Paul-Stapleton
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Paul-Stapleton
February 14, 2016
Thank you Kathleen, I had to sit around for a long time waiting for this shot
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken whilst I was on holiday in Ibiza where they used to have a lot of Wall Lizards but they’re starting to become rare to see. I’m a self-taught photographer and love trying to capture nature in its various formsTime
This photo was taken mid-afternoon. I had only arrived on the island the day before and went out to explore the surrounding area. I knew from previous visits there used to be a lot of Wall Lizards around but they seem to have declined in recent years. I noticed a few sitting on a dry stone wall but they disappeared inside the wall as I approached. I had to sit still for about 30 minutes waiting for them to come back out and to get the right shot. I was extremely happy with how sharp this image came out as I was on maximum zoom (250mm) but had no tripod with me so it was a hand-held shot.Lighting
It was a bright sunny day and this photo was taken slightly in the shade so the lighting was just about perfect.Equipment
This was shot with a Canon 600D with a Canon EFS 55-250mm lens. No other equipment was involved.Inspiration
Although I was just going out to explore the area I knew the Wall Lizards on the island were getting harder to see and being as it’s the symbol of the Ibiza I really wanted to get an iconic image to take away with meEditing
The image has only had a little adjustment to the contrast, to bring out the markings better and make the head of the lizard stand out from the background.In my camera bag
I'm still fairly new to photography so spent a lot of time deciding which DSLR to buy for a relative beginner. After looking at a lot of feedback on the internet about all the different cameras available I bought a Canon 600D which is always in my bag and at present the only body I have. I would highly recommend it to anyone just starting out. My main passion is landscape photography so I always pack a Sigma 10-20 mm 1:4-5.6 wide angle lens which was recommended to me and has produced some wonderful pictures. I tend to use this one the most. Next is the standard Canon 18-55 mm that came with the body, then the Canon 55-250 mm which I used for this shot. I also carry a set of Cokin ND filters and a circular Polarising filter. I always carry a remote shutter release for the tripod work. I always carry a torch because it can get pretty dark after photographing sunsets. I also carry a spare battery and memory card. Besides what is in my bag I always carry a tripod which is essentially for landscape photographyFeedback
The only advice I can give is to have a lot of patience and be prepared with the right lens on your camera for the subject you are trying to capture. In this case it would have been no point trying to use the Sigma lens as I wouldn't have been able to get close enough so it had to be the zoom lens