Map Treefrog (Hypsiboas geographicus)

Notice anything different about this Map Treefrog (Hypsiboas geographicus)?

How about its eyes? How about the different color of each eye? I can't explain the difference, and if anyone out there can shed some light on this, I would appreciate the information.

And yes, I moved the frog from the leaf to the other location. It was done very carefully, with minimal handling to avoid bruising. Amphibians have very delicate skin, and any bruises can encourage entry by parasites or fungi, leading to the death of the frog.
"Primum non nocere" remains the Golden Rule of responsible nature photography--"First, do no harm!"

Polkadot treefrog on water hyacynth in Peruvian Amazon

This little fellow was carefully placed on the water hyacinth several yards from the place where he was found. This environment is a natural one for him (or her), so the question is: Is this a captive specimen?
I think you could make valid arguments in either direction.
I was pleased with the aesthetics of the image, and was not overly concerned. The frog was free to travel and eventually hunkered around to the bottom of the leaf for the remainder of the day without any additional encouragement.
Technically, I was also pleased--fill flash was used to bring out some of the fine detail, but its effects are unobtrusive, as they should be.

Any comments?

Serendipity...or, "F8 and be there..."

Weegee extolled the value of being at the right place at the right time when he stated that the secret to a great image was "...f8 and be there...".
He was a photojournalist and his income depended upon "getting the shot".
We, as nature photographers, aren't quite under the same deadlines, but can still benefit from the need to
be aware of where we are and what is going on around us. This image is a pretty good example of how luck can trump preparation. Photographed during a night hike in Ecuador, these glass frogs were in flagrante delecto when a passing mosquito stopped for refreshment. Since this was a night shot, full flash was necessary, but I minimized the "black background effect" by filling the frame with leaf.

Leaf Mantis, Revisited

Just another look at the leaf mantis, this time from above.

Fill flash was used in natural light.

Fill Flash--Bring your Own Sun! (Part One)

Assassin Bug, Peruvian Amazon

Photographing from below can increase the sense of drama, especially if the subject is a predator, such as this assassin bug. If done well, it gives the viewer the feeling of being prey.

One of the technical problems, however, may be that light still falls from above, and the lower parts of the subject may be in shadow.

Full flash will light the subject, certainly, but then you have a harsh light, with the potential for those horrible (opinionated!) black backgrounds. A reflector might work, if your subject is dead, sleeping, or very passive.

Solution: Fill flash! Fill flash, when adjusted properly, supplies just enough light to "fill" those areas of darkness just enough to show the detail you want, without being overpowering.

One of the things that I appreciate most about digital photography is the immediate feedback that I get by looking at the LCD immediately after shooting. I can tell right away whether my lighting is effective or not, and make the appropriate adjustments. In the next several blogs, I will share my own techniques for fill-flash.

Welcome Back!!!

Variable Clown Treefrog (Hyla triangulum) on water hyacinth


Well, I'm back (and so are you, if you're reading this...). I'm back from a wonderful week in that paradise for macro photographers, the Amazon Rainforest located along the portion of the Amazon river that runs through Peru.

Those of you who know me are aware that I have been down there many times in the past, but each trip is different, each trip reaps a harvest of varied experiences and photographs.

Over the next several weeks/months, I would like to share some of the things I learned and saw over that magical period. Equipment and ideas that worked, some that didn't. Images that I felt were successful, ones that disappointed...

If you click on the title line ("WELCOME BACK"), you will be transported to my archive from the trip. As usual, comments and questions are welcomed, and in fact, eagerly anticipated!