Froghorn

[Don Ellis]

Another denizen of the garden. In the early evenings, Leela and I often sit out on the terrace and read. As dusk arrives, so do the sounds of the small frogs.

The reason for the subject line of this photo is that three of these guys do their croaking from inside various 3-inch-diameter plastic pipes where their mating calls turn into basso profondo MATING CALLS.

So they can talk the talk, but can they leap the leap? Apparently they can, since this little guy got tired of us flashing him in the drain and jumped to the underside of one of our tables. Leela spotted him first and was kind enough to share. He's about 2 inches long, by the way.

Here's the pertinent data...

Canon G2
Shutter speed: 1/60 sec
Aperture: 5.6
Exposure mode: Av
Exposure compensation: -1/3
Flash: External E-TTL
Flash EF guide number: 3.72
Flash exposure compensation: -2/3
Metering mode: Evaluative
ISO: 50
Lens: 7.0 to 21.0 mm
Focal length: 21.0 mm
Subject distance: 0.478 m
Macro focus: On

This is 1 of 40 shots (poor fellow is probably blind now).

I'm not wild about flash photography but sometimes that's the only way to get the picture. One thing I've learned about flash shots with the Canon G2 -- which, judging by the equipment signatures here, applies to about no one -- is to shoot in Av mode at 5.6 or higher.

When I first started shooting flash in P mode, allowing the camera to choose its own shutter speed and aperture, I was getting way too many out-of-focus shots. That number has decreased significantly using aperture priority. I also leave flash exposure compensation set to -2/3 and blown-out flash shots are now a rarity. This was taken using a 420EX external flash and off-camera cord, but the -2/3 applies for the internal flash as well.

Ribbit

[pappy]

This is a fantastic shot and a very amusing story to go with it. I really appreciate the 'tutorial' on use of the flash....it is in the works for me soon, hopefully.

I enjoy your posts greatly.

Regards,
Peter

[Conk]

Nothing short of excellent once again Don.

[marie]

no wonder froggy has a big lump in his throat......
his pipe dream has been discovered !

its a terrific clear shot
(and of the nut too )


my daughter and I used to say 'ribbit ribbit'
and she gave me the odd present of a frog .
( not real frogs , ornaments.. some made of cloth )

frogs seem to be very scarce over here for years now.
I never see any at all now.
not sure why

regards
marie

[Don Ellis]

Hi Peter -- thanks for your comments. I have modified what I said about the flash, so you might want to read it again (I didn't mention the 420EX and flash exposures for internal and external).

Thanks, Colin.

And thanks to frog-less Marie. I'm sorry things aren't hopping in your neighborhood.

Even though we hear these fools every evening, we still have to laugh at their barrel-enhanced sounds. Our garden is like having a miniature zoo without any care-and-feeding chores.

Cheers,

Don

[marie]

"Even though we hear these fools every evening, we still have to laugh at their barrel-enhanced sounds. Our garden is like having a miniature zoo without any care-and-feeding chores. "
unquote

gulp

message from my froggy

you meant to say frogs not fools , didn't you don

: )

croak

~ freddy frog ~

this is me today,
not in a good mood I may say

http://www.pbase.com/image/17358218
http://www.pbase.com/image/17358265



ps
from marie


I always feel the same about the countryside when out
its all there free, without the responsibility which goes with owning it
: )

[MetallicAchu]

Why going out and making poor frogs blind? :)
Didn't he tried to escape after all those flashes?
I think that shot came up really good, he looks real cute :)

[Don Ellis]

marie wrote:
this is me today,
not in a good mood I may say

Relax, Marie...

Take your shoes off, put your feet up, have a nice cup of tea (after 17 years in Hong Kong, I've become almost British in my respect for the recuperative powers of tea), maybe have a little nap. Things will look better.



Taken at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens yesterday. This is one of the zoologicals.

Don

[marie]

that is one wonderful photograph don
I really like it very much

it is beautiful.
it would look great framed hanging up
and seen on a wall

I thought for a second that that was another hand coming out of the ground, beside that hard working man,
( wonder did he need a hand ? )

it is really good picture.

is his head resting on the 'arm' of the seat
or is he holding it up in mid air ?
just wondering
( maybe its an exercise for a stiff neck ? )
I love tea too
looks like he does also

**
http://www.ofoto.com/PhotoView.jsp?U...id=60737640903

**
here is a present from that froggy of mine .
that fellow who was complaining about something or other yesterday
it was he who was in bad form , not me

see above url, you can see why the frog is worried.
I had this joke squeezed under that frogs arm for a few years now.

by the way your garden and the lovely sounds coming from it in the evenings 'sound ' wonderful.
and tropical
and those are lovely ducks in your room beside the mantis fellow
meant to say this all in last post
love that picture above


best wishes
marie

[gandini]

This is truly one of your best, Don! I have enjoyed the Mantis and now the frog photos (evidence that you live in a very *exotic* part of the world!) in particular the mantis on the G2, but this image is so strong, graphic, human. Gee it has all the elements of a great image.

thanks as always!

[pappy]

Nothing I can add that hasn't been said already other than to say it is a very moving image for me.

Thank you.

Regards,
Peter

[Don Ellis]

marie wrote:
that is one wonderful photograph don
I really like it very much

Thank you ... it was meant to cheer you up, even though you weren't uncheery.

is his head resting on the 'arm' of the seat
or is he holding it up in mid air ?

Wood mattress, steel pillow, no cranial levitation.

and those are lovely ducks in your room beside the mantis fellow
meant to say this all in last post
love that picture above

Thank you again for your comments on the photo. The ducks are from Korea and Leela tells me they're about 60-70 years old. In addition to owning a pub for 17 years, she had several antique shops. We kept a few of the pieces when she closed them to focus on writing.

Cheers,

Don

[Don Ellis]

gandini wrote:
This is truly one of your best, Don! I have enjoyed the Mantis and now the frog photos (evidence that you live in a very *exotic* part of the world!) in particular the mantis on the G2, but this image is so strong, graphic, human. Gee it has all the elements of a great image.

thanks as always!

Hi Philip,

You know I value your opinion, so I'm pleased that you like this image so much. It was taken with the modified G1 and a B+W 093 infrared filter. Handheld, 1/15th of a second (towards the end of the day), f2.5.

Thanks to you and Marie and Peter, I'll look at it with a little more respect.

Don