This Green Anole gave me another close look on my property near the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas. I had photographed the same lizard near a tree before, and this time it had moved onto a dead log nearby.
Green Anole on Dead Log Near the Tree
The Green Anole was stretched out along a dead log near the tree where I had seen it before. Its bright green color stood out against the gray, weathered wood.
That contrast is what first caught my eye. The rough bark, soft green background, and still pose helped the lizard blend in while still giving me a clean view.
This photo was taken on May 7, 2020. Spring is a good time to watch small reptiles around brush, trees, logs, and other warm spots on the property.
I had shared this same anole in an earlier post, Green Anole In A Tree. Seeing it again so close to the same tree made the encounter feel connected.
Green Anole Details Against Weathered Wood
The dead log made a simple natural perch. It also gave the photo more texture.
The anole’s head, eye, body line, and green color were easy to see from this angle. I liked how the lizard stayed low along the log instead of sitting upright.
That low position gave the photo a quiet feeling. It looked like the anole was using the log as cover while watching what was going on around it.
Photographing This Arkansas Anole by Hand
I got close for this photo and hand-held the camera. I was using a Fujifilm X-T3 with a Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens attached with a Fringer EF-FX Pro.
Camera settings:
- Aperture: f/7.1
- ISO: 640
- Shutter speed: 1/900 sec.
- Exposure compensation: 0
- Focal length: 400 mm
The 400 mm focal length helped me fill the frame without crowding the lizard too much. Hand-holding also let me adjust my angle as I worked around the log.
What I like most about this image is the simple setting. A bright Green Anole, a dead log, and soft Arkansas spring cover were enough to make the scene work.