How to Photograph Wild Amphibians and Reptiles Safely and Ethically

It frustrates me to see so many fake wildlife photographs of amphibians and reptiles on social media. That’s because those staged photos of captive animals in unnatural positions and situations go viral on a regular basis, and this “success” can inspire other people to follow them in their footsteps.

The process of staging the amphibians and reptiles often involves animal cruelty. I have dedicated many social media posts to this subject, but after all the negativity, I wanted to turn this into something positive. I wanted to share how it should be done in an ethical way. This inspired me to put together the below guidelines on how to photograph amphibians and reptiles in the wild.

How to find amphibians and reptiles is not part of this post. The focus is on ethics and photography.

How to Be an Ethical Wildlife Photographer

Being an ethical wildlife photographer means that you have a certain mindset. Part of this mindset is that you understand that you are a guest in nature and that you should always put nature’s best interests first.

Being an ethical wildlife photographer specifically means that amphibians and reptiles will not be harmed in the process of creating inspiring and captivating images. Your presence should impact the animals and the environment as little as possible. You should try not to disturb the natural behavior of the animals.

Sustainability should also be a priority in your behavior—keeping a location photogenic is in your best interest too. Imagine coming back in 20 years to recapture the scene with your latest 2039 camera.

How to Keep the Animals Safe

Given the right mindset, your presence should impact the animals and the environment as little as possible. Always realize that there are people without the right mindset of the ethical wildlife photographer. That is why I strongly suggest that you avoid sharing the specific location of your animal findings.

Poachers or photographers with bad ethics surf the Internet for specific locations.

How to Be Prepared

Before entering a new location to photograph amphibians and reptiles, it is important that you take care of proper hygiene. Not because a bad smell will scare frogs away; your hygiene can help keep them healthy. Amphibians have rather permeable skin that they sometimes breath through. This thin skin can also absorb toxic chemicals, radiation and diseases. By visiting multiple locations in a short amount of time, you can spread deadly diseases.

Make sure that you enter new locations with clean equipment and field gear. For the wildlife photographer, this means everything that came in contact with mud, soil, leaves and other organic and non-organic material should be cleaned.

Bsal Europe provides an extensive Bsal Hygiene protocol. The short version is that you first clean your equipment (like your shoes or boots) with water. Wash it off. Then use a disinfectant. Virkon S® is widely used as a disinfectant. Wash off the disinfectant with water after five minutes. Bsal Europe also provides protocols for fieldwork in multiple languages.

How to Actually Take the Pictures

With the right mindset and hygiene, you are good to go. Now it is time to talk about photography.

Getting a good photo is more than just pressing the shutter. Photography is a process. I follow certain steps before I press the shutter. This process is an important part of my approach as a photographer. Without this process I cannot get the results I want.

When photographing amphibians and reptiles, there are three types of photos. Which type you choose depends on the situation; however, they are not randomly ordered. The first type is the most ethical and has the least impact on the animal. The third, posing, is the least ethical and has the most impact on the animal. My advice is to pursue the first type whenever possible.

  1. Go for in-situ photography
  2. If in-situ is not possible, go for the semi in-situ
  3. Posing when (semi) in-situ is not possible (read carefully)
Western Green Lizard (Lacerta bilineata) in-situ

#1 Go for In-Situ Photography

In-situ means that you photograph the animal as you encounter it, without altering the scene. This also means no altering of the scene, and absolutely no handling/posing of the animal to get the photograph. You document the scene how it was.

In situ photography has the least impact on the animal and is the most ethical way of photographing amphibians and reptiles. It is also the most natural or realistic, and therefore yields photos with the most scientific value. After all, every pose you get is a natural pose, and not what photographers might think is natural.

For good in-situ photos, especially the ones with behavior in them, you need a lot of luck and patience. The perfect scenes are rare, but this makes it all the more rewarding when you succeed.

Mating Sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) in-situ

If you take the time to learn the habits and patterns of specific species of amphibians and reptiles, you’ll be rewarded with the opportunity to get great photos without the need to disturb the animals at all. Always pursue in-situ photography first.

