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ratofthelab โ Vega + Dhalsim
Published: 2010-11-17 23:13:43 +0000 UTC; Views: 2262; Favourites: 53; Downloads: 0
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AWESOME! *__*
how do yo get such pics, so the rats dont run away?
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Oops, the thumb codes broke. Erm, the pics I linked to were:
Bed example:[link]
Sleepy shot:[link]
Glinda shot:[link]
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Thanks! As to how to get pics like this - it helps if you have rats that are daft posers.
The two in the shot are ridiculously cuddly and often curl up on me during their free-range time. In this case, I'd left a sweater of mine on the bed they were running around on. The sweater is the black fabric seen in the picture. They settled on it for a snooze. Made my job nice and easy as I could get up without disturbing them, then take loads of pics.
I've given general advice to other people regarding less cooperative rats (particularly youngsters or does) and have pasted it below in case it also helps you now 
- get used to taking 101 pictures and throwing most of them away. If you take 100 pictures of small, fast moving targets and 15 of those photos turn out being 'okay', you're actually doing really well.
- find somewhere you are happy is safe for them to run around on with minor intervention on your part like an isolated bed or a table. They can amuse themselves running around while you can concentrate on taking the pictures. It also has the advantage that you can choose tablecloths or bedding to provide interesting or neutral backgrounds (bed example: :thumb186167006: )
- get an assistant - it means you can concentrate on taking the photos. Some rats love sitting on a shoulder.. which is awkward to take a shot of if it's your own shoulder, but much easier if it's someone else's.
- bribery can work. If you can find something that interests them enough that they stop and consider it, you can use it to your advantage. If you can find a treat, snack, toy or other interesting item that makes them pause, it can work to your advantage. Such items can also be used to make the photos more interesting - action shots of rodents munching on a piece of pasta, or sticking their head out from a sweater that they've been exploring etc can really work.
- ambush - catch them when they're asleep in a hammock. Sleepy shots are always cute, and have the added bonus that they're stationary (for example: :thumb157778177: )
- light - the more the merrier. Small fast moving targets blur when photographed in low light as the shutter speed has to be correspondingly larger.. the more light you have, the better (within reason, and giving suitable consideration to the comfort of the critters). Flash can be used quite effectively, but can make red-eyed rodents look like they have laser beam eyes (ah the bane of my life ) .. and ultimately, I've always preferred natural light if I had the choice.
- related to light - you may want to consider playing with ISO sensitivity bearing in mind the higher the ISO, the quicker the shutter speed and better chance of catching non-blurred ratlets. Even point and shoot cameras have low-light and sports modes, which might be worth playing with for similar effect.
Whatever happens - enjoy it and don't be afraid to "break the rules". My Glinda shot :thumb161907975: is technically not that great, it's slightly unfocused etc, but it shows character and I like it anyway.. half the point of taking photos of our rodents is to give us something to remember them by as they're sadly not with us for as long as we might like.. so the point as I see it is just have fun with them and treat the picture taking as an extension of that.
I hope that helps.
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Thank you!
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No problem!
The one on the right reminds me of my former boys Zitka & Akai
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I've just been poking around in your gallery and think I spotted the lil guys you were talking about.. very cute
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You probably have then
Iยดve only had two albinos.. They were my very first boys..
I still miss them a lot
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I hear ya, I miss all of my departed and the happiness they brought
It's kinda like they live on as long as someone remembers them though.. so that's all good really (this is in danger of becoming a deep and thoughtful conversation 
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Yeah I know
I like to think they are still with me..
I love my current ratties to death, but nobody can replace my first babies..
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Absolutely! And they don't have to replace each other- they're all such little characters with individual personalities - no two seem to be exactly alike
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So I've noticed
I always seem to get the strange ones
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Me too! Maybe they're all strange.. or they take on characteristics of their caretakers
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If it was the last one it certainly would explain why everyone keeps telling me I'm weird..
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I'm normal, it's everyone else that's weird
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*chuckles*. Thanks
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