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I ain't moving for no one!


I ain't moving for no one!
Photo Information
Copyright: Joe Kellard (joey) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1880 W: 245 N: 6158] (21922)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08-11
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS, Digital ISO-80
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/160 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-11-11 3:18
Viewed: 725
Points: 48
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This was taken in Abersoch in Wales back in August.
I already posted different view of this same Toad but this one has the golden sunlight streaming onto it so I decided to post this aswell...

I hope you like it!

The Common Toad (Bufo bufo) or European Toad is widespread throughout Europe, with the exception of Ireland and some Mediterranean islands. Its easterly range extends to Irkutsk in Siberia and its southerly range includes parts of northwestern Africa in the northern mountains of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

Adults can grow to 18 cm (7 in) and their skin has a warty appearance and ranges from green to brown. As a defense against predators they secrete a toxic, foul tasting substance called bufagin. This is enough to deter many predators although Grass Snakes and hedgehogs are immune. Although the adults spend most of their time on land the females enter ponds and other still waters to lay their eggs, toadspawn, which can be distinguished from the spawn of the common frog as it forms strings rather than a large mass of eggs. Eggs are laid in the spring, with the females attempting to return to the water in which they were born. The young tadpoles resemble other tadpoles in their appearance except that toadpoles have a larger, rounder blacker head and shorter tail.

Common Toads eat invertebrates such as insects, larvae, spiders, slugs and worms, which they catch on their sticky tongues. Larger toads may also take slow worms, small grass snakes and harvest mice, which are swallowed alive. Toads generally hunt at night, and are most active in wet weather.

In Germany, Great Britain and Poland many toads are killed on the roads while migrating to their breeding grounds, in some places special tunnels have been constructed so they can cross under roads and local wildlife groups run toad patrols carrying them across busy crossing points in buckets.

Toads have a long association with European witchcraft, as familiars and ingredients in potions.
Kathleen, flashpoint, angybone, vanderschelden, rousettus, Silke, eqshannon, jaycee, Debz, nglen, MMM, uleko, undoredo, pierrefonds, horia has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To flashpoint: Thankyou!joey 1 11-11 05:07
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Critiques [Translate]

This is great, I love how you've taken it from the Toad's eye level. He definetley looks like he's standing his group, perfect title and you caught his character wonderfully. Well done Joe!

Hi Joe.
He sure has that standing his ground look, brillant low shot. Lovely light used coming in on the side and lighting that one eye, wonderful.
Kathleen

very beauty close-up Joe
vivid colors eyes and pose

best regards sERGIO

What a wonderful frog!!!! Great details down to the texture of the skin. A candid expression on the face and a twinkle in the eye. I love frogs anyway and this is lovely!!

Hello Joe,
Very... very good compo and POV!
Beautiful animal!
Nice colours...
Well done
Annick

Hi Joe, cute portrait with great details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

hello joe,
nice post, you got a great pose here, the limited dof has resulted in nice focus on the face specially eyes, liked the composition too,
regards
pankaj

Hi Joe,
great shot of this lovely faced toad. lighting, timing, POV/DOF and focus great. You supply excellent macro. good notes. TFS, have a nice Sunday.
Ahmet

jeez, anyone want to kiss that one?! *g* excellent shot right between the eyes with wonderful
low pov on eyelevel and terrific details on that pretty face. superb job & best wishes, thor.

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 753 W: 108 N: 1729] (5398)
  • [2007-11-11 7:39]

Even without your title, the attitude is very clear!
Superb capture, great composition and colours
TFS
silke

Yes,,,indeed titled well...he does look bull headed for sure and sitting on top of a rock covered in Lichen it appears... How interesting it is that some things such as Lichen, come up in 2 or 3's within a short time span and here I was looking for name. We call it newspaper rock as though a paper was sitting on it wet for along period..Very nicely done in Joey style.
Bob

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1904 W: 8 N: 4959] (16025)
  • [2007-11-11 8:37]

Hi Joe,

This is really up close and personal. Great pov - love the way he is looking at you. The pose is fantastic showing off those eyes and throat.

Jane

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 654 W: 0 N: 1623] (5300)
  • [2007-11-11 8:38]

Hi Joey, what a beautiful toad picture! Clear, sharp and the look of the "beast" is funny. The beauty in its eye shine. You caught its spirit! TFS,

Francine

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2130 W: 9 N: 5959] (22526)
  • [2007-11-11 9:29]

Hi Joe. Great close up of the Toad. Very good detail in the eyes and skin. good natural colours. good POV/DOF. well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2757 W: 147 N: 7955] (24769)
  • [2007-11-11 10:05]

Hello Joe,
Great frontal capture of the Common Toad, the pose making him look like a Sumo wrestler. Good simple cental composition and excellent colour and lighting, especially the eyes.
Well done and TFS!
Ivan

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 787 W: 0 N: 1581] (7260)
  • [2007-11-11 12:15]

Hello Joe
Nice portrait.Good POV and sharp image.I like that nice blur BG and I also like the eye's contact.
TFS Michel

Hello Joe,
What an amazing close-up shot you present here!
Outstanding focusing and details, with very nice composition & POV, well presented as well!
Well captured and TFS,
Best wishes,
Kevin

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2580 W: 170 N: 7866] (24875)
  • [2007-11-12 0:48]

Hi Joe,
What a superb frontal view of this toad beautifully lit! He looks rather grumpy though! ;-) Brilliant focus on those beautiful eyes, sharp details and lovely colours. Fine neutral background too.
Many thanks, Ulla

Hi Joe,

A nice image of the frog, the photo has a good composition, sharpness and nice colors. Thanks for sharing.

Pierre

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 582 W: 0 N: 866] (3283)
  • [2007-11-12 8:14]

Hi Joe, I just adore this shot. I love frogs and toads. This one is fabulous look straigt at you (as they often do). The light is great and suits his markings and colours. He is very sharp with wonderful colours on the body and on those large eyes. perfect dof. Great composition.
tfs
debz
:)tomorrow

Muy buena luz y ojos expléndidos ( pero feos jajajaja ) Sobrada profundidad y original ángulo de disparo. Muy bonita.
Saludos Joe y muchas gracias por tus
amables comentarios:

J. Ignasi

Superbes couleurs et beaux détails pour cet animal peu esthétique.
Bravo
Marie

Hi Joey,
A comical view of this toad and nicely composed.
He pops right out of the screen at you. Very well done. :)

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2137 W: 224 N: 3956] (13137)
  • [2007-11-14 10:17]

Hi again pal :)

I know i've missed this one, too, but i've always been a fan of amphibian photos, so that wasn't going to last :) I just had to tell you how nice it is :)
The golden sunlight here is really outstanding and brings out some details in this toad that few have been able to see. Normaly, this is one of the most "borring" toads in Europe. It doesn't have bright and vivid colors, interesting patterns or a cute body shape. However, you managed to create this lovely aura around it here that just trasforms it into something special.
Great work!

Cheers and TFS
Horia

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