• Posted 12/19/2024.
    =====================

    I am still waiting on my developer to finish up on the Classifieds Control Panel so I can use it to encourage members into becoming paying members. Google Adsense has become a real burden on the viewing of this site, but honestly it is the ONLY source of income now that keeps it afloat. I tried offering disabling the ads being viewed by paying members, but apparently that is not enough incentive. Quite frankly, Google Adsense has dropped down to where it barely brings in enough daily to match even a single paid member per day. But it still gets the bills paid. But at what cost?

    So even without the classifieds control panel being complete, I believe I am going to have to disable those Google ads completely and likely disable some options here that have been free since going to the new platform. Like classified ad bumping, member name changes, and anything else I can use to encourage this site to be supported by the members instead of the Google Adsense ads.

    But there is risk involved. I will not pay out of pocket for very long during this last ditch experimental effort. If I find that the membership does not want to support this site with memberships, then I cannot support your being able to post your classified ads here for free. No, I am not intending to start charging for your posting ads here. I will just shut the site down and that will be it. I will be done with FaunaClassifieds. I certainly don't need this, and can live the rest of my life just fine without it. If I see that no one else really wants it to survive neither, then so be it. It goes away and you all can just go elsewhere to advertise your animals and merchandise.

    Not sure when this will take place, and I don't intend to give any further warning concerning the disabling of the Google Adsense. Just as there probably won't be any warning if I decide to close down this site. You will just come here and there will be some sort of message that the site is gone, and you have a nice day.

    I have been trying to make a go of this site for a very long time. And quite frankly, I am just tired of trying. I had hoped that enough people would be willing to help me help you all have a free outlet to offer your stuff for sale. But every year I see less and less people coming to this site, much less supporting it financially. That is fine. I tried. I retired the SerpenCo business about 14 years ago, so retiring out of this business completely is not that big if a step for me, nor will it be especially painful to do. When I was in Thailand, I did not check in here for three weeks. I didn't miss it even a little bit. So if you all want it to remain, it will be in your hands. I really don't care either way.

    =====================
    Some people have indicated that finding the method to contribute is rather difficult. And I have to admit, that it is not all that obvious. So to help, here is a thread to help as a quide. How to become a contributing member of FaunaClassifieds.

    And for the record, I will be shutting down the Google Adsense ads on January 1, 2025.
  • Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

soooo.... anyone up to helping a newbie?

Dbz4246

Dbz4246

Jessie's BALListic Morphs
Resident Demon
Joined
Aug 31, 2010
Messages
936
Reaction score
34
Points
0
Location
Belton TX, USA
Alright, I honestly don't know how to make those really professional looking pics of snakes, you know, the ones with a solid color background, nice sharp looking detail on the snake and no motion what so ever.

So i was wondering if anyone could explain how to do it, and what kind of camera would work for that?

Also, how do you do those lighting techniques to get the color of the snakes or any other reptile really close to the that animals original color?
 
Last edited:
Well lots of ways to do it. Photo tents or boxes work ok for somethings. Lighting is key having a nice dslr camera with a shoe flash works good or actual photo lights hooked up to camera. I like shoot on flat colors that way no shiny surface for light to reflect. Need a high shutter speed, low white balance, steady hand when taking some. I'm no pro I shoot with an older dslr for my classified photos then there is always editing but I personally shoot raw post raw. As I believe a good photographer shouldnt use editing. As then your only a good photo editer not a photographer
 
Thanks for the reply! I looked up some DSLR cameras... and man they are more expensive than I thought they would be. And thanks I will look into those techniques you mentioned.
 
If you think the DSLRs are expensive, wait until you start pricing decent lenses.
You don't need a DSLR to take good pictures, though; a decent point and shoot can take some outstanding, clear pictures. (Skip the phone pics.) The trick, or part of it, is learning how...and you'll take lots of poor pictures in the process of figuring it out. There is just no substitute for practicing, you have to look at the images with a critical eye - otherwise, you'll just take the same quality pics over and over...getting lucky with a good one every now and then.
 
hhmoore said:
If you think the DSLRs are expensive, wait until you start pricing decent lenses.
You don't need a DSLR to take good pictures, though; a decent point and shoot can take some outstanding, clear pictures. (Skip the phone pics.) The trick, or part of it, is learning how...and you'll take lots of poor pictures in the process of figuring it out. There is just no substitute for practicing, you have to look at the images with a critical eye - otherwise, you'll just take the same quality pics over and over...getting lucky with a good one every now and then.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I have a digital point and shoot, but I can't ever get decent pics with it. I'll tinker with it some more, but those higher dollar cameras may have to wait a bit lol. Thanks for yalls input guys
 
How goes the photography? I definitely agree with John & Harald’s advice. Lighting really is the key in it.

1) Less blur means more detail! To avoid the motion blur you need to have plenty of light for a faster shutter speed (A faster shutter speed freezes the action). If use your camera on "auto" you will achieve a faster shutter speed simply by having more light available. Photo tents are nice but you can also rig up your own with dome & clamp lamps and use anything like a sheet, cloth, or paper underneath the snake to create the solid background. When you angle the lamps try to make it so there aren’t any harsh shadows. Also be sure not to blind or burn the poor critters by putting it too close!

Natural light is great for taking pictures as well. Another thing to try would be going outside. You can also bring a solid background to put under the snake if you want. Different times of day and different positions (in the sun, in the shade) will produce different results so try a bunch of stuff to see what works best! I personally think dusk and dawn has the best light.

2) You can try this with any camera

3) Sometimes the type of light, especially regular (incandescent) house light bulbs, can make the colors seem off. It can make a "cast" of too orange or too blue. Setting the "white balance" settings yourself usually produces a more nature color than the automatic setting. If you don't know how to set the white balance you can check your camera menu, or manual; they are usually available online. A good way to make sure the colors are right is to point your camera at a white piece of paper (in the light you are using) and try all of the settings until the paper is pure white.

Also feel free to try everything with flash on and off!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top