Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Algarve Chameleon

After close to two years living in southern Portugal without any chameleon sightings, I saw and photographed this common chameleon, also known as the Mediterranean chameleon, in March 2022, while taking an early morning walk at a nature reserve near my house. Over the next months, this chameleon was almost always in the same stretch of vegetation when I visited the park and I photographed it at every opportunity; these encounters were a highlight of my year.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 03.2022
Date Uploaded: 11.2022
Photo Location: Portugal
Camera: X100F
Copyright: © Anne Davison