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Derek the Dragon

Facebook @alanwsmithphotography
Instagram @awsmith22

Derek the Dragon

Facebook @alanwsmithphotography
Instagram @awsmith22
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upload_dateMar, 2017

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846

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Awards

Peer Choice Award
Featured
Peer Award
richardeaton_9707 alexlevinsky Kivera davidjprosser TonyGuzmanG Vorster arcrem +137
Superb Composition
James-Evans SBPHOTOGRAPHIA KasaiNazo samilong angelundercover matics Letsgotolhasa +7
Absolute Masterpiece
Paul_Joslin photosue50 Aeri Svenergy72 Nikilaw stephmac sweetpea72 +1
Top Choice
Jaspa stefanihernowo toshihiro_shoji DELETED_FREDFOTO ElizePrinsloo psguru aathitya
Magnificent Capture
ClaritaBethCanlasMiller justinspecht alef0 C_Alexandre Cecirene
All Star
noneoftheabove Hood LucyCMorr
Superior Skill
ewatt
Outstanding Creativity
Iramila

Top Ranks

My Favorite Pet Photo ContestTop 10 rank
My Favorite Pet Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Friendly Pets Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Friendly Pets Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 3
Friendly Pets Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
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Friendly Pets Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Reptiles Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Reptiles Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
ViewBug Photography AwardsTop 10 rank
ViewBug Photography AwardsTop 10 rank week 1
Earth Day 2017 Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Earth Day 2017 Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 2
Earth Day 2017 Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1

Categories

Submitted to Photo Contests

Tags

#lizard #bearded dragon #sleepy #closeup #reptile
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Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken at home and is of my pet Bearded Dragon Derek. When let out of his enclosure to explore you would normally find him hiding under something, which in this case was the sofa in the garden room.

Time

I remember taking this photo in the early afternoon. Derek had finished basking in the sun for the day and was cooling off in the shade.

Lighting

Being the middle of a sunny day there was plenty of light, however with Derek sat under the sofa so far I needed to up the ISO slightly to 800 as I was taking the photo handheld.

Equipment

I took this photo handheld using my Nikon D750 with Nikon Micro 105mm f/2.8 Lens attached.

Inspiration

Photography is a passion of mine and I particularly enjoy Landscape, Nature and Wildlife photography. Although not taken in the wild, my Bearded Dragon certainly looks wild. His scales and features are amazing, and with my macro lens I can get so close it shows up all the details.

Editing

The original image looked a little flat straight out of the camera, so I used Adobe Lightroom to increase the contrast and add a little extra pop to the colours.

In my camera bag

My kit bag has changed over the years as my photography has developed. I would say that 90% of the time it will consist of my Nikon D750, Nikon 16-35mm f/4 Lens, Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 Lens, Nikon 105mm f/2.8 Micro Lens, Nikon 80-400 f/4.5 - f/5.6 Lens and Lee Filter System.

Feedback

I have found taking photos of animals can be quite challenging and patience is required to capture the photo you are after as they are often not very compliant. So have your camera settings configured and be ready to take that photo. Get down low, particularly with smaller animals so you can be at eye level. Focus on the eyes and have the aperture set to around f/5.6 to get the whole face in focus. Using a macro lens you may need to close the aperture even more. Another setting I find very useful is Auto ISO. With most modern DSLRs you will have this option available and the image quality at high ISO is excellent.

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