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Sand Lizard


Sand Lizard
Photo Information
Copyright: Valerie Schnepp (valy67) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1409 W: 53 N: 1929] (5768)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-06-23
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Canon 350D, Canon EF 55-200mm 4.5-5.6 II USM
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Lizards - Lagartos - Lézards [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-06-29 9:41
Viewed: 967
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis)
Reptile ~ Order of Sauriens ~ Family of Lacertidae

At first I thought it was a Common Wall Lizard but I was wrong and Horia gave me the correct ID, it is a Sand Lizard. Thank you !

I saw this little guy while visiting my grand mother's garden : there are plenty of lizards at her home, on the floor, the wall, the roof, and everywhere in the garden. Most often when I see them, they are sitting in the sunny areas, enjoying some hot sun rays.
I know that there are some grass stalks on the lizard, that I cut the tail and that focus is not perfect on the whole body, but as these lizards are really shy creatures, I couldn't do better with the little time I had to take photos this day. One move, and he was running away, I had to be quick and silent or there would be no photo at all. I'm quite proud of the result, even if the photo is far from perfect ! :-)

The Lacertidae are typical from the "Old World" : they live in Africa, Europe and Asia. There are approximately 70 species in this family.

These lizards are distinguished by a collar of large scales on the underside of their necks. Most of their other physical characteristics can be described by "long" and "thin". They have slender elongated bodies with a well defined head above a narrow neck, a long extendable tongue that is deeply forked, a long slender tail that can be shed, and thin toes.

Typical lizards are hardy and easily kept in captivity though they move very quickly. The structure of their tail supports fast zigzag movements and very accurate jumps that are needed to catch their insect prey. They are all insectivores.

Many will breed easily in captivity. Most are egglayers though some give live birth.
lovenature, ramthakur, horia, elefantino, dew77, Dando, jmp, scottevers7, PDP, marhowie, jeanpaul, pablominto, cas_orla, SkyF, eruyanik, aido, jcoowanitwong has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To horia: Thanksvaly67 2 06-29 12:37
To btokaz: Thanksvaly67 1 06-29 09:52
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • btokaz (34)
  • [2006-06-29 9:49]
  • [+]

Beautiful shot Valerie. Good composition and very nice, delicate colors. I like it very much...
Tomasz

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2171 W: 232 N: 4056] (13483)
  • [2006-06-29 9:52]
  • [+]

Hi Valerie
A very nice picture you have here today. The composition in exceptional, the colors and contrast are great and the POV and DOF are very well chosen.
However...about the ID...the lizard in you photo is a Lacerta agilis - the sand lizard, not Podarcis muralis (ex Lacerta muralis). Otherwise, everything is super.
Bravo and TFS
Hotia

Hi Valerie,
Very interesting notes. I bet these Sand Lizards are great to have in the garden to help keep the bug population down.

The lizard really blends well into his surroundings. Nice capture as he sits waiting for his next meal. Focus, colour and compositions is great. TFS Janice

Great capture, considering you had to do it in a hurry, Valerie.
It happens all the time in nature photography, if I may be allowed to generalize.
Good POV and composition.
Take care.

Hi Valerie, nice composition.
Good colors and great note,
Andrea

  • Great 
  • nikole (142)
  • [2006-06-29 12:50]

Hi Valerie!
Maybe you can crop a bit the left side of the photo, which is not on focus.
Good photo!
nicole

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 641 W: 32 N: 791] (3080)
  • [2006-06-29 16:35]

Hi Valerie,
Great shot. Excellent sharp details with well exposed colours. Good lighting and well composed. Very well done and TFS.
Dean.

Hi Valerie,
A very nice shot on this Sand Lizard. Excellent overall composition and framimg on the shot. Nice saturated colors and sharp detail. Well done!
Scott

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1836 W: 94 N: 2341] (8407)
  • [2006-06-29 17:50]

Hola Valerie,
ˇUn lagarto muy bien capturado! Enfoque, composición y color excelentes.
Un saludo,
José M.

Good capture Valerie,

A bit rushed tonight, just time for a quick visit.
Well worth a big :)

Thanks for posting, have a great weekend.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2952 W: 367 N: 3779] (11765)
  • [2006-06-29 18:43]

Hello Valerie, nice shot. Great job on the exposure and the details are good too. I think a vertical composition might work better here. Well done.

Hi Valerie,
I like the composition here!
DOF spot on and good details in your little friend...
A nice piece of work indeed!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4964 W: 298 N: 4027] (13131)
  • [2006-06-30 3:42]

Hello Valerie,
Very nice capture.POV,perspective,framing,DOF and composition are wonderful.
TFS...:-)

Hi Valerie,
Well seen in its natural habitat, interesting POV. Good detail, color and light. Excellent notes on how you got the shot and the sand lizard itself..
Well done & Thank You!

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2006-06-30 7:42]

Bonjour Valerie,
very nice shot of this lizard, great eyes in spotting this creature as it blends in so well with its suroundings. Very nice colors and wonderful details. Nice composition with a good POV and light.
TFS..Sky

Bonjour valerie
Félicitations pour cette belle présentation etl'éclat des couleurs et la netteté. Bravo pour le bel éclairage.C'est domage qu'il manque un bout de queue a ton lézard.

Merci pour l'envoie.....JP

i like reptiles too! Last day i saw a beautiful lizard has a great blue head and green body! i got so close to him slowly but when i was about to push the trigger, he runaway from there :(( i see that you pushed the trigger right time! Such a beautiful lizard you captured. A little bit more sharpness needed but i know they are so timid creatures! But the composition looks still great! Thank you!
Ersin

Hey, great and interesting note also!

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1029 W: 0 N: 90] (7759)
  • [2006-07-01 4:58]

Hi Valerie
Well seen and capture. Good colours and sharpnes.
Well done Valerie

osse

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1095 W: 169 N: 1218] (4046)
  • [2006-07-03 18:24]

Hi Valerie,

Even though you point out 'faults' in your note, I think this is a great shot. The grass in front of the Lizard is fine, I think it's ok if it doesn't obstruct the face. I think the soft focus on the tail is fine too, as it's human nature to look straight to the eye and face so I think as long as that is clear and detailed (as it is here) then it's ok. And I think the clipped tail is ok in this case, because you've really made the most of the shot by the elongated crop and the placement of the Lizard and the log in the frame. I think if you didn't have the soft focus on the lower body and the clipped tail it would undoubtedly improve the image, but it's still a great shot.

Detail is excellent, great DOF, perfect colours and exposure. Excellent work.

Regards,
Adrian

Hi Valerie,
Nice picture of this lizard. Good pov and composition. Sharp and clearly seen image. Very well done.
JC

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