ScaleSnaps
ABOUT ME
Growing up in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina, I got to enjoy and interact with some of the incredible herps and other wildlife this planet has to offer. My early summers of searching for black rat snakes and peeking under rocks by the mountain streams transformed into trekking through the dense jungles across the globe seeking to spot, document, and share the weird wonders of our world.
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With a camera and a snake hook, my goal is not just to take pictures, but to learn about these misunderstood creatures and their habitats, and to help with any research that I can. I believe that through understanding and biomimicry of the incredible traits that these organisms possess (such as an Axolotl's ability to regrow entire limbs and even parts of their brain with stem cells), we can advance science and technology to be more eco-friendly and effective.
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I love seeing different parts and cultures of the world, and am always looking for opportunities to involve myself in current research. If you have an expedition opening or a research project that you would like me to be a part, please contact me at: samschenker@scalesnaps.com
Experience
Last Updated: June 2025
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British Virgin Islands, June 2025 | Field expedition with the Fort Worth Zoo to assist in their ongoing conservation project with the critically endangered Anegada Rock Iguana (Cyclura pinguis).
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Ecuador, March 2025 | Field expedition with Khamai Foundation and independent parties surveying and documenting herpetofauna in montane cloud forest and lowland jungle looking for endangered species to qualify for land protections against impending illegal gold mining. Led to the discovery of a new population of the endangered Spotted Rocket Frog (Hyloxalus maculosus)
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Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, October 2024 | Ponant x Explorers Club Expedition, Circumnavigation of New Guinea. Assistant to Dr. Graham Reynolds, herpetofauna surveys on small islands.
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Ecuador, July 2024 | Field expedition with the Khamai Foundation looking for a potentially new species of Dwarf Gecko (genus Lepidoblepharis) to sample and photograph before the release of the Reptiles of Ecuador book.
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India, December 2023 | Photography and documentation of bird, reptile, and mammal species throughout Northern India, and assisted a local snake rescuer with an emergency rescue.
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Ecuador, July 2023 | Field expedition with the Khamai Foundation looking for the green-blue morph of the Eyelash Palm Pit Viper to take scale samples and photographs to gather more data for the separation of species in the Eyelash Viper genus (Bothriechis).
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Madagascar, June 2023 | Photography and documentation of reptile and amphibian species throughout Madagascar with Tropical Herping’s Jose Vieria, where the team found a possible new species of Dwarf Chameleon (genus Brookesia).
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Ecuador, July 2022 | Photography and documentation of a diversity of reptile and amphibian species in various Ecuadorian habitats, including montane cloud forest and lowland jungle with Tropical Herping’s Jose Vieria.
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Peru, March 2022 | Photography and documentation of rare reptile and amphibian species in the Peruvian Amazon with the Project Amazonas team, led by Matt Cage.
Want to see my full CV? Contact me at samschenker@scalesnaps.com
Camera Equipment
* NOT SPONSORED
Camera
This camera is good for its durability. It has withstood the rain and high humidity of the places I travel. It is easy to use and pictures can be transferred via wifi.
Lens
I chose this lens because it had the best macro capability while also being weather resistant. It can withstand dust, rain, and high humidity without breaking down. It is easy to use with auto and manual focus.
Other Equipment
This is a comfortable, waterproof headlamp with many different brightness levels. It works nicely for seeing eyeshine and animals high up in trees. It is rechargeable, but the battery only lasts a few hours on the highest brightness setting and gets hot. I usually leave it halfway on brightness and it still does fine, but if I need full brightness I bring a few extra batteries.
This is my current photo backpack. It has plenty of storage for my entire flash setup, an additional lens, my computer, and all the chargers I could want. It has a tripod holder which I use to carry white background rolls. It also has a quick access side-pocket. Although it is comfortable, I don't take it on hikes because it gets very heavy.
Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod
This is an easy to use, very portable tripod. I don't use it very often, but for focus stacking and occasional nighttime photography it is handy to have. It has tons of features, and though the aluminum is cheaper it is much heavier than the carbon fiber version.
This is a very handy clip that I put on my backpack strap and a belt so I don't have to use my uncomfortable neck strap. Its easy to clip on and off, though it sometimes gets caught on clothes. It also has a locking mechanism so I don't have to worry about the camera falling off.
I use both the 256GB and 128GB Sandisk Extreme PRO. The Extreme PRO has higher transfer speeds, but I don't notice it.
I switched to this diffuser fairly recently, and I like its portability and the lighting effect it gives. My only issues are that it is bulky when on the camera and not easily usable for external flashes.
EBL AA 3000mWh 1.5V Lithium Ion Rechargeable
These have been the most consistent rechargeable batteries for me. I can use them on my flash and I rarely have to change them mid-hike.
Custom Built Snake Hook-Hiking Stick
To maximize sturdiness and portability, I fashioned a stainless steel rod into a hook and epoxied it into the shaft of an adjustable hiking stick that was missing its thinnest section. It is the ultimate night hiking herping tool. With its wrist grip, I can let it go at any time without losing it. It is firm enough to fully lean on as a good hiking stick, can gently pull flexible branches down to access creatures, can grab trees when hiking up a steep incline, and most importantly support a large venomous snake. It can be adjusted, but the current version isn't small enough to fit in my suitcase.