As you know, the last few "sessions" have been from a shrinking pond for ducks, frogs, dragonflies, and barn swallows. Yesterday after work I decided to see what was going on there.

The pond is now about 3' below normal and only has perhaps 2' left. I came to shoot barn swallows in flight as I knew they would be congregated above this only watering hole. Well, the dragonflies always attract my attention so I started with these. I really didn't want to as I think I have too many dragonflies in my portfolio but it makes for a good story :p

(please bear with me as this is a 3-part story).

Then I noticed the weird frogs - the first one is eating another smaller one, smiling frogs, etc...

So as I'm photographing the dragonfly pairs which are slower and easier to shoot, I quickly notice that they were like bait for the frogs. They only had to come near the frogs to elicit a jumping attack from the hungry frogs. Still don't have a good shot of a leaping frog. But, again, fun to watch. Problem was the mating dragonfly pairs only come around every 5-10 minutes and are constantly harrassed by the other solo dragonflies.

Not good images but you get the picture.

Finally get to shooting the barn swallows. I find them to be the toughest subject (in my area) for in-flight shots - even when congregated. I can be tracking them flying away from me, then in a flash, they are flying directly towards me.

I came specifically to try to get one skimming the surface for a drink. The last one was close to it. Apparently, the frogs are so primed to go after the larger profiles of the mating dragonflies that a bird profile triggers the same response.


As for the gear/settings, I can only say at the moment the same 300mm f/4L IS as usual with the 30D set for manual focus, manual exposure. I was swapping out the 2x and changing settings like a son-of-gun all night.


Thanks for visiting my pond.

Lovely shots.

I love the wone with the swallow and the frog with the swallow perfectly mirrored in the water.

Roger

you never fail to bring the story home Loupey! :thumbsup: Great series here.:thumbsup: I agree with Roger, the last shot is the one!

Better be careful down there - them frogs may start turning on you. Maybe there is something in the water causing the weird behavior.:D :p

Excellent stuff, Loupey!

Bullfrogs are gregarious - they will eat those swallows if they catch them. The bullfrog with slightly (not much) smaller bullfrog leg sticking out of it's mouth will verify that! Bullfrogs are taking over the world, becoming invasive wherever they can make a living - which is just about anywhere, including the high desert in arizona!

That last photo is the prize shot.

Yep im going for the last shot too! excellent.

Ditto to the other comments. An exception series of images once again with best in show saved for the last image. It's always a pleasure to open one of your post.

Ok whats left for me to say LOL Totaly Rad shots here Loupey .Did you by any chance take your blood pressure lol it must have been at a all time high lol. Superb series Loupey :)

I love those photos......especially the last one....but they're all good - and interesting. Your story is wonderful, entertaining, interesting - and all in all this is a great thread.

Liz

Thanks, everyone! Hope it made you smile :)

What was really astonishing was just how quick the bullfrog's reaction time is. That last shot illustrates this. A shot immediately before and a shot immediately after reveal the complete scenario (at 5 fps). In the shot before, the swallow has nearly reached the frog's location - which can be seen with his eyes sticking out of the water. Then, in the shot immediately after, the frog is nearly fully out of the water with the swallow about twice as far away than he is in this shot. And you know how fast a swallow flies.

In other words, the frog initiated his jump somewhere between where the swallow is shown here and where it was directly over the frog. That's amazingly quick response by an amphibian.

Great story and series Loupey. Your posts are always fun, not just for the great photography but also for the interest in nature. I keep learning both subjects from them. Love that last shot!

Well, you've had enough compliments. However, have you ever thought about writing children's picture books? I think it would be right up your alley. "The Loupey Nature Series for Children".

I didn't even realize that frogs were cannibalistic.

Thanks for sharing.

wonderful shots. I love the last one the reflections are great. I like the smiling frogs.

However, have you ever thought about writing children's picture books? I think it would be right up your alley. "The Loupey Nature Series for Children".


Funny you should bring that up. My 9 year old daughter (who doesn't have the word "can't" in her vocabulary) has been compiling my photos to use in a book she is writing. We sent for and received a packet from one publisher already.

I just hope that she gives me photo credits :p

scott-devon - glad to hear that you find some of my ramblings interesting :) Thanks for the letting me know.

Heather83 - thanks for responding and welcome to PR!

Those are fascinating Loupey! Great series there, those are some animated frogs. Good luck with your daughter's book, that sounds like a great project.

Great shots, all of them. Very nice work.

I would have loved to see that frog-eat-frog from a better angle and cropped. Maybe just cropped would do it..

quetzal - thanks a lot. Appreciate you taking the time to look.

tufcat - I appreciate your comments. Welcome to PR :)

Lava - thanks but no can do :D This frog was at the far end of one side (I am roughly in the middle) with no access to either sides. This shot is at quite a crop already. At the time, I didn't know exactly what was in his mouth - only that it was "eating". Didn't get a confirmation until I got home.