How to photograph cryptic or camouflaged critters

I have been thinking about the ways of photographing cryptics. Some critters are so good at camouflage that they are hard to see, let alone photograph. There are several ways that I can think of to make reasonable images

1. Use depth of field to highlight some feature (usually eyes). Getting very close often helps.

2. Try a to shoot at an unusual angle to isolate the animal. This is usually hard unless it is on top of a structure or you end up scaring the critter out of his normal habitat.

3. Use unusual lighting to bring out features. This should work, but I confess that I haven't been too successful at it. For example you could use backlight or sidelight to isolate him from the environment.

Can anyone else think of other ways? Here are a couple of my attempts of #1. Does anyone have examples of the others?

Hi Steve,

I think that the first decision/definition to make is to whether you want to photograph the creature or the camouflage.

If you want to shoot the camouflage then you want to show how the creature blends with the environment. This tends to be a lower impact image than the ones you have posted - but is better at telling the natural history story.

If you want to shoot the creature first and the camouflage second then using focus, framing and lighting, as you have very effectively, is the way to go.

Alex