Trip to Southern France

[Ronald Zimmerman]

Nice stuff mate! Don't forget to post the blue tree frog

Thanks! I will. I think Jasper is a bit busy

I very like your pictures! Which camera are you using?

Thanks I use the Pentax (not very usual) K-5 and K-5 II with 3 lenses. I have the DA* 300mm F4 for in situ shots of lizards etc.. My DFA 100mm Macro is for close ups of animals I can get close to, or caught animals to make close ups. Besides that I use a Pentax HD DA 15mm F4 Ltd. prime lens for the wide angle shots of animals of landscapes. I can get very close (18cm from subject to sensor=around 10cm between subject to front of the lens). I think Nikon and Canon also have similar lenses. I will pick up a 1.4x teleconverter for my 300mm soon. Than I will keep more details of lizards at a distance. The minimum focussing distance of 1,5m stays the same

Even if Pentax is quite "unusual" the results are great!

Thanks The results count The K5/K5II are the equivalent of the Nikon D7000, but a bit more rugged. Pentax makes light-weighted cameras and lenses that are weather and dust resistant. The autofocus of the latest models can now compete with similar priced cameras of the big two (Canon and Nikon).

Hey Ronald, great photos! I especially like the photo of the usually oh-so-shy Timon lepidus and the Rhinechis scalaris from a special perspective. And of course the only amphibian, the suicidal Hyla meridionalis.
I hope your grandma also enjoyed your report!
Cheers,
Laura

Thanks Laura The Timon lepidus was on a steppe, so he couldn't really go somewhere. We also found adults in Les Alpilles, but even a big one could get away in a very small crack in the wall. I am always delighted to use my wide angle

It wasn't the only suicidal amphibian of the week


Haha yes she did on her tablet. Not bad for a 79 year old.

[Peter Oefinger]

Hey Ronald, great photos! I especially like the photo of the usually oh-so-shy Timon lepidus and the Rhinechis scalaris from a special perspective. And of course the only amphibian, the suicidal Hyla meridionalis.
I hope your grandma also enjoyed your report!
Cheers,
Laura

Thanks Laura The Timon lepidus was on a steppe, so he couldn't really go somewhere.[/quote]

I know this situation well - it leads to sub-optimal results: open area, the lizard cannot disappear, a short hunt by the photographer, then cutting its way, the lizard realises it cannot disappear and stops moving and takes a position like this: head on the ground, legs back - it expects to get killed...

[Ronald Zimmerman]

Hey Ronald, great photos! I especially like the photo of the usually oh-so-shy Timon lepidus and the Rhinechis scalaris from a special perspective. And of course the only amphibian, the suicidal Hyla meridionalis.
I hope your grandma also enjoyed your report!
Cheers,
Laura

Thanks Laura The Timon lepidus was on a steppe, so he couldn't really go somewhere.

I know this situation well - it leads to sub-optimal results: open area, the lizard cannot disappear, a short hunt by the photographer, then cutting its way, the lizard realises it cannot disappear and stops moving and takes a position like this: head on the ground, legs back - it expects to get killed...

After the photos he danced, screamed 'I am alive' at least 100 times and bought a ticket to Australia.
I had the same situation with a Agama bibronii. Not ideal, because it looks like a 'parked car' on photos. Most of my lizard photos are in situ. I prefer that.

[Ronald Zimmerman]

Here some photos of a blue Hyla meridionalis by Jasper Boldingh (a friend) he made on the same trip.

You can find his photos here:
https://plus.google.com/photos/10859174 ... 1206482289