Colorful mini dragon

[Colin Driscoll]

This is a mature adult Diporiphora sp lizard (maybe undescribed and certainly well out of any known range for the genus). About 30cm long. Immatures are a muddy patterned brown. Photographed last week in north western Queensland arid country, Australia.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh296/MyPikkies/Reptiles/Diporiphora_sp080110.jpg

50D 100-400mm @ 180mm 1/320 f11 -.33ev iso250

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Colin, an interesting species and nice to see a different animal from the norm.;) Well capture against the old, dead tree trunk, with the BG having a similar feel to the body colours and nicely composed.

Sadly the sharpness is lacking and the dragon does appear soft. At f/11 with the 100-400 and a low ISO unless supported using a tripod I think there might be a bit of camera shake.

Steve

[Colin Driscoll]

Thanks Steve. I think sharpness is lost in the auto resizing in the Photobucket uploader, the original is pin sharp. Maybe I should try a different process.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Colin I used to use PB and never had a problem, however try this. Apologies if I am teaching my grandmother....

1. Resize your file to BPN requirements, or whatever your crop is
2. Change the file from RGB to sRGB
3. PS > Save for web > Dialogue box > under pre set > JPEG then under that set to MAX
Click on the arrow to the right > Menu should drop down > Click optimise file > Set to 200k
> Save

4. Reopen image USM say 40 (what looks right) 0.3.0 example SAVE

It might help?

Steve

[Martin Wallis]

awesome colours on this species. I'd like to see the pin sharp version you mentioned if you could do a repost
cheers mate from a kiwi

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Lovely species. The texture in the tree trunk has come off well. It would be great, if this turns out to be a new discovery in this range.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Colin Love how you framed it !! Excellent pose bg and perch !!

Great advice from Steve, will make a difference !!! ... btw from the post looks like the sharpest area in on mid body not the head but close enough it will sharpen nicely !!

[Todd Frost]

Diagonal lines are very pleasing in this comp. Agree with the loss of detail, but should sharpen up well. Well done. TFS
Todd