Gecko on Banana II

Gallery: WildlifePosted September 3, 20083,111 views31 comments

Thanks for the comments on my last posting!

As part of the Gecko Relocation Program at my friend's house in Kona, HI these little guys are captured in the house and moved outside to the Banana tree. Consequently the tree is covered in them. Next time I go there I'll bring a tripod and spend more time trying to get some better DOF. I only had a short time to take a few handheld photos this time.

Neither the Gecko nor the Banana are native to Hawaii. I keep on trying to think of a word for an animal that is out of place. For plants we have "weed"... but how about for animals?

D700
105mm vr
1/15 @ f/13
iso 250

Comments welcome

Comments

31 comments

Comment posted by Monika Wieland on September 3, 2008 at 10:28 PM

I'm very intrigued by this shot - what a neat effect of capturing the gecko "peaking" over the side of the leaf, while still being able to see the details of his body shape and position. The blue of the eyes really contrast with the rest of the green picture very well, pulling your eyes right to the focus point of the photograph. Very nicely done.

Registered on July 19, 2008, 6 Posts, 41 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on September 4, 2008 at 12:40 AM

You have got a big winner here Charlie!

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Cay-Uwe Kulzer on September 4, 2008 at 5:04 AM

Cjarlie,

very nice, from the graphic effects point of view, but also from the idea. Well done.

Registered on January 27, 2004, 494 Posts, 4021 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Linstead on September 4, 2008 at 8:10 AM

Very, very cool, Charlie! Way to take a number of elements that make lizard shots and combine them. I would venture that this will be a great commercial image as well.

Scott

Registered on March 25, 2006, 144 Posts, 398 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Plant on September 4, 2008 at 8:39 AM

great shot!

Registered on July 7, 2008, 271 Posts, 1657 Comments

Comment posted by Jorne de Bruin on September 4, 2008 at 9:09 AM

I agree, i like this one even better then your other shot. Again the colours etc are great, but this composition is even better. I really like the contrasting eyes and the fact that you can see the gecko through the leave, very well done!

Registered on June 26, 2008, 178 Posts, 2136 Comments

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on September 4, 2008 at 9:32 AM

Very very cool, Charlie. Great comp and colors!

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on September 4, 2008 at 10:03 AM

It is difficult to get wildlife into "graphic design" poses, but you did it here, Charlie. Nice color, too!

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Josh Anderson on September 5, 2008 at 9:34 PM

Sweet. Love it!!

Registered on June 2, 2005, 493 Posts, 2996 Comments

Comment posted by Alan Bryant on September 6, 2008 at 3:30 PM

lol that is fantastic

Registered on March 31, 2006, 473 Posts, 1081 Comments

Comment posted by Balakumar Kaushik on September 6, 2008 at 3:40 PM

A nice & creative image. Like the way the gecko is peeking above the leaf while its body is seen as a shadow below. Nice rich colours...

Registered on January 4, 2008, 98 Posts, 1403 Comments

Comment posted by chua mi hao on September 7, 2008 at 11:57 AM

full of humor.
a good picture.

Registered on September 7, 2008, 0 Posts, 5 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Cope on September 7, 2008 at 12:32 PM

Excellent shot Charlie! Superb work in getting the best of both the silhouette and Gecko!

Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments

Comment posted by Clint Faile on September 7, 2008 at 11:02 PM

I think you did great on this shot and love how the body shows through the leaf. Nice shot!

Registered on September 8, 2006, 84 Posts, 102 Comments

Comment posted by Andrew Yip on September 9, 2008 at 7:24 PM

Great image! I really like being able to see the face...it's a new take on the classic "lizard behind a leaf silhouette". I haven't made it over to Fauna lately, so I'm glad I got to see this as an EP.

Looks like some sort of day gecko? Those are native to Madagascar. In general, the term for a plant or animal that's out of place like this is "invasive species", especially if they out-compete local species. Islands ecosystems like Hawaii's are often easily overwhelmed by introduced species.

Registered on May 7, 2008, 130 Posts, 679 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on September 9, 2008 at 9:57 PM

Great shot! I love the way the head is just peering over the leaf. Great eye contact also!

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on September 9, 2008 at 11:55 PM

What a great composition Charlie. Well seen!

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on September 10, 2008 at 1:53 AM

Congrats on the EP, Charlie! This is my first viewing of this beautiful image that you have seen and captured. It is so well done. I am sure you will return there soon, and we look forward to seeing your future captures.

Cheers,

PS: Congrats on the EPA, too!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on September 10, 2008 at 2:11 AM

What a unique and well seen image Charlie, congrats on the EP

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Graham on September 10, 2008 at 7:48 AM

Congrats on the EP, Charlie. Great image.

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on September 10, 2008 at 11:03 AM

Heckuva shot Charlie. I wish I'd seen this before now. Congrats on a very well deserved EP!

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by mark cillo on September 10, 2008 at 2:13 PM

Awesome! I like the dof and color.

Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments

Comment posted by Rosemarie Arbur on September 11, 2008 at 5:11 AM

Congrats on the EP.
This is absolutely fantastic.
(The darker digits in the shadow: wow.)

Registered on March 19, 2008, 189 Posts, 1644 Comments

Comment posted by Johan Geyser on September 11, 2008 at 9:02 PM

Very nice. Well done and well spotted comp.
How about 'translocated"?

Registered on February 8, 2008, 30 Posts, 71 Comments

Comment posted by Andrea Marzorati on October 31, 2008 at 1:47 PM

Fantastic

Registered on December 1, 2005, 86 Posts, 589 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 4, 2009 at 1:58 PM

A big congratulations on your 2008 EP for this wonderful image Charlie. It certainly is a great shot!

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Kenn Leonhardt on January 4, 2009 at 2:50 PM

Missed this one originally, but congrats on a well deserved annual EP.

Registered on March 29, 2008, 27 Posts, 1710 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on January 5, 2009 at 12:28 AM

Congrats on the 2008 EPA, Charlie. What a fun image. It's like the gecko thinks it's hiding by just peeping over the edge of the leaf at you.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Toni Lankerd on January 5, 2009 at 11:19 AM

Wonderful image, Charlie, and well deserving of an EPA!

Registered on January 3, 2005, 360 Posts, 4004 Comments

Comment posted by Mike DiRenzo on July 4, 2009 at 8:16 AM

Absolutely wonderful!

Registered on August 17, 2008, 0 Posts, 4 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Duval on July 12, 2009 at 1:01 PM

The technical term would be non-native, if harmuful it may be labeled invasive, but I'm not a natuarlist in any sense of the word. As for the photograph well conceptualized and captured. If I'm not mistaken the species is a type of Madagascar day gecko, which puts him also in the category of probably an escaped pet. There is a breeding population of Jackson chameleons in Hawaii. If there's enough day geckos in that banana tree I would guess there is ( or will be ) a breeding population of them as well.

Registered on June 30, 2009, 508 Posts, 1907 Comments