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Hi Everyone

This is Edgar my favourite Eastern Water Dragon, I feed him regularly. I took this photo today while learning how to shoot on the D70.

I have learnt lots of things from the many mistakes I have made. In all the photos I should have got down low to the level of the dragon instead of taking photos from standing position, this one, however I don't think was too bad. I need to get used to cropping in the viewfinder, and I still got a lot to learn with post processing too.





Genista

the first time I saw the red stuff on a water dragon, I thought it was wounded and wondered what I could do about it.

After capturing 2 like it, I did some research and found that the red stuff comes on males and during breeding times.

I dont mind this shot. The only criticism is that the background is a tad busy. But these things are sometimes hard to photograph and you have to take what you can get.

Steve

LittleB,
Great one at your first start! the more practicing, the more you learned and you'll get there.

Potatis got his tripod with the head, now it's time you ask him to get for you the ground pod.

i think its a fine shot, and you will only get better.

I think Edgar looks great LittleB - well done

Thanks Steve. You are right about the distracting background, all my photos had this because I took these photos from a standing position instead of getting down near the level of the dragon. The depth of field was not quite right with the ground close behind the dragon from this perspective. When Doug (Potatis) photographed the dragons, the background was a long way away because of the low down angle of the shot, so the background was blurry and it isolated the subject much better. Maybe I should take Birddog's advice and get a ground pod so I don't get my knees dirty. Yup having a red belly means he is male, that's why we knew he was an "Edgar" and not an "Ethel"

Thanks very much Birddog and E1Shane, I really appreciate them. I'll think about the ground pod but only if Doug carries it.

Thanks sirhc55, I'm pleased you like Edgar.

Thanks very much again for Spyder. Doug's done his monitor but hasn't got to mine yet.

Genista

Hi Genista,

Great shot of scaley Mr Edgar, I reckon a ground pod would be a good investment.. I know I'm a little uncomfortable with sitting the camera down low, I usually try to get a plastic bag between the ground and the camera.. but that doesn't always work.. Have you been feeding Edgar Banana ?

Alpha_7 wrote:Hi Genista,

Great shot of scaley Mr Edgar, I reckon a ground pod would be a good investment.. I know I'm a little uncomfortable with sitting the camera down low, I usually try to get a plastic bag between the ground and the camera.. but that doesn't always work.. Have you been feeding Edgar Banana ?

Alpha_7
The Kinesis beanbag works well also, I'll showw it to you next meet, but the ground pod is excellent in all terms.
Sorry, I took you too far! you haven't reach the first stage as yet! (the tripod & head)

Hi Alpha 7

I usually feed Edgar banana, but yesterday I fed him dog food (My Dog brand). He lapped it up greedily! I have also given him sardines before.

Take care and enjoy the rest of your holidays.

Genista

Hi lilB, this is a cool dragon pic, we dont see many of these where i live so it is good to see them, and i think the pics looks fine it all takes time but you are off to a good start.
Cheers
John

Hi BBJ, thanks for the encouragement, I will post more of my photos soon.

You will get to see more of these water dragons too as they are my favourite animal to photograph at the moment.


Genista

That's one interesting friend you have there, looks like he's posing for you. Re: getting a lower perspective, getting down and dirty is half the fun

Hi Mudder, I think little Edgar is posing for me half the time, he is so adorable I would not mind getting down and dirty just to get some excellent shots of him.


Genista

You need to get down and dirty to get the best shots sometimes.

The best water dragon shot I have came about when I saw one sunning itself by a creek. I decided to get down into the creek and approach from below.
This gave me a shot with the dragon and a sky background.

my pants dry and the mud washes off your elbows.

Steve

Thanks avcomp and everyone for your comments and encouragement. I've taken all comments on board and will post again with the improvements.


Genista

Nice shot of Mr Edgar, are these the dragons that bob up and down and look like they are dancing?

Getting down in his level will improve the shot from being nice to being great.

Cheers,
Terry

Hi Terry

Thanks for your encouragement, I will try getting down to his level next time I shoot.

These dragons wave and bob their heads up and down when they want you to go away actually, it's a sign that they are afraid of you if they do this.


Genista