This is a picture of a green treefrog, Hyla cinerea. If it looks a little puffy, it's because it's in the process of vocalizing. This was taken with an N70, flash, handheld, at night, standing in about 2.5 feet of water under a bridge in Appalachicola, Fl. :) Any and all comments are appreciated!

-- Joe Cheatwood (cheatwoo@ufl.edu), April 14, 1999

Answers

Great composition -- you've really caught the frog at its very froggiest. I love that mouth. Focus is good, frog details are clear. The flash (and/or the scan?) seems to have washed out the colors maybe a little, and I wish I could tell where his right eye ended and the background began, but those are quibbles. A very fine frog.

-- John Sullivan (sullivan@spies.com), April 15, 1999.

Very nice, Joe. I'm envious on a couple of counts - you've got breeding frogs in your vicinity (loosely defined), and you got a dandy photograph of this one. I like the composition, and the focus is precisely where it should be. What's that mung on his throat pouch? Looks like pieces of ash - were there fires in the area? Lovely detail in the skin texture - was this slide or print film?

-- Two-pig Pete (peter.may@stetson.edu), April 15, 1999.

Joe, you have gigged us a wonderful frog image. This detailed guy really commands attention on his perch and the image is the classic definition of "defining moment". Hey, what did Peter May mean by "loosely defined"?

-- Larry Korhnak (lvk@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu), April 15, 1999.

Larry,

I just meant that Appalachicola is a bit far afield from Hogtown. Around here the poor little Hylids can't find a temporary pond if their lives depend on it ...

-- Two-pig (peter.may@stetson.edu), April 15, 1999.

Thanks to all who have posted so far!

Peter, it was print film. I was planning on taking several rolls of elite 100 on my trip, but the film order that I placed online (with a company that will remain nameless for now, unless I don't get the film ASAP) didn't get here in time, and is still not here. I had to run and buy print film at the last second.. But, anyway... It's Fuji Super HQ 200.

As for the stuff on the chin, I don't know what it is. No fires in that area that I saw.

-- Joe Cheatwood (cheatwoo@ufl.edu), April 15, 1999.

Perfectly captured at just the precise moment. Excellent!

-- Garry Schaefer (schaefer@pangea.ca), April 16, 1999.

Joe, next time, using a very small brush, wipe off his chin. But seriously, nice shot.

-- Mike Green (mgprod@mindspring.com), April 16, 1999.

Joe uou can improve on your lighting. Take an extra strobes and remotes with you.

You can highlight the frog and also bring some detail in the background. Don't over-power the background.

The shadow on the frog is a bit to much. Try experimenting on homemde diffusers and try radical strob angles.

-- Tommyt (blueheavn@bellsouth.net), April 19, 1999.