How to Photograph In-Situ

  1. Don’t move. Observe the scene first.
  2. Look for the best angle. Make sure there is nothing between the animal and your camera. Make sure you have the light from the right angle. Choose your position to photograph the animal.
  3. Once you find the right angle, move slowly to the chosen position and take the photo. When you move slow you reduce the chance of being noticed by the animal.
  4. If you want to get closer, move slow and observe the animal. When you approach the animal from a low angle, the success rate is higher. While moving closer, take photos after each step you take. Don’t wait to photograph until you are too close, or you might end up with nothing.

    When the animal moves, you are probably noticed. For example, a European Wall Lizard will probably wave at you and a European Tree Frog will turn around in jumping position. If you are noticed, but the animal doesn’t leave, don’t move. Wait. When the animal looks relaxed (in the original pose), try to move forward again slowly.
  5. If the animal escapes, in some cases it pays off to wait. Especially with basking lizards. They will probably return.
Three-striped Poison Frog (Ameerega trivittata) in-situ

#2 If In-Situ is Not Possible, Go for Semi In-Situ

Semi in-situ means not posing or handling the amphibian and reptile. The difference with real in-situ is that there is a small amount of altering the scene.

Semi in-situ could be bending branches, moving distracting objects out of the way or letting the animal jump or walk to a better spot to photograph. Touching the animal is not needed in order to improve the scene and get a better photograph. This is not as “pure” as in-situ, but it is far less harmful than handling the animal. However, make sure you don’t destroy the habitat. The animal still needs some cover to hide.

Granular Poison Frog (Oophaga granulifera) semi in-situ

How to Photograph Semi In-Situ

  1. Don’t move. Observe the scene first.
  2. Look for the best angle. Make sure there is nothing between the animal and your camera.
  3. If this is not possible, make a plan. You can move distracting branches or leaves out of the way. Another option is to motivate the animal to move to the desired position without touching it. Of course, this doesn’t work with species who run off and disappear. Most tree frogs will do one jump and many lizard species run a few meters. Decide where you want to photograph the animal and, if you work like a “very gentle sheepdog,” the animal will be in a better position. The animal will also look like it did when you encountered it.

    Another example is to bend (but not break) branches so you can photograph an animal without moving or handling the animal. A snake perching on a high branch can sometimes be bent within reach.
  4. Execute your plan gently and move to the chosen position to make the photo. When you move slowly, you reduce the chance of being noticed by the animal.
  5. If you want to get closer, move slowly and observe the animal. When you approach the animal from a low angle, the success rate is higher. While moving closer, take photos after every step you take. Don’t wait to photograph until you are too close, or you will end up with nothing.

    When the animal moves, you are probably noticed. If you are noticed but the animal doesn’t leave, don’t move. Wait. When the animal looks relaxed (in the original pose), try to move forward again slowly.
  6. If the animal escapes, in some cases it pays off to wait. Especially with basking lizards. They will probably return.
Amazon Tree-Boa (Corallus hortulanus) semi in-situ

#3 Posing if (Semi) In-Situ is Not Possible

Do not catch and pose an animal if it does not serve a clear purpose. It is clearly better not to catch amphibians and reptiles for photography. Many amphibian and reptile species are very fragile. Touching them could be very harmful and impact their health. In fact, it could be lethal in some cases.

The reason I include posing is that most people will do it anyway. And if people do it anyway, it is better to teach the least harmful and most efficient way.

A clear purpose to pose an amphibian or reptile for a photo could be for research, a field guide or to raise awareness and appreciation for the species. It is better not to pose at all. An evidence photo does not have to look good. Use in-situ, semi in-situ or just enjoy watching the animal. A good memory is more valuable than a bad photo.

White-lined Leaf Frog (Phyllomedusa vaillantii)

To the serious photographers: Accept that you can’t make great photos of all animals that you encounter.

This can be hard to accept. Some species might be a once in a lifetime encounter, and some are not. If you are good at accepting this, it will reduce your stress level significantly.

Both in-situ and semi in-situ are the more ethical methods, but in some situations posing the animal is the only way to get a photo. Some species have a very elusive lifestyle under logs or rocks for example. Other species notice you first, are very quick and leave before you have a chance to make a photo. In this case it is not possible to choose between (semi) in-situ or catching. The moment goes too fast.

If you can accept that they are gone, you do not have to catch and pose. You are probably also a rare and elusive species of wildlife photographer yourself.

