Lizard of colour
A lizard with a blue head and various other colours on a granite rock
A lizard with a blue head and various other colours on a granite rock
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Mar, 2014Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I do this photo from my mothers porch, at a safari lodge. I am an avid photographer who learns as i go always looking for something different and challenging.Time
This was done in the middle of the day, so it was a really hot day in Africa, however the movement of the lizards was constant and always presented a great array of colours, this was around midday and around 28 degreesLighting
The lighting was quite bright, so sitting in a chair on the porch, waiting for the lizards to move into a slightly more shady area, so the colours where not being washed out. The African sun can be very unforgiving and wash out colours very easily, so patience was necessary.Equipment
This was taken with my Nikon D7100 with the 70-300mm f4.5-f6.3, it was hand held with no other equipment.Inspiration
When i visit my mother at the lodge she manages, i am always inspired to take as many different photos as i can, as it is such a peaceful environment sometimes it is best to relax take some time and look at the small things, as i had some down time and all the big game was hiding during the midday heat, the colours of the lizards on the kopje(rocks - granite) allowed me to focus and wait. At that point i had a few lizards that started to get closer and closer, allowing me to get a more full frame image. This happy chap sat still and let me take a series of images, all in slightly different looks, unluckily i did not see it eating anything, then it moved on to go and chase another lizard away from its turf.Editing
Post-processing was very minimal, with a slight crop of the image, nothing moreIn my camera bag
As i love wildlife photography the main elements i have are a large zoom lens, currently this is a 200-500mm f5.6 nikkor lens, then i have the kit lens of 18-105mm and recently to allow for a few more family photos a nikon 50mm f1.8. Then there is my camera, at this point in time is a the Nikon D7100 and i always have my monopod with me as the big lens is not that easy to hand hold for long periods of time. I then have a few filters(polariser and ND filters) incase the light is too strong, in africa this is always the case.Feedback
Well the only elements that i found to be best was to be still and sit in one place allowing them to get comfortable with your presence as they will relax more and allow you to get closer, however they get closer to you not you getting closer to them. As Africa is an amazing place, there is so so much to see and far to often we see the big things and forget the smaller, i have been privileged enough to live in africa for many year, now that i am not there any longer i go back and absorb everything, always scanning the horizon for anything different. Using a slightly higher iso 400-800, with the aperture at f8, then use the zoom lens at a focal point of 200mm+ will allow you to blur the background. Focus was done manually to ensure that no other details were in focus(this was a bit challenging), focus on the intended path of the subject and allow it to come into frame, take a few shots to make sure, dont review until the subject has moved on, then review, make changes and wait for the next subject to come into focus.
