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Pool Frog (Rana lessonae)


Pool Frog (Rana lessonae)
Photo Information
Copyright: Niek Bouwen (SunToucher) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2344 W: 206 N: 2784] (10175)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-06-16
Categories: Amphibians
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro, Tiffen 82mm UV
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): 40 - 49 Points (Chapter 9), 50-59 points Chapter 7 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-06-19 12:57
Viewed: 1158
Points: 56
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I want to start with thanking Horia for informing me how to capture frogs. Short memory (of the frog) and patient (from me) seems to be the key role in photographing these amphibians.

Now you probably would wonder how I made this photo. I was on my way to a observation post when I heard these loud noises from a lot of frogs. I followed the sound and ended up at a wonderful little pond, surrounded by trees and covered with grass and other aquatic plants. As soon as I came to the edge of the pond more then 20 frogs jumped back in to the deeper part of the pond. Then the information Horia gave me came to mind. I found a fallen tree and sat on it. After a few minutes a few small heads appear above the surface of the water. Slowly a few came closer and found their little spot. One came to about 2 meters away from me and faced me. He kept on sitting there staring at me. After a few more minutes I decided to take a gamble. I sat down on my knees and elbows and slowly moved toward the frog. Ignoring the fact that I got wet. I got to about 50 cm and made a few photos. I moved a bit closer and made this photo. The next move was a bit too far. I couldn't get the frog in focus and he had enough of staring into my lens. We said farewell and both went our own way.

The Pool Frog (Rana lessonae) is a rare species. The reasons for declining populations are decreased pond habitat from human encroachment and also air pollution leading to over-nitrification of pond waters.

Shot in RAW. Adjusted white balance and croped. Converted to TIFF. Small levels and curves adjustment. USM, frame, resize, USM, conversion to 8-bit and save for TN.
XOTAELE, horia, Jamesp, scottevers7, ramthakur, PaulH, marhowie, Necipp, Matt-Bird, lawhill, Luis52, pablominto, Kathleen, Adanac, gracious, Evelynn, hester, uleko has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To bobcat08: Kop scherpSunToucher 1 06-22 10:56
To Evelynn: memory and patienceSunToucher 1 06-20 16:37
To horia: You need to see this placeSunToucher 2 06-19 17:03
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Critiques [Translate]

hi niek,
lovely shot of the frog, perfect focus, lovely colours, sharp image with good details,well composed shot,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hola Niek.
Muy buenos detalles y estupenda nitidez.
Bellos colores muy bien saturados.
Un cordial saludo, JL.

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2172 W: 218 N: 4383] (14902)
  • [2007-06-19 13:25]
  • [+]

Hi again, my friend :)
It's great to hear that i can contribute (even with little things) to some nice shots here on TN and it's definitely a great feeling knowing that i could help a friend.

This is a splendid shot of this pool frog...a species in pretty serious decline in my country.
The POV here is terrific and it sure paid off to get a little wet :))
Splendid sharp details and lovely and well saturated colors...i love those eyes!
I also like the compo here, with just enough space on the right and in the direction the frog was looking.
Great work, pal!

BRAVO and TFS
Horia

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16522)
  • [2007-06-19 13:41]

Hi Niek

I really like the way you have captured the water - it really looks 3. The focus on the frog is excellent and the colours great.

I used to have a lot of frogs in my garden - but I have not seen any for a few years now.

James

Hi Niek,
An excellent shot on this Pool Frog. Well placed in the frame compositionally, and nice natural surrounding environment. The color saturation looks perfect here. Nice sharp detail with just the right amount of DOF. Nice camera work my friend!
Scott

Good to hear from you after a long time, Niek.

