Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Spring Peeper
Pseudacris crucifer crucifer
Jackson County, Alabama

Nikon D50
105mm Micro-Nikkor
SB-600 flash on camera
f/16 1/60 sec

Whadda ya'll think? I'm still learning herp photography and learning to use the camera. What's good and bad about the photo?

I'd be happy with that pic! That was the onboard flash?
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"Nothing happens in contradiction to nature, only to what we know of it."

the only thing I would say is if you had composed the pic with the peeper a little more to the left. You want to leave more room on the side where the subject is looking/moving. Good shot though.

ep
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Occupants not paying rent:
1.1. balls
1.1 corns
1 everglades rat
1 w. hognose
1 bearded dragon
2.1 cats

Very nice shot. What I like about it:

1. Nice and sharp, especially at 1/60 if you did not use a tripod or other support.
2. Great capture of an animal in its habitat behaving as is you weren't there.
3. Nice exposure without too much blown highlight resulting from flash reflecting off shiny skin.

How I think it might be improved:

The subject is dead center. Also, there is too much surrounding leaf litter that does not add to the composition / quality of the shot. This is an easy fix. Just crop in tighter to fill the frame with the frog, positioning the eye around the right upper "3rds" intersection.

Overall, an excellent photo. It's one of the better ones I've seen of a peeper calling.

Cheers,
WK

First of all, this is really a good shot of a beautiful peeper. It isn't easy to get a nice shot of a calling peeper. I have yet to get one after many attempts.

The lighting is very nice. I have no problems with that and the colors are excellent.

I agree with the others about needing a bit more crop. That shadow in the foreground needs to be cropped or photoshopped out. There are also too many distracting elements in the photo, such as the leaf veins. Those lines draw the eye away from the subject. The leaf in the front left corner is a bit of a problem. Of course, you don't get to pick where the frog is sitting all the time!

I also think this picture would be slightly better if you had been a little lower down when taking it (not always easy, I know). This has a little bit too much of a "looking down" feel to it.

Just for kicks, I took your photo and cropped it down, photoshopped out some of the distractions (poorly) and then resharpened it. I'm not sure if it is better, but it gives a different perspective to the shot. I could have cropped a little tighter to get the eye up in the thirds corner, but I think leaving more space for the animal to be looking into gives more life to the shot.
I probably oversharpened it. It really just needed a little more sharpening on the eye.

Excellent work overall. You are asking us to nitpick about an incredible shot.

You might want to think about getting away from the "field guide" shot, as well. What about a front on view of this same calling frog? Or a top down view? Just food for thought.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Thanks for the positive feedback Chris, as I consider you to be among the best photographers I've seen on the various herp forums. I agree with all your comments. As you said, you can't always choose how an animal is posed or where it sits. Composition wise sometimes a lot of luck is involved in getting a great photo of an in-situ animal.
Rather than composition, I guess I was probably seeking comments more about the lighting, color, and sharpness, and with those I'm pretty happy with the photo. Not bad for an entry level SLR.
I have always taken more of a "field guide" approach to my herp
photography. I like to present the best overall look at an animal
and try to show as much of the field marks as possible. I do need to get into the artsy side of herp photography more though.

Scott

Thanks for the positive feedback Chris, as I consider you to be among the best photographers I've seen on the various herp forums.

Wow. Thanks. That's because I don't show you all my crappy shots!

I guess I was probably seeking comments more about the lighting, color, and sharpness, and with those I'm pretty happy with the photo.

And well you should be. It is an excellent photo. The lighting, color and sharpness are all good. I think it could be a tad sharper on the eye, but otherwise I have no complaints.

I would try and watch out for distractions like those leaf veins. They can take an otherwise spectacular shot and convert it to something less so.

Not bad for an entry level SLR.

The D50 is an outstanding piece of technology capable of taking great photos in the hands of someone willing to use it to its potential. And as I have said many times, good photographers take good photographs, not good cameras.

I have always taken more of a "field guide" approach to my herp photography. I like to present the best overall look at an animal and try to show as much of the field marks as possible. I do need to get into the artsy side of herp photography more though.

I am exactly the same way. My natural reflex is to take the field guide shot. I have to stop myself after a few of those and "look" for the original shot that is there.
Mostly I have my photo buddy, Tim Evans, to thank for that. He has a real artistic eye and he has taught me to step back and look for the "money" shot.

That said, every photo I have ever sold have been technical, field guide type shots.

Of course, that peeper is so colorful that a field guide shot is pretty special. And you caught it calling!
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>>Scott

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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas