Chameleon
Jan, 2015Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This was taken during a vacation in Portland, Oregon. I visited the Portland Aquarium, which has a small section of birds and reptiles.Time
I was in the aquarium about midmorning.Lighting
The terrarium was well supplied with a sun lamp to warm the chameleon, and it acted as a very convenient spotlight for this picture. It really did create a beautiful contrast between warm light and cool shadows. I can claim only the eye that was drawn to the balances of the lighting already created.Equipment
This was shot with my Sony alpha 200, which was a new to me camera when this image was captured. I was using my 18-70mm lens given the indoor constrictions.Inspiration
There was a beautiful quality of the terrarium that was housing the chameleon. It decided to pause in the light at the right place for me to capture a wonderful portrait of the reptile.Editing
I did crop in to enhance the composition of the photo, and there was a minimal shifting of the balance and contrast.In my camera bag
I have my Sony Alpha 200, an 18-70 mm lens and a 55-200 mm lens for longer subjects. Aside from the cleaning supplies, accessories, and my USB code, I don't carry a particularly complicated set up. As I'm, at best, a trained amateur this is most of the equipment I need to capture the images I want to.Feedback
For more exotic animal portraiture, be aware of the surroundings. As most of us are more likely to encounter exotic animals in zoos and similar institutions, there are things to be aware of. For instance, it is not uncommon to get strong reflections of the lighting outside the exhibit on the glass/plexiglass. Without a cognizance of this, it is possible to ruin an otherwise perfect pose from your subject. Additionally, the more you know about composition and image making helps in turning an average snap into a photograph that makes someone stop and stare.