You are a very attentive pupil, no doubt :-)!
Thanks to Horia's lessons still ringing in your mind, you went on to capture a phenomenally beautiful picture of this pond frog.
And I thought you were a landscape specialist!
Fantastic capture of the eyes in particular. The overall composition is also superb.
Well done and TFS.

hello
great shot, good sharpness and light, fine natural colours, well captured, good photo
regards
jo

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1110 W: 23 N: 3656] (13083)
  • [2007-06-19 15:16]

Hi Niek,
a fine looking specimen you've caught here, lovely colours and the f/4.5 really makes his head very prominant.
tfs
Paul

great shot
colors and detail

bye Sergio

Hi Niek,
I checked twice this thumbnail, I think it was a mistake not a landscape with your signature... :-)
An excellent capture of this frog, the slow and wet approach worth the effort, you got a very clear and sharp image of the amphibian. I like specially the details on the eyes.
Well done and thanks for share it.
My best regards,
JM

Hi Niek,
I like most the POV, and Kermit seems to be looking at ya.
A different landscape than usual ;)
Natural looking color with good detail, and well seen in it's watery environment..
Well done.
Howard

Hello Niek what a cute frog very well focussed on the eye and nice dof superb details of the eye well composed tfs rgds necip.

Hello Niek,
Lovely shot, nice natural colors
very sharp focus, well composed, TFS.
Best regards/Lawhill

Hi Niek,
Great shot, well composed and focused just right with good colours and sharpness.
regards
Matt.

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1110 W: 5 N: 3457] (12761)
  • [2007-06-19 21:35]

Hola Niek.- Agradable foto. Colores muy naturales y exelente la pose de esta Ranita. Me agrada su mirada. Saludos Luis52.

Hello Niek,
This is a very well composed image, where the frog is given appropriate space to jump into!
Close-up work is well done, focus spot on and otherwise great details...
Very attractive green fellow!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Très beau cliché couleurs et netteté sont au rendez-vous.

Hi Niek.
Thanks for the comment.
I see that the tricks worked for you.
You got a very clean crisp shot from this.
That is the methods I use for the frogs too.
Eventually you can almost touch them...if you cared to.

Great story on this photo Niek of how you got it, I can just imagine it, many of us will be able to relate to crawling through some pretty ghastly stuff to get an image we want. Getting wet sure paid off, wonderful image of him just staring at you. Colour, DOF and detail are great, pin sharp where needed.
Wonderful

Kathleen
New Zealand

Hi Niek, wonderful capture with sharp details. A good composition to enhance the look of the photo. Regards Steve.

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
  • [2007-06-20 10:41]

Hello Niek,
Outstanding capture of this frog with sharp details and great colors from your patience and camera work, well done Niek.
Rick

Hello Niek,
Wow, what a cuttie that comes out of your hand to share with the world!
great pov with perfect sharpness, clarity, superb colour and details
thanks again for sharing
cheers
Tony

So, since I have a short memory and little patience I should probably give up on frogs! : )

You did well here. I love reading your tale of conquest. I'm always doing that...getting too close to subjects and being unable to focus. Your notes are always great and your photo is sharp and well exposed.

TFS
Evelynn : )

Hi Niek,
This is truely a fantastic photo, I like that its head is in the focus zone as it draws attention to it very effectively. :)

Hallo Niek,

Gefeliciteerd met zo'n schitterende opname. Je hebt er wel wat voor moeten doen, maar.....het resultaat is er dan ook naar. Een mooi plaatje. Scherp, natuurlijke kleuren. Heb je bewust alleen de kop scherp genomen? Prettige dag en succes op de jacht naar...? Groeten Bob

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1515 W: 18 N: 3165] (11638)
  • [2007-06-23 17:26]

Hi Niek

That is a lovely smile your frog has. Excellent POV, lovely colours and well framed. Nice information on stalking frogs. I find this works on the water voles as well. They disapeer when they first see you but if you sit still they will come back and then happily ignore you.

TFS

Karan

Hi Niek

Interesting read... I love the picture. the detail in the frog is so very sharp and very clear as well with great composition and DOF.

TFS
Emma

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2992 W: 162 N: 950] (2789)
  • [2007-06-24 12:44]

Hello Niek,
What luck to capture this beautiful frog! Excellent work, sharp details and nice colours. I like your composition very much.
TFS and regards, Ulla

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