Smiley and Proud Water Dragon

[Kaye]

I took these shots yesterday mid to late afternoon. This Eastern Water Dragon was hanging around our picnic area and was not too shy in coming a bit close.

Nikon D90 - Nikon 18-105mm VR
All: f/5.6, 1/400sec, iso800
1. 105mm 2. 75mm, 3. 85mm

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[eyerkish]

Awesome shots, Kaye. Excellent detail and I love the DOF. I noticed you added a lens to your collection, congratulations!

[delboy]

Great shots Kaye DOF spot on

Delboy.

[coffee]

These are great Kaye. Look like you are settling in nice with the new rig.

[shirlm2]

Great shots Kaye

[Kaye]

Awesome shots, Kaye. Excellent detail and I love the DOF. I noticed you added a lens to your collection, congratulations!

Thanks very much Eddie for the comment.
I was lucky that this little guy stayed still and didn't run away, so got lots of shots.
In order to get the DOF I wanted, I got down on the grass at his level and shot along his body.

I purchased the Nikon70-300mm a few weeks ago on Ebay for $91. BUT, no VR. I thought it would be good for practice for longer shots especially with the tripod.

[Bambe]

I like all 3 but my favourite is the first because of his expression

[amaethon]

Nice shots Kaye, no1 is a cracker, havent managed to get one with its mouth open before.

[Kaye]

Great shots Kaye DOF spot on
Delboy.

Thanks Delboy, I really love a "mushy" DOF.


These are great Kaye. Look like you are settling in nice with the new rig.

Much appreciated Joseph. I have taken so many, I think I am trying to learn tooooo fast, but feel like I am making some progress.
PS Have you been away??... sent you an email/pm.


Great shots Kaye

Thanks very much Shirley, it was fun trying to shoot one of these that did not run away!

[Kaye]

I like all 3 but my favourite is the first because of his expression

Thanks Bambe, I'm sure he's not really smiling... just having trouble getting the food around in his mouth.


Nice shots Kaye, no1 is a cracker, havent managed to get one with its mouth open before.

Thank you Michael. Maybe take some food with you next time!

[mingkywingky]

Those are wonderful shots Kaye. I like the sharp detail of it's skin. Did you take the water dragon with its whole body too?
I like them all, my fav is also no1. What was it eating?

[Kaye]

Thank you so much Tenny for your comment.
We were out on a picnic for Easter, but not much to shoot where we were, so I was pleased this Water Dragon turned up. Plenty of Kookaburras also.
I am not quite sure what he is eating as others were throwing small pieces of food (perhaps some meat). He sure did seem quite happy.

I have numerous shots of him and will try to post a full body shot which will not be as close due to his long long tail.
Will post this soon.

[Kaye]

Those are wonderful shots Kaye. I like the sharp detail of it's skin. Did you take the water dragon with its whole body too?
I like them all, my fav is also no1. What was it eating?

Hi Tenny,

As promised above, here are a couple more shots - one showing his whole body and the other showing part of him from the side so you can see his "scaly" skin.
It is difficult to get a full body shot of him that is all in focus, (unless shot at a further distance), as I focus on the eye, and he is just tooooo long!

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Both shots: f/5.6, 1/400sec, iso800.
1. at 75mm 2. at 105mm



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[mingkywingky]

What a great shots. Love the sharpness of the subject. Thank you so much for posting these Kaye.

[Kaye]

You're welcome Tenny. I just feel that the ones that are not close up, sort of get lost a little in the grass!

[eosmurf]

Love the character of the first one and am amazed you managed to get one with the mouth open! It does look like he is smiling or saying hello but I can see the food in his mouth too. Nice one!

[Kaye]

Love the character of the first one and am amazed you managed to get one with the mouth open! It does look like he is smiling or saying hello but I can see the food in his mouth too. Nice one!


Many thanks Ciara,
This little guy just made my day, as there was not much else to shoot. He just kept hanging around which allowed me numerous shots from different angles.
I presume you saw many of these in Brisbane... We do not see these often in Sydney.

Michael from Brisbane said on the last page: "Nice shots Kaye, no1 is a cracker, havent managed to get one with its mouth open before."
It does really seem that food helps with a smile here :D