 180 Macro
Natural light 1/3s @ f/22 (Yep 1/3s -- very cooperative subject )




Juvenile

1/125s @ f/7.1
SB800 with lightsphere and inverted dome.




1/60s @ f/16
SB800 with lightsphere and inverted dome.

[christiand]

gorgeous reptiles and gorgeous photos

[Willy wombat]

Slider - I just opened the first image in Photoshop and noticed that you are saving your images with "Adobe RGB" colour profile. If you save in "sRGB" colour profile you will get much better results (for web). I was going to say that your first image looked a little washed out, but when i opened the file in photoshop it looked great.

Something to consider.

Cool snake by the way, shame it wasnt eating an egg.

Cheers
WW

[Sir Tristram]

The most amazing snake shots I've seen in a while. I like number 1 heaps. How clear is that?

Well done.

[Slider]

Thanks folks. It was a buzz let me tell you

Slider - I just opened the first image in Photoshop and noticed that you are saving your images with "Adobe RGB" colour profile. If you save in "sRGB" colour profile you will get much better results (for web). I was going to say that your first image looked a little washed out, but when i opened the file in photoshop it looked great.

Something to consider.

Cool snake by the way, shame it wasnt eating an egg.

Cheers
WW

Thanks for the tip WW. You are spot on. Just compared and the difference is amazing. Think I'll resave and edit accordingly.

Thanks again.

[Manta]

Excellent work Mark. They really are gorgeous snakes these guys.

In my previous life, I was part of a surveillance operation which successfully pinged a visitor to our fine shores who illegally imported several babies of this species. We monitored and photographed her for a few days until we were sure we got everyone involved in the deal. Happy to say she got jail time and all the snakes survived.

[Big Red]

Wow, simply awesome !!

[Matt. K]

Slider
These pics will win you competitions. Sell! Bloody excellent!

[sirhc55]

Superb - no other words can describe these pics

[Alpha_7]

Wow, best reptile shots I've seen on this forum or any forum on the net. Gorgeous colours.

[Slider]

Thanks again for the comments folks.

I have just (as per Wily Wombats suggestion) resaved the first image in sRGB so refresh your browser to see the real colours.

Thanks again for the tip WW

I'll redo the other two shortly.

[radar]

Slider,

I'm not usually one for snakes, but that first one is awesome!!

Well done.

André

[Willy wombat]

No probs.

[ABG]

Awesome photos Mark. It's amazing how docile snakes can be, especially when they've got a belly full of food. They also tend to be a little slower this time of year with the colder weather. Not that I'd be getting this close to a brown snake or a taipan

[Bob G]

Slider - those are very colourful snakes, great composition,very sharp and great lighting. You are becoming a bit of a macro fiend. Well done.

Willy. Also wasn't aware of the sRGB thing - Is that what everyone does?


Bob G

[Dargan]

Snakes eat frogs Slider! Time for an avatar change?

[birddog114]

Mark,
#1 is a beautiful shot!

[huynhie]

Just to repeat what everyone else is saying, top shot's there Mark.

[Manta]

Slider - those are very colourful snakes, great composition,very sharp and great lighting. You are becoming a bit of a macro fiend. Well done.

Willy. Also wasn't aware of the sRGB thing - Is that what everyone does?


Bob G

Yeah Bob - web stuff should be done in sRGB. AdobeRGB is fine for everything else but washes out on monitors.

[Bob G]

Thanks Simon - I'll convert my pics from hereon in

Bob G

[bindiblue]

Awesomw shots mark,,, I am hoping there was some kind of barrier between you and those snakes,

suzanne

[avkomp]

outstanding shots. well done

Steve

[SteveGriffin]

Amazing shots Mark. I reckon that if you put a few words together and sent them to Australian Geographic you would have a very good chance of having them published. Just beautiful.

[big pix]

great pixs........ have you been hanging out with Rel and chasing beasties

[blacknstormy]

Mark - utterly bloody brilliant !!!!!!

Can't say anything else - tooooooo jealous

Hugs Rel

[gecko]

Beaut shots
Keep up the good work

Cheers
Gecko

[Zeeke]

brilliant mark... bastard... your taking too many good pics nice work!!!

Tim

[christiand]

Hi Mark,

how good is focussing on the Sigma 180mm ?
Do you auto or manual focus ?

Cheers,
CD

[Slider]

Thanks agin Folks for all the kind comments.

Awesomw shots mark,,, I am hoping there was some kind of barrier between you and those snakes,

suzanne

Err, Nope. These critters have totally changed my view of snakes. They were so well behaved and couldn't have cared less. Mind you I still think I'll keep my distance from the bitey ones

Hi Mark,

how good is focussing on the Sigma 180mm ?
Do you auto or manual focus ?

Cheers,
CD

The autofocus is very good and has that neat override feature where you use the auto holding the shutter release half way, wait for the beep and then if you are not happy manually overide. The moment you turn the manual focus ring you are in manual mode until after you take the shot or release the shutter and start again.

Having said all that, as the light was a bit ordinary and the adult was very still I was able to take my time and manually focus to my liking. Camera was tripod mounted and I used the remote for most of the shots.

The baby was a little more active and required constant adjustment to keep in frame and in focus.

[byrt_001]

shot 1 is incredible

so much detail! just amazing. where did you get the snakes? zoo?

christian

[Slider]

Quick charter to Cape York

I wish..

stay tuned though as there are more shots on the way as I was not alone

[Geoff M]

I re-iterate what every body else has said, awesome pics especially #1.

Geoff

[wendellt]

number one amazing
you know your subject well

[Heath Bennett]

Wow

Scarily beautiful. Just imaging something like this with wings and... ok I will not go biblical!

[Murray1006]

Beautiful, sharp and amazing colours. Nice job.

[Dug]

 AAAARRRRRGGGGGGG !!!!!! I am snake phobic

Still wonderful photos. I like the last one with the bloodshot eye!

[Mitchell]

Slider - that first shot is simply memorizing.
Amazing.

[Dug]

I must ask, Where did you find the snake?

Is it a local or in a zoo somewhere?

[terminaltackle]

Totally agree with everyone, they are awesome shots. Any chance of getting them feeding?

Brett

[the foto fanatic]

Totally agree with everyone, they are awesome shots. Any chance of getting them feeding?

Brett

As if!

#1 is an excellent nature shot - very well done indeed.

[Slider]

Totally agree with everyone, they are awesome shots. Any chance of getting them feeding?

Brett

The thought of an EGG nicely wrapped by those jaws did cross my mind

Doug, I was very fortunate and indeed privileged to be invited to visit a private collection. These snakes are quite rare and this was an opportunity I wasn't passing up

[Dug]

that must be some collection!

great shots

I still HATE SNAKES but I would go and photograph those anytime.

[marcotrov]

Terrific images Mark, as always, great exposure, colourful and sharp. Really like #1
cheers
marco

[Finch]

G'day Mark,

Sorry I haven't replied earlier but as you know, I was away in Sydney and the Blue Mountains for the past four days.

What can I say - you certainly nailed these guys and both no. 1 and no. 3 are just stunning. The clarity, sharpness and colour of these pythons is unbelievable and they are definitely some of the best pyhthon shots I have ever seen.

Glad you enjoyed the experience.....

Cheers

Michael

[DionM]

I know I am a bit late on the thread, but these are simply magnificent Mark. Absolutely brilliant reptile shots - I take my hat off to you.