American Toad #2

Gallery: WildlifePosted April 19, 2010138 views7 comments

I spent several hours lying in the weeds around the pond while the toads adjusted to me. Once they settled a bit they began their normal mating ritual and I was able to get a few photos that I liked. This one is of a lone toad on a reed whistling (not sure what the noise is called). Not long after this he/she moved to the larger reed clump to join the rest of the bunch. It is really a free for all when they're active. I have a couple more that I'll post at the risk of boring everyone.

EOS 1D, 300 2.8 w/25mm tube, ISO 250, 1/1000 @5.6, ground level. No crop. Dust spots cloned out.

Comments and critiques are appreciated.

Thanks.

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by mark cillo on April 19, 2010 at 10:08 PM

This is really cool! I like the comp, reflection, and the behavior you captured here. Nice work

Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments

Comment posted by Alan McCord on April 19, 2010 at 11:03 PM

Well timed - nice image.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 46 Posts, 166 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on April 20, 2010 at 8:56 AM

Hi Jerry,

I'm with Cindy on this one - absolutely continue to post away - no risk of boring me! Great timing and I think the image is very well composed/constructed. My only nit pertains to something you couldn't control - in a perfect world it would have been great if those "strands" of reed didn't cross the main perch and visually interfere with the reflection. I fully understand why you chose this crop, but a slightly tighter one (perhaps sacrificing the reflection) would probably also work well as a alternate presentation (and would show more of the wonderful detail you captured).

Thanks for sharing this...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by William Brozy on April 20, 2010 at 11:38 AM

I really need to do the same one day soon. Really nice work Jerry.

Registered on November 9, 2003, 559 Posts, 2929 Comments

Comment posted by Jeff Loomis on April 20, 2010 at 4:36 PM

Looks like grape bubblegum.

Very cool shot. I love the soft blue tones of the water and the reflection. I have a hard time finding toads and frogs without them seeing me first.

Registered on January 26, 2010, 68 Posts, 719 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on April 20, 2010 at 7:38 PM

Very nice. I would agree with Brad's idea of the alternate crop because of the underwater vegetation bisecting the reflection. Still, excellent as posted.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Jared Gricoskie on April 20, 2010 at 10:38 PM

Cool shot and great patience. Brad's nit doesn't bother me much but in that perfect world it won't hurt My nit is the reed has 4 very bright spots left corner and it draws my eye away from the toad. Maybe a crop to remove or a clone.

Registered on January 19, 2010, 15 Posts, 10 Comments