Comments on: Subterranean Wildlife

By: Dante

Dante — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 03:10:25 +0000

Hi Maria,

Dr. Tom Poulson, Dr. GO Graening, and Matt Niemiller have taught me a little bit about some aspects of Amblyopsid anatomy. Was there something specific you wanted to know?

By: Maria Schophagen

Maria Schophagen — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:12:21 +0000

DO u know the internal anatomy of the Ozark Cavefish??

By: Dante

Dante — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:39:39 +0000

Hi Todd,

I shoot a lot of the aquatic fauna in photographic tanks, squeeze boxes work just fine. Post-process work includes cropping, removal of bubbles or anything else unwanted in the water column, and I usually make a copy of the image for the internet that is lightened up a bit more than normal. Many computer screens render images darker than they really are. The subjects are all lit using a macro flash unit produced originally by Minolta and now by Sony with dual flash heads. If you have taken an image and need to darken the background just a little bit, Photoshop allows that feature under their “exposure” option under the “adjustments” category. The black backgrounds here are not post process.

Thanks for the comments!

Cheers,
Danté

By: Todd Pusser

Todd Pusser — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:51:03 +0000

Dante,

Amazing images. I was wondering about your technique for image capture and post processing. Are you using squeeze boxes and lighting the subjects with LEDs or strobes? Any darkening of the background in post??? I am keen to learn any pointers about your excellent photography. Keep up the good work documenting our planet’s amazing biodiversity.

By: Dante

Dante — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 13:17:57 +0000

Hi Sam,
Thanks for the comments. When I was working on my Masters project at the University of Oklahoma I studied under Dr. Jan Caldwell. I appreciate that she allowed me to look into the ecology of Ozark Blind Cave Salamanders, Eurycea spelaea.
Your advisor is a good friend and we are actually working on a couple of projects right now.
I have a few more images up from my main website page http://www.anotheca.com
under the “photographer” tab but thats about it.
You are in a great lab and there is no doubt in my mind that you will have a great experience at TU. Best of luck.

By: Sam Martin

Sam Martin — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 21:18:49 +0000

Wow, great images and what a great intro to subterranean animals! I came across the photos while searching for reference photos of isopods for my own master’s project in the Ozarks. I’m looking at the habitats of paedomorphic and metamorphic localities of E. tynerensis, including all biotic and abiotic variables. The Plethodontids of the interior highlands really are fascinating, it’s such a great zone. You mentioned doing your masters work at OU; who did you study under there? I worked for a couple years at Sam Noble in Herpetology while doing my undergrad at OU, before coming to TU under Dr. Bonett.

Do you by any chance have a flickr or any other site for more of your photos? I really enjoyed these!

By: ElenaLisvato

ElenaLisvato — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:37:23 +0000

thanks !! very helpful post!

By: mary-aloe

mary-aloe — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:05:49 +0000

I wanted to introduce myself – Thanks

Mary Aloe

By: Arun

Arun — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:47:00 +0000

Pretty cool post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really liked reading your blog posts. Anyway
I’ll be subscribing to your blog and I hope you post again soon!

By: MichaellaS

MichaellaS — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:15:10 +0000

tks for the effort you put in here I appreciate it!