Mating Marine Iguanas

Gallery: WildlifePosted January 30, 2012332 views3 comments

I have a series of these. In none does the female appear to be having an especially good time.

This was taken at noon on the equator. The lighting conditions were rough to say the least. On a Galapagos group tour, though, you shoot what you can, when you can. So I did the best I could. One reason I especially like this shot is because the Iguanas here are colorful. Most Marine Iguanas are dark drab gray, but on this island, they had quite a bit of color - an added bonus for the image, IMHO.

Amblyrhynchus cristatus, making further Amblyrhynchus cristatus
January 2012
Canon 7D
Canon 300mm f4 + 1.4TC, HH
1/2000 s
f 5.6
ISO 500
Pattern metering
Manual mode

Comments

3 comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on January 31, 2012 at 12:14 AM

How I envy you! It is my dream to make a trip to the Galapagos one day. And I'd love to shoot marine iguanas. They surely are colourful, aren't they? I've read that they have to heat up their bodies first and then make a perilous dive into the crashing waves to feed on the lichen and mosses on the underwater rocks, and make their way back up again before their bodies lose too much heat. I like your description - Amblyrhynchus cristatus making further ......

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on January 31, 2012 at 12:38 AM

I enjoy the study of textures and color. My only wish might have been for a little more depth of field, which would have been possible given your went all the way to 1/2000, but this is pleasing as posted.

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

Comment posted by Rebecka on January 31, 2012 at 7:41 PM

Forgot to mention - the reason the shutter speed was so high was because the wind was whipping (not because of the subjects). It was difficult to keep the lens and camera from moving. I upped the SS to compensate, as I was shooting HH.

Registered on February 5, 2009, 170 Posts, 924 Comments