Prince in Disguise

Rana esculenta (common name: European green frog)

These frogs were resting next to a water reservoir at Dadia forest (Evros, North Greece). My first approach was too clumsy so all of them dived in the water within seconds. I decided to go for a walk and come back after 10 minutes to see if any of them had got out again. As it happened, they were sun bathing again which allowed me to take some nice pictures from a distance. I particularly like the first photo in which the frog appears to be "thinking" of something..

Photos by George J. Reclos

Shooting Data:

Top photo:
Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/125 sec - f/14, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, smart sharpening added and resized.

Rana esculenta (European green frog)
 
During a visit to my parents I wanted to take a look at the pond near their home. Once there I saw and heard a huge amount of green frogs quacking like crazy. Of course I brought my camera with the 80-400VR lens to catch them on my CF card. I should have brought my Tamron 180mm too as it's much sharper at all apertures, but afterwards I thought that 180mm would be not be sufficient to fill the frame anyhow.
 
Photos by Frank Panis
 
Shooting Data:

Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: AF VR Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/320 f/10
Flash:none
Image: RAW, converted in Nikon Capture editor, curves, USM 100/5/4, cropped and saved. 

Five rivers (nature reserve in New York)
 
While walking with my friend Ken in his preferred place for nice photos we saw this frog sitting next to a paddock. I had to lie on my belly to take some close up pictures of the animal in its natural habitat. Lying down served two purposes. First, it allowed me to get closer and second, it didn't create a large shadow which might have frightened the animal. Surprisingly, we were able to take many photos of this particular frog despite the use of flash which I thought would frighten it.
 
Photos by George J. Reclos

Shooting Data:
 
Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/60 sec, f/8 Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS2, levels adjusted, smart sharpening added and resized.

Strophylia Reserve

We saw this young frog in Strophylia reserve (Peloponese, Greece). It had abandoned the reeds area and was enjoying a warm but rainy spring day in the river.

Photo by Marina Parha and George J. Reclos

Shooting Data:

Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: AF Tamron 180mm f/3.5 Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 400
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/125 sec - f/8, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB800 in i-TTL mode, diffuser on.
Image: NEF edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized.