Monitor Lizzard

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

We were driving along the dirt road at Lake Manyara where we came across a huge monitor lizzard chasing a DikDik as if it wanted the dikdik for lunch! The dikdik was way too fast and was having fun stopping a bit, letting the monitor approach and then started to run again. I got this shot of the monitor as it left the road and went into the bushes as we got closer. It was a funny sight and the monitor was the least expected wildlife we expected to see. 7D and 100-400 L hand held. 1/320, ISO 400, f/5.6.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8292/7689548566_2f0f0bef45_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40906945@N08/7689548566/)
EastAfrica0379 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40906945@N08/7689548566/) by docsanjeev (http://www.flickr.com/people/40906945@N08/), on Flickr

[Ken Watkins]

Sanjeev,

Well I have never seen action like you have described must have been very amusing.
The background looks very strange on this and in my view distracts from the image, in addition you have what appears to me to be some green "overlay" running up the neck which I think could be caused by OOF grass.

I have never been able to get rid of this sort of effect, but I seem to remember there was a thread explaining how it could be done, hopefully somebody will be able to point you in the right direction.

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Thank you Ken, Yes that was an OOF twig of grass in the foreground, was strongly blurred so i decided to post it as it was a amusing experience. The BG was busy but due to the good eye contact and otherwise nice pose I posted this.
Thanks again
sanjeev

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Sanjeev, seems like a fortunate experience to witness and have as a great memory.

As an image it's not really working for me sadly and have tried to expand on the reasons why, but this is just my take.

Regarding the BKG there is nothing wrong with it, it's how I would expect it. The light looks bright & harsh with the subject too close to the vegetation in the BKG, leaving it slightly diffused with strong highlights, although if the subject had say a 5m distance between it and foliage then things would be more diffused, plus using say the 300, 500 or 800 fix lens would have also help compress the BKG too. In relation to the subject I might have zoomed out to get the front legs in, also allowing for some more space in front of the subject too, however I do like the curvature of the body and the very slight head turn. I appreciate all these things are with hindsight and no doubt at the moment you were excited, heart pounding so there is always hopefully next time. The OOG grass is annoying I'm sure, and again, only seen quite often at PP stage, as your eye may not pick this slight hint up in the view finder. You can try to reduce the amount, not sure if the attached helps? Colour looks OK and you have detail, but perhaps it could stand another round of a slight USM? If you do only one thing, tone down the bright stick/stem that is coming out of the head. :w3

No colour change was done to the overall image just as I said, tried to reduce the OOF grass on the subject.

TFS
Steve