Dragons, New Style Pics...

[Dracofish]

Unnamed male, nice yellow head:
http://dragoncharm.com/miscdragons/male243-11.1.jpg

http://dragoncharm.com/miscdragons/male243-11.2.jpg

Beard flaring:
http://dragoncharm.com/miscdragons/male243-11.3.jpg

http://dragoncharm.com/miscdragons/male243-11.4.jpg

Black Beard:
http://dragoncharm.com/mnementh(1-4)/mnementh3-11.1.jpg

[Dracofish]

Mnementh in natural sunlight:
http://dragoncharm.com/mnementh(1-4)/mnementh3-11.2.jpg

http://dragoncharm.com/mnementh(1-4)/mnementh3-11.3.jpg

Hey Melissa

Like the bottom two a lot. The full shot is well lit and the shadow almost blends with the backdrop, very nice and dramatic shot with a cool perspective. Same with the last close up, very nice detail, and really nice contrast with the background.

The first batch of 5 have some issues. You light it up with a spotlight type fixture from the top and slightly behind and then film from the bottom, which really underexposes the underneath of the beast. The top seems almost overexposed, while the bottom blacks out. It makes the shadow drop right in front of your shot and really takes away from the pic. If you compare the first 5 and the last 2, you really see the difference in lighting. they are all actually really crisp and well focused, but the shadows make them less pleasant.

Just my .02. Great job overall.
ed

[Dracofish]

That's their habitat...I just took pictures of them in there as they were getting used to it.

The difference in lighting is that the bottom ones were taken with natural sunlight shining in through the window and the top ones were taken in a habitat with the light shining above. I personally like the "mysterious" look where you don't necessarily see all of the subject. I'm a big fan of the use of shadows. To me there's a difference between taking pictures of an animal so that everything is seen and personalized art through the use of highlights and shadows. Perhaps that is why this is one of my favorite pieces, though not necessarily the best photograph, I love the way the shadows play in it:
http://dragoncharm.com/mnementh(1-4)/mnementh3-2.6.jpg

[benny]

Yup. Agree with Ed. My favorite of the lot would be the second last one.

I do find the lighting too harsh on the rest and the shadow control could be better. Perhaps some supplementary lighting?

If you like to play with shadows, the the crop has to be appropriate so as not to create a very high contrast situation with only a small portion of interest unless the subject is powerful or the composition is interesting.

As for the previous close up that you just posted, I feel that the spirit of the subject is lost as the eyes are not visible. Ideally, there should be a catchlight so that eyes look alive. Examples in your earlier picture in this series.

Cheers,

I dont disagree with you, there is something less "studio" and more personal about the first few shots, the commentary was not based on preference but basic Technique, less to criticize you and MUCH MORE to explain the difference for others who will read the topic. There is nothing wrong with taking pics the way you like them, as you do, dark and almost Primeval, and it's cool, but I wanted to point out that IN GENERAL the better way is to take them with a light source pointing not TOWARD you but toward the subject, to make shadows appear behind the subject and thus invisible to the camera.

Like i said, I think they are GREAT shots.

[Dracofish]

dark and almost Primeval


So that's how ya think of me, huh? [smilie=laugh.gif]

I understand what you're saying. I had just put that male in his new habitat and he was flaring up while I was sitting at the 'puter so I thought I'd snap a few shots. As you can see, it's very different from how I normally take pics (uber bright lighting with a black velvet backdrop), but I just had to snap some pics of that male flaring his beard.

As for the pics of Mnementh, I was cleaning out his females' habitat when I noticed that there was some perfect light coming in the window. I'm not normally home at that time of day so I never noticed it before. I decided to see how it would work taking some pics of him under natural sunlight, something I've never done before. Artificial lighting can mimick real sunlight, but it's never quite the same. It'll take some more experimentation and trial and error to improve on the shots.

[

So that's how ya think of me, huh? [smilie=laugh.gif]

Hey, I am not the one into Choppers, Big fish and Dragons. I have Angels [smilie=oops2.gif] and rainbows, and Flowerhorns (just making sure you have enough material).

[ccplim]

[

So that's how ya think of me, huh? [smilie=laugh.gif]

Hey, I am not the one into Choppers, Big fish and Dragons. I have Angels [smilie=oops2.gif] and rainbows, and Flowerhorns (just making sure you have enough material).

Wait a minute. Now, where's your bichirs? Still at the lfs? [smilie=lol.gif] [smilie=lol.gif]

[DanL]

in my opinion,

I like the third and fourth pics in the first post... i really like how the shadows look on the dragon...

yes, the ones locally are too expensive ($30 for senegals) but there is a great place ( a flowerhorn place that has bichirs) that has senegals that are really nice and fat for $12 and ornates (also big) for $25, but it's about a 40 min drive, so it's difficult to get out there. Maybe after the trip.

[Dracofish]

yes, the ones locally are too expensive ($30 for senegals) but there is a great place ( a flowerhorn place that has bichirs) that has senegals that are really nice and fat for $12 and ornates (also big) for $25, but it's about a 40 min drive, so it's difficult to get out there. Maybe after the trip.

I just picked up a 12" P. lapradei for $25... [smilie=biggrin.gif]

[ccplim]

yes, the ones locally are too expensive ($30 for senegals) but there is a great place ( a flowerhorn place that has bichirs) that has senegals that are really nice and fat for $12 and ornates (also big) for $25, but it's about a 40 min drive, so it's difficult to get out there. Maybe after the trip.

I just picked up a 12" P. lapradei for $25... [smilie=biggrin.gif]

Hmm..... that's about the price that we can get over here. [smilie=biggrin.gif]

That is pretty good. I was at another LFS yesterday, and someone brought in a 15+" Ornate that was amazing looking, the guy is asking $80, should I do it?

[ccplim]

That is pretty good. I was at another LFS yesterday, and someone brought in a 15+" Ornate that was amazing looking, the guy is asking $80, should I do it?

Wow! That's big. For me, I will not go for it at this size since the growth rate will be real slow from there onwards (you can check with CDM how's the grow rate of his). I am one that prefer to see them grow from young.

[Dude123]

Not too sure of the price paradise. I got my tank raised senegalus for $11 CANADIAN [smilie=punk.gif] [smilie=drunks.gif]