American Green Tree Frogs, Leopard Frog and predator

[Maestro]

I don't always use a long lens. Thanks to my daughter who first saw these frogs, I was able to capture some images of an American Green Tree Frog at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. They liked the reeds and tall plants in the marshy areas of the refuge. I used my macro lens for these shots. I "stopped up" to close the lens quite a bit to increase my DOF and used a flash to compensate for the lack of ambient light getting through the lens.









My wife took this shot with her Canon Powershot P & S in macro mode. I think it turned out well.



This leopard frog my son found. This one was underneath a short pier at one of the small lakes at the refuge.




It was nice to see so many frogs because frogs are so sensitive to pollution. Seeing so many lets me know that at least this area of the world is not completely overrun with pollution.

The juvenile Little Blue Heron though was just waiting for one to come out in the open.


Enjoy

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. your pictures restore my faith

not an easy thing to do.

Thanks for these.

[Maestro]

3. Thank you so much.

I can't tell you how good it makes me feel knowing that you enjoy these photos. They help me too. Seeing all this wildlife reminds me that humans shouldn't be the self-absorbed, destructive, arrogant, narcissistic animals that we most often are. We need to remember that we share this planet and it is NOT here for us to do as we wish without regard to other living species.

[BarenakedLady]

2. Those are totally cool.

I love those little dudes. Your pictures are amazingly sharp and clear, I could just reach out and touch them!

:thumbsup:

[Maestro]

4. If you try and kiss one, it may turn into a prince.

:) Thanks BNL!

[DarkTirade]

5. Awww.

I miss my froggies. :(

[Maestro]

7. I was just glad to see them in the wild.

It had been a very long time. And they are so cute and small. You basically looking at them on reeds of marsh grass.

[Flaxbee]

6. thanks for these, Maestro!

I love your photos -- I don't always post in your photo threads, but I always look at them and enjoy them.

The one with the green tree frog turning / looking over his shoulder is really quite interesting!

[Maestro]

8. Don't sweat it. Comment when you can.

I like sharing them and I agree the frog looking back is the most interesting pose I captured.

[WinkyDink]

9. These photos are superb! I love looking at nature pix!

[Maestro]

11. Thanks WinkyDink

Much appreciated.

[WinkyDink]

33. I need a better camera! I have some blue heron photos, but my zoom was pretty sad.

[Maestro]

39. Here is a good starter DSLR camera

Digital Rebel XT I use this camera as my back-up camera now. It is at a fantastic price point considering all the lenses that you can attach to it.

[Mugu]

10. Always enjoy wildlife photos.

And your photos are always well done. What equipment are you
using?

I have found that if you delete the leading [IMG] in your post
the little box on the lower left of the photos will go away.

Regards, Mugu

[Maestro]

15. Thanks Mugu

The little red box used to not show up. I will remove the img tag in my next posts.

BTW, I am using a Canon 40D, Canon 100mm-400 F4.5-5.6L zoom telephoto, Sigma F4.5 500mm and for these a Canon 100mm F2.8 Macro lens. Well the little blue was shot with the zoom telephoto.

[Mugu]

36. I keep hoping that someday that I will be able to afford good equipment.

Unfortunately my dentist/oral surgeon/orthodontist all have nice cameras and only want cash.

Regards, Mugu

[Maestro]

37. I hear you.

I am still paying off surgery from 2004 and my wife owes around $600.00 for her knee surgery from August.

[lost-in-nj]

12. Stunning

I feel like I need to put 3-d glasses on.....
the sharpness and depth are awesome

Thanks for sharing!!!!


lost

[Maestro]

16. Thanks Lost

They do seem to want to leap out at you. :hi:

[SPKrazy]

13. The greens are very distinctive

:thumbsup:

cool

thanks

[Maestro]

17. Thanks a bunch.

They are definitely green. That part of the name is correct, but I didn't see them in trees. :shrug: ;)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

14. My dear Maestro!

These are just stunning!

Somehow, the word that comes to my mind is saturated...

Really beautiful...

Thank you!

Oh, BTW...what is DOF?

:hug:

[Maestro]

20. Hey Peggy, DOF refers

to Depth of Field. I increase my F-stop which increases my depth of field at this short distance with my macro lens. But of course, it is a push-pull sort of situation. Increasing my F-stop decreases the light going through the lens to my sensor so I used my flash to compensate. Anyhow, depth of field is the amount of in focus area in the shot. I wanted to make sure that I got most, if not all, of the frog in focus so I increased my DOF. Is it clear as mud now?

Thanks again for your comments and question! :hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

24. Depth of field, of course!

It's clear, and thank you...

I love your stuff!

:hi:

[Fire Walk With Me]

18. Great pictures, thanks for posting them!

[SallyMander]

19. BEEEEAUTIFUL!!!

I am a sucker for the amphibians -- those are great shots!

Here are a couple of neat ones i got of hellbenders -- the biggest salamander in North America! :D

[petronius]

21. Trippy! How big are those things?

The creepy little eyes and huge mouth in that bottom shot would make an excellent horror film creature, if it was blown up to thrice human-size or so...

[SallyMander]

22. They're big!

I think the biggest ones ever found have approached 30"... they're really neat creatures. :)

[Maestro]

23. Every time I see a salamander type animal I just think,

"How prehistoric!" I might have to travel to Georgia, where I was actually born, and find some!

[SallyMander]

26. Georgia is good for 'mandering

But you have some neat ones in TX too!

http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/salamanders/


This is one of my favorites, the tiger salamander ~ can be found in TX! :)

[Maestro]

28. Ooooh. Nice.

Thanks for the linkage! :hi:

[SallyMander]

29. You're welcome!

Just found this pic and had to show you -- look at that smile! :D

:hi:

[Maestro]

31. Too friggin' cute! -nt

[Maestro]

30. Hey, I have very poor pictures of this one.

I visited this cave in the Texas Hill Country over the summer and found this one. The guide said it only exists in this cavern. Really neat. I need to find my pics. I had to use a point and shoot because as luck would have it, the batteries on my external flash unit ran out!

http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/salamanders/eurycea.latitans.html

[SallyMander]

35. Neat!!

That one has a TINY range on that map -- how cool that you got to see one!

I'd love to see the pics even if they're not your best ever. :)

[Maestro]

38. I found the pic, but you can't really see a thing.

I might just have to go back to the cave with the intention of photographing it. ;)

[SallyMander]

40. Alright, keep me updated :-)

I'll keep an eye out for future threads! :hi:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

25. My favorite one is the fourth from the last....

That one is incredible. Like something from National Geographic!
They're all great pics, though.
Duckie

[Maestro]

27. National Geographic has a program

for amateurs. You can send in photos for a chance to have it published in one of the editions. I am not quite sure I am there yet. Thanks for the comments. :hi:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

32. Seriously! Do it what that one!!

You will get in easy!!
Duckie

[Maraya1969]

34. Waaaaayyy cool. I love tree frogs! Your pics are beautiful.

[Maestro]

41. Thanks Maraya 1969

I'm glad you enjoyed them. :hi: