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"Cobalt" - Poison dart frog


Photo Information
Copyright: Horia Bogdan (horia) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2123 W: 222 N: 3908] (12975)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-09-18
Categories: Amphibians
Camera: Canon 400D Digital Rebel XTi, Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG Macro, Canon 58mm UV HAZE Filter
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/60 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Travelogue: 2007 USA summer
Date Submitted: 2007-09-21 13:58
Viewed: 1313
Points: 48
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Another shot i was quite lucky to get at the Portland Zoo is one of this little but very beautiful fellow.

The conditions were very bad: through a not really clean and wet glass with poor light for photos (reason for why i used a small f-stop), but i'm happy with the outcome.

General info:

Poison dart frog (also poison arrow frog, dart frog or poison frog) is the combined common name of four main families of small, diurnal frogs: Dendrobates, Epipedobates, Minyobates and Phyllobates. Poison dart frogs are native to several continents, but primarily to Central and South America. The frogs are widely called poison arrow frogs or poison dart frogs, a generalization reflecting the widespread notion that all poison frogs are used by South American tribes in the manufacture of poison that is spread on arrows or blow-gun darts. In actuality, of over one hundred seventy-five species of poison frog, only three are toxic enough to use for this purpose, and none come from the Dendrobatidae family, that which is most characterized by the brilliant color and complex patterns of its member species.

Feel free to check Wikipedia for more general info about this amazing group of animals.

Now i hope i got the species right :):

Dendrobates tinctorius (or Dyeing Dart frog) is a species of poison dart frog, the type species of the genus Dendrobates. It is the largest species, reaching lengths of 50 mm. This species is distributed throughout the eastern portion of the Guiana Shield, including parts of Guyana, Suriname, Brazil, and nearly all of French Guiana.
Dendrobates tinctorius exists in discrete patches throughout this distribution, being restricted to "highland" (up to 350+ meters) areas. While this species can be found at sea level, these individuals have been collected at the base of nearby hills or mountains. The isolation of populations has presumably occurred as a result of the erosion of these highland areas and the seasonal inundation of the inter-patch areas.
The species encompasses a great diversity of colour and patterning variants (morphs). Some batrachologists suspect that they are actually different species. The name tinctorius comes, however, not from the variety of colors, but from the way some indigenous tribes use the frogs. They rub them on the skin of young parrots, and the poisoning of the parrots' skin causes them to grow feathers of different colors.

Hope you'll like it and have a great weekend!

EXIF data :
Camera: Canon 400D
Lens: Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DC
Filter: Canon UV Haze
Focal Length: 214mm
Shutter Speed: 1/60
Metering Mode: Pattern
Exposure Bias: -2/3
F-Stop: f/5.0
ISO: 400
Flash: Yes
Support: handheld
TOD: about 1 PM
Weather conditions: overcast
nglen, undoredo, mirceax, JoseMiguel, Juyona, thor68, uleko, haraprasan, fartash, cicindela, PaulH, marhowie, Tamrock has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To AnimalExplorer: damn it!horia 1 09-21 21:35
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Critiques [Translate]

hi horia
a very good job with great details
very hard with this kind of colors
aleks ;)
best wishes

Hi Horia,
Wow, what an amazing creature!!
I've never seen this frog before. It has fantastic colours and impressive shapes.
Excellent details and nice POV, OOF is also wonderful.
TFS and regards,
Kevin

Salut Horia,
Cu toate conditiile proaste care le-ai avut micutul batracian a iesit super,focusul e foare bun, exact pe cap,iar culorile deosebite,bineinteles ca si modelul e tare fotogenic.
Felicitari !

Mircea

Hi Horia,
What a unique creature!
It's so impressive the vivid blue color, with that black spot pattern on it, and if it were not enough a stunning bright yellow cover over it.
You managed pretty well to get this shot done through the leaves/branches and bring us this clear view of the frog. Very good also the fill flash used.
Congratulations and thanks so much to post it.
My best regards,
JM

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2083 W: 6 N: 2089] (13479)
  • [2007-09-21 16:11]

Hla Horia,
original captura,
detalles magníficos y pov,
perfecto trabajo,
saludos

  • Great 
  • thor68 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 729 W: 117 N: 1056] (4657)
  • [2007-09-21 16:21]

hi horia, i haven´t been around too much lately, but it
seems you are doing fine in the US.
interesting and very pretty frog, with good sharpness on the
face and eye, just a little blurry on the stomach and wonderful colors.
good job through the dirty wet glass & best wishes, thor.

