RAUK - Archived Forum - Posts by zarozinia:

Hi

 Virtually all my reptile photographs are hand held, I simply lean on something such as my knee or rucksack if I need extra stability. If I'm out and about I tend to take a thick, large bin bag rolled up in my kit bag to throw on wet or prickly areas so I can get in close.

 I mainly use a Canon 60mm F2.8 lens for most of my macro photography, although the Sigma 70-300 comes in handy when I cant get close. I do carry a ring flash with me for those times when lighting is poor, but rarely need to use it out doors

Some of my pics, all from my garden - aren't I lucky

People have such fear of what they deem to be snakes, it can be hard for us to understand at times. I like nothing better than teaching a group of people about the wonders of reptiles and seeing the looks on their faces when they first handle a friendly reptile and realise that they're not going to eat people after all.

 We were once called out to a house where a young gentleman was screaming out the letterbox, in terror of the snake in his garden, it was a slow worm basking in the sun on his path, poor guy was petrified. We just moved it up the street to similar habitat.

My neighbour and I have a thriving community of Slow worms and Common frogs in our gardens, our problem being that we also both keep cats and dont know how best to protect the lizards and frogs.

 Any suggestions?

Up to now I try to provide cat free zones in the two main areas that I have found the frogs and slow worms. I also let the borders grow full of weeds in areas where plants are sparce, partly to give them extra cover and partly because I use the dandelion leaves to feed some of my other pets.