My friend the skink in the cemetery

While waiting for the cruise ship to arrive this morning, I stood in the shade of a tree at the front of the cemetery I had chosen to take my pix from today (cemeteries here are on hilltops and some provide the best view around).

After 10 minutes of stillness, I noticed that the resident skinks were coming out. So having the 100-300 fitted to the GX7, I naturally volunteered to do some free protraits of them.

Pretty twitchy little fellows, skinks, but I got a couple of good shots, with fill-in flash from the pop-up flash to even out the harsh shadows of the very directional lighting only 15 minutes or so after sunrise.

These are OOC JPEGS except for a little cropping of both shots, maybe taking 10% off the frame, and reducing size for posting.

Hen3ry wrote:

While waiting for the cruise ship to arrive this morning, I stood in the shade of a tree at the front of the cemetery I had chosen to take my pix from today (cemeteries here are on hilltops and some provide the best view around).

After 10 minutes of stillness, I noticed that the resident skinks were coming out. So having the 100-300 fitted to the GX7, I naturally volunteered to do some free protraits of them.

Pretty twitchy little fellows, skinks, but I got a couple of good shots, with fill-in flash from the pop-up flash to even out the harsh shadows of the very directional lighting only 15 minutes or so after sunrise.

These are OOC JPEGS except for a little cropping of both shots, maybe taking 10% off the frame, and reducing size for posting.

It is so tough to nail the focus on this one.
Such Small eyes and and I know they move a lot and move fast.
Plus they are perfectly camouflaged.

so how did you do it.

Robert Evagelista wrote:

Hen3ry wrote:

While waiting for the cruise ship to arrive this morning, I stood in the shade of a tree at the front of the cemetery I had chosen to take my pix from today (cemeteries here are on hilltops and some provide the best view around).

After 10 minutes of stillness, I noticed that the resident skinks were coming out. So having the 100-300 fitted to the GX7, I naturally volunteered to do some free protraits of them.

Pretty twitchy little fellows, skinks, but I got a couple of good shots, with fill-in flash from the pop-up flash to even out the harsh shadows of the very directional lighting only 15 minutes or so after sunrise.

These are OOC JPEGS except for a little cropping of both shots, maybe taking 10% off the frame, and reducing size for posting.

It is so tough to nail the focus on this one.
Such Small eyes and and I know they move a lot and move fast.
Plus they are perfectly camouflaged.

so how did you do it.

I was standing very still and this one and a couple of others came out. I took a few shots, not so good, then very slowly moved around to the other side of the tree I was standing under for shade. The skink DOES move fast but he was pretty confident about me, I think, which is rare, because the kids will chase them to their deaths at the drop of a hat.

Anyway, I slowly lowered myself and the camera, with the LCD tilted up, to get a low POV, waited for the AF to tell me it had locked on, and took several shots with the bult-in flash working. To my amazement, the little fellow didn't move. BUT he did move his head a couple of times. This shot as the only really successful one, but I am very pleased with it.

I thought you said Skank!  😏

Just kidding, my friend. I enjoy your posts and photography.

I find burial grounds to be interesting places and frequently a goldmine of wildlife.  The quiet and absence of live humans makes those peaceful spots prime living areas for animals.  Very good catch on the little lizard.  Fine use of the popup flash. I know how quick they can be!

CelticOdyssey wrote:

I thought you said Skank! 😏

Just kidding, my friend. I enjoy your posts and photography.

We can do that too, but not in the cemetery! LOL.