Amplexing cane toads

Hey
I like the composition very much; the eye level view is very intimate. For me the only thing that may provide a better comp would have been to have less space on top and more below to give room to the remainder of the unseen parts of the lady toad. If you used the flash as main light, thus ignoring the ambient exposure (which is what I often do while shooting close-ups; see my Whipsnake in the following thread) I stop right down to maximize my depth of field, though knowing how these toads are probably a fair bit larger than my normal subjects, the extra DOF may not have helped achieve a bit more sharpness in the face of the female.

Good work on this Crystal. I only remember seeing these guys in Hungary when I were a wee lad, but have no qualms about admiring the beauty of even an introduced, ugly beast such as these toads. To me frogs are always smiling. I was fortunate to photograph (and see) my first Blue Mountains Tree Frog (Litoria citropa) last Saturday night.

Hi Crystal,

Yes, those eyes are quite compelling - the gold flecks come thru very nicely. I also like the detail on the nose and mouth region of the male. In terms of the crop - I'm in agreement with Ákos about possibly having a little less space on top and more on the bottom (hopefully your original will allow this).

Cheers...thanks for sharing this...

Brad

the color is great and so is the comp. I can almost feel the muck you must have been in or very near.

I like your image. Thank you for a new word in my vocabulary. Amplexing. Looked it up and can't believe I had never heard the term. Amplexing

Thanks for your helpful comments everyone

Unfortunately this photo is full frame, Richard's predictions on the conditions being very mucky were correct! I actually held the camera down at ground level and pointed in the general direction of the toads... some of my frames were toadless altogether! My old camera (Panasonic Lumix FZ30) had the option of a rotatable viewfinder for such low shots, I miss that option dearly. Does anyone have a technique for taking low angle photos without have to lie in the muck with the toads?

Some of the DSLRs I think now have a pull-out, rotating screen like the little point and squirt cameras do. You can also buy an angle finder for many DSLR cameras. But getting low and filthy after rolling in mud photographing at eye level is half the fun.

Interesting close up perspective. I quite like the feeling of the crowded frame. It took a moment for my brain to register the presence and significance of the female! Yes, getting down to their level can be much of the fun!