  • Great 
  • Helio Silver Star Critiquer [C: 21 W: 0 N: 4] (279)
  • [2007-09-21 17:18]

Wow...A very goog picture.

Hi Horia,
Shouldv'e told me you were going to Portland I might've came down to see you. Nice shot of this dendrobates, it's still a great shot with all the issues you had to face in order to get it. :)

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2543 W: 170 N: 7734] (24475)
  • [2007-09-21 22:09]

Hello Horia,
Wow, these little frogs really seem to come in all colours and this one is no exception. Despite the difficult conditions you managed to get a very fine capture showing interesting details and lovely colours against the dark background.
TFS and regards, Ulla

bonjour horia
avec un peu plus de profondeur de champ la grenouille aurait surement été entierement dans le champ mais je pense que cela n'etait pas possible a en voir la vitesse deja assez lente.
de belles couleus malgrés cela.
laurent

Hi Horia
wow
that's a beautifull one. focus is spot on the eye and colours are great
tfs
TOM

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 497 W: 2 N: 466] (2160)
  • [2007-09-22 7:14]

superbe! great color scheme! very well done! tfs

Hello Horia
Excellent shot of this strange Frog,
Perfect DOF,BG and lighting,Superb shot.

Regards
Fartash

salutare horia
stii doar ca nu prea imi plac broastele ,da asta chiar e frumoasa .
as pune mana pe ea:)
adu mi un cand te intorci.
numai bine!
Andrash

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2089 W: 9 N: 5861] (22206)
  • [2007-09-22 8:55]

Hi Horia. What a bright little one this is. such a bright blue. you have captured it with fine detail and sharp focusing. .with a nice POV/DOF. well done TFs good notes too.
Nick..

have a good weekend.

Hello Horia!
This time only a short comment because I am a little tired after trip from Poznan to Lodz :)
This is a very nice and beauty picture of poisonous frog. Lovely colours and nice details.
Bravo and TFS,
Radek

Hi Horia,
A cute colorful but dangerous looking frog. And the situation in which you took this shot is always difficult for nature photography. But you have managed it very well. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1058 W: 26 N: 3154] (11345)
  • [2007-09-24 3:57]

Hi Horia,
if is this was taken in 'bad' conditions i look forward to seeing what you produce when they're good! Excellent clarity in my opinion and super colour too. Great work my friend...how are you finding the 400D in general?
Paul

Hello Horia,
Under the conditions...An excellent capture mf. Difficult exposure scenario too, but you did very well.
Great POV and comp.
Thanks for posting this exotic "bad" boy :)
Howard

Hi Horia,
I think you pulled of an amazing photo considering the conditions you had to deal with. The shallow DOF worked perfectly and allows the full attention on this wonderful frog. The clarity and colors of this photo are most wonderful. The use of the flash gave the photo a very crisp feel.
TFS,
Niek

Hi Horia, splendid frog with brillant colors, excellent focus, very well done, ciao Silvio

hi horia!
nice picture on the frog with
fine colours who doing nice
against the dark background!
sharp and well composed!
good work!

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3139 W: 148 N: 4732] (15289)
  • [2007-10-03 6:31]

Hi Horia.
You can see how macro flash may be useful and why I love it. Great subject and poor light conditions. You have done all you can do. Amazing composition, POV and colours and only DOF is too shallow. Perfect done and TFS also as well as the wishes to become an owner of macro flash (some time).
Yours Alexei.

  • Great 
  • gail Gold Star Critiquer [C: 78 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-10-27 9:05]

Hi Horia,
Fantastic color. Great job.
Gail
P.S. Here is your smiley face! I had run out of them. Thanks to nglen & earthtraveler, I now know how they work.

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