Jack-in-the-box!

[Abhishek Jamalabad]

Indian monitor (juvenile)Varanus bengalensis | Masinagudi, Nilgiris

This monitor was extremely shy, and used to slip back into its burrow at the slightest movement on my part, even if saw my finger move across the dial. I did make some images from a distance shooting hand held, but a closer shot called for extreme measures :). I set the camera up on my GorillaPod near the entrance to the burrow, and using the camera's USB cable, plugged in my mobile phone to help do the work. Since any movement near the camera would send the lizard straight back in, I captured this image using LiveView on the phone, even setting the EXIF values from the phone itself, while crouching a cable's length away from the setup. I used the 18-55 lens for better depth of field compared to the 100mm, because without focusing through the camera itself, I was sure I would miss the focus slightly. I had pre-focused to a point where I thought the lizard's eye would emerge, and used the phone to fine-tune the focus.
The focus and sharpness in this image are not the best. The lizard popped out only for a few seconds, and did not emerge again during my half hour wait.

Canon 500D, Canon 18-55mm IS at 53mm
SS 1/60
Av 16
ISO 400
EC -0.3
Full frame image
GorillaPod support
Remote operated using an Android phone & standard Canon USB cable with USB OTG adapter

Thanks, C&C welcome.

[Mrudul Godbole]

Your efforts have paid off :), the eye is sharp and in good focus. I liked this composition, normally we don't get it so close with the head jutting out of its burrow. I was trying to see if I can see your reflection in the eye :D. Mobile phone put to good use. Thanks for sharing. Look forward to more in the series.

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Lovely. Nice eye contact. The perspective is nice. Good that your planning paid off. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Bibhav Behera]

Lovely attempt. I like the idea. You can try with a wider perspective as well to show more of the habitat. Thanks for sharing.

[Abhishek Jamalabad]

Thanks everyone.
Bibhav: I made wider perspective images shooting hand held with the 100mm. The presence of man-made elements in the BG deterred me from composing with the landscape as the background.
Mrudul: You can see the camera in the lizard's eye. If I played out my part well (hiding), then you won't see me. :D

[Anil Kumar Verma]

Absolute beauty. Liked the expression of curiosity on its face.

Good to know about technique deployed. Which application do you use on android to remote control the camera. Sharing it in equipment discussion section with forum members would be great to benefit others.

TFS & Regards

Anil

[Abhishek Jamalabad]

Hi Anil ji,
I used an app called DSLR Controller; I had mentioned this in a post in the Equipment Discussions section- http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?12888-EOS-Remote-Android-app&highlight=remote

[Paramvir Singh]

Good stuff.