At the latest in the middle of the dark season I'm somehow always starting to go through the pictures of herping trips, from recent to category long forgotten. The pictures which usually make me happy the most, and also a main reason for me doing field trips, are in situ shots. I'd like to start a thread (and I think there already has been one of this kind, I'm just not finding it) where everyone is invited to post his/her in situ pictures -- cause it was hard to achieve, the picture got nice, there is a funny story behind or just because one is happy about it and likes to share it.
I'm starting with a picture of Hierophis gemonensis on the island of Pag, Croatia. I'm really glad about it, cause I managed to click a Hierophis - species (which are as you know quite nervous) in situ and managed to connect it with it's habitat. It was quite hard and required a decent amount of patience to approach close enough to use a wide focal length.
By far easier was the next one, Pristurus carteri, in Oman. Sitting in the glistering sun, unflappable, they're usually one of the easiest herp models.
The next specimen, Trapelus flavimaculatus, also turned out to be one of the most good-natured photo models ever. In the beginning I thought I need approached it reeeally cautiously crawling on the belly..
Well, it turned out that this wasn't neccessary
Podarcis siculus is one of my personal highlights for photographing, they tend to be hopeless posers and really thankfull photo models.
And for this one, Lacerta trilineata, I'm also quite happy, cause I managed to approach it with a macro lens
So that's a glimpse on my in situ fetish, a goal for the next year is to get a decent one of Malpolon, either close-up or in the habitat.
Feel free to share your pictures!
PS.: I still envy Thomas Reich for his selection, especially the Platyceps !