Asp Viper (Vipera aspis)

How to Pose in the Least Harmful Way

(Important note: the purpose of my tips/advices is for the benefit of the animals. You are always responsible for your own actions.

  1. Is it necessary to pose the animal? Is (semi) in-situ still possible? Does it serve a clear purpose? If it is still necessary proceed to the next step.
  2. Make sure you know when it is the right season to handle or pose the amphibian or reptile. It is better to never manipulate an animal when you disturb their reproduction. For example the Adder Vipera berus. It is better not to touch them during the mating season or right after hibernation. Right after hibernation, in early spring, males need the solar energy to ripen their sperm cells. So it is better not to disturb their basking behavior during this period.

    Never touch or get near venomous snakes if you have no experience and do not know the necessary safety precautions.
  3. Make sure you take precautions to keep the amphibian or reptile in good health before you start posing the animal.

    For the health of the animal, hygiene is very important. Especially amphibians with their sensitive skin. When you handle or pose amphibians make sure:

    • you don’t have insect repellent or sunscreen on your hands.
    • disinfect your hands or use disposable powder-free gloves. Nitril gloves are recommended.
    • you wash your hands with water and keep the frog wet with water. It’s not just insect repellent and sunscreen that can harm amphibians. It is better to keep their skin moist.
  4. Catch and pose them at the moment you want to photograph them. If you keep them for a short time make sure the animal is kept safe. I use a “Pop-up Port-a-bug” with some vegetation in it and put it in the shade to prevent the animal from overheating.
  5. Make sure you photograph the amphibian or reptile in the same specific microhabitat where the animal is found. Do not move or relocate the animal too far. Otherwise, it takes more time and is more stressful for the animal. Photograph the animal on the same spot or a more beautiful spot within a few meters.
  6. Before posing the animal, make sure you have the right camera settings and composition to make the photograph. It is very important to photograph quickly! Practice with your camera at home so you can get the right exposure and sharpness you want instantaneously. You can come up with better compositions while photographing, but this does not take that much time. Amphibians and reptiles should not have to wait until you master your gear.

    If you want to try more different settings, make as many photos as possible with the different settings and compositions. Choose the best photos afterwards (after releasing the animal) and keep the best. This reduces the time of the photo session. This is beneficial for the animal you are photographing.
  7. Make sure you touch the animal as little as possible. Every touch could be stressful or not good for the health of the animal.
  8. Make sure you know what the animal can tolerate. Once you see stress signs, stop the session and take a break. If the animal is still stressed after the break, end the session. You should always respect stress signs. The animal is always in the lead.
  9. Most of the time it is also beneficial for the photo to let the amphibian or reptile make their own pose after you have put it on a spot. It looks more natural and you end up touching the animal much less.

    Every pose the animal gives you by itself is natural. Do not force amphibians and reptiles into poses and do not let your fantasy run wild.

    I do not pose lizards, because it is very hard to pose them naturally without them looking stressed on the photo. Specialists will see, and the photo will be worthless to me.
  10. Make sure you move slowly. Every action or movement should be slow. If you are calm the animal is more likely to remain calm as well. This applies to many snakes and frogs.
  11. Release the animal on the exact location as where you found it. Make sure that it is in the same specific microhabitat. Amphibians and reptiles can have very small territories.

    Before releasing an amphibian, wash it with water. Disinfect your hands after the release.

To successfully follow and execute all of these steps, you need a lot of knowledge about your subjects. Make sure that you prepare yourself with a lot of research, or make use of someone with a lot of experience to teach you (professional guides or scientists for example).

Hoogmoed Harlequin Toad (Atelopus hoogmoedi)

This set of guidelines on how to photograph amphibians and reptiles in the wild is a working document. If you have suggestions to improve this document feel free to send me an email.

Contributors

Contributors are the people or organizations who contributed to the text by reacting on my Instagram stories or were used as a source. Others have taught me knowledge or skills over the years.

Bobby Bok, Gertjan Martens, Gerrit Jan Verspui, Matthijs Hollanders, Niklas Banowski, BasalEurope (and partners) and RAVON.


About the author: Ronald Zimmerman is a passionate wildlife and nature photographer based in the Netherlands. You can find more of his work on his website, Instagram, and Facebook page. This guide was also published here, and is being republished with permission.

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