Caiman Eye
A close up of the eye of a watchful caiman in Tortuguero, Costa Rica.
A close up of the eye of a watchful caiman in Tortuguero, Costa Rica.
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Dec, 2016Views
339
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Awards
People's Choice in Eye of an Alligator Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Magnificent Capture
Outstanding Creativity
Superior Skill
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this whilst balancing precariously on a tiny boat on the Tortuguero River in Costa Rica. This caiman was resting just above the water, completely unmoving, taking in the sun.Time
This shot was taken in the morning, when the cold-blooded caiman are still warming up in the sun. This makes it easier for us as photographers, as they don't move much until they have warmed up!Lighting
The lovely bright Costa Rica sunshine was perfect for highlighting the detail in the iris of this caiman.Equipment
Canon 5D Mk III, 100-400 telephoto lens (old faithful!)Inspiration
I am fascinated by the detail of animals - although I love a good portrait, or shot of an animal in its environment, I often cannot resist going in closer to capture the delicacy of the intricate details.Editing
Not much post-processing going on here - a little cropping to get rid of an errant twig, and that was it.In my camera bag
I tend to keep it simple - Canon 5D Mk III (flipping love this camera, it does everything you need and hasn't succumbed to my ill-treatment yet!), 100-400 telephoto lens (most versatile bit of kit), plenty of cleaning stuff for when I inevitably get stuff grubby, and maybe a 100mm macro lens if I think there might be bugs about!Feedback
Think about what it is that you want to capture - what characteristic of the animal subject are you trying to portray? What emotion do you want the photo to inspire in viewers? What part of this animal will make an interesting, beautiful image? I find when I have a clear idea of the shot I want, it is easier to work out how to get it. Of course, quite often with wildlife photography there is a hefty amount of luck involved, so if you don't get the shot at first, keep trying - it's amazing how much luckier you'll get the more you keep trying!
