Animal Life

What is a macro shot? Is it a picture taken with a macro lens, projecting a 1:1 size image on a film? Or must it just present a bigger-than-life reality, and enlarge it in such a way that you discover details and a beauty not to be seen with the naked eye? If you adhere to the former definition, this is no macro shot: it’s a detail of this picture. I strongly doubt, however, if that formalistic approach still holds in the age of digital photography: there used to be macro shots before “macro lenses” even existed, and there will be without them.

For the first time, this year, our garden seemed to move when we entered it: sunbathing lizards everywhere sought a safe hiding place under stones and bushes. Only one remained, apparently wanting to show off his beauty. I love my camera, a Sony DSC-R1, but it isn’t well equipped for this kind of thing. With the right camera/lens, or in a zoo, it won’t be too hard to shoot more spectacular pictures. Considering the circumstances, however, I’m quite happy with our little photo session... A close-up of his face. Bavarian Wildlife, Part One and Part Three.

The RAW files created by my camera are 20.1Mb; consequently, 25 shots of a half-hidden domestic lizard make well over 500Mb. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that the majority was rubbish and could be trashed. (Sony DSC-R1; 1/160s, f4.8/71.5mm, ISO 800, RAW)

Arguably, I’ve been a lizard in a former life. I’ve no doubt that this is a good lizard who recognizes a distant relative. Taken in our garden (Sony DSC-R1; 1/160s, f4.8/71.5mm, ISO 400, RAW). View this for the same lizard in another pose.

Pleasantly surprised, this Saturday afternoon, by yet another lizard. Sorry, but Bavarian wildlife seems to be limited to lizards, dachshunds, and elephants. A fat one, this time. She must be pregnant. Or he must have eaten too much chocolate.