Yellow Monitor

To successfully capture a Yellow Monitor on camera, you need to think like a semi-aquatic reptile. Position your camera at a very low angle, roughly 6 to 10 inches off the ground, aiming toward sun-drenched mudflats or the edges of marshy ponds. These lizards rely on the morning sun to jumpstart their metabolism, so east-facing setups that catch the first light on a basking log or flat rock are ideal for early-day sightings.

Since these monitors have a keen sense of smell, you can use scent-based lures to draw them into the camera's field of view without needing a food reward. A small piece of cloth soaked in fish oil or a securely placed, punctured tin of sardines can entice them to linger and investigate. Their forked tongues will likely be out and flickering as they process the scent, which makes for a dynamic and fascinating photograph.

Timing is critical when tracking this species. They are almost entirely inactive during the dry, cold winter months, so your best results will occur during the monsoon and immediate post-monsoon season (June through October). During this time, the ground is soft, and you can look for 'drag marks' from their tails in the mud as a sign of where to place your equipment. High-humidity environments can fog lenses, so ensure your camera housing is well-sealed and consider using anti-fog inserts.

Set your camera to a multi-shot burst or a high-definition video mode. Yellow Monitors move with a distinctive, swaying gait, and a single still photo often fails to capture their unique movement pattern. A 15-second video clip of a monitor emerging from a burrow or swimming across a shallow pool provides much better data for identification and behavior study than a single frame.