Bend Over Backwards

The Subject:
This li’l green froggy, all 2.5cm (1 inch) of him, is a lovely specimen of Litoria fallax (Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog) , a native amphibian and very common in my part of Australia.
An amazing fact I discovered recently was that these frogs which are usually green can also be brown or a mixture of green and brown and can change their colour depending on their environment.

The Location:
On the grounds of a Port Macquarie Panthers Camera Club friend’s property at the sleepy little community of Kundabung , just south of Kempsey, NSW, Australia.

The Making of ‘Bend Over backwards’:
I spotted him deep inside the green, cool leaves and stems of a clump of Agapanthus.
Even though the frog was in a patch of bright light its right side was in shadow hence the pop-up flash with the 1/200sec shutter speed.
As I slowly and carefully worked my camera deeper into the foliage to get as close as I could, he turned his front feet inward and bent backwards so far, the skin on his back wrinkled! I knew he was ready to jump so I quickly focussed and made the shot.
As soon as I moved again he was off, leaping even deeper into cover.
Fuji S9600: Macro, Manual settings of f/3.8 @ 1/2000sec, ISO100, Manual focus, Pop-up flash at lowest power, Hand held.
Lightroom 1.1 & Photoshop CS3.

Visit the Amphibians & Reptiles collection in my BubbleSite Gallery for more cold blooded friends.

UPDATE:
25-02-09
This very bendable Aussie frog has been featured in the Amateur Art Photography Group’s ‘Photos O’Green’ Challenge.

UPDATE:
17-03-09
My very pliant green frog has won the Amateur Art Photography Group’s ‘Photos O’Green’ Challenge and will be used as the Groups avatar for the month.

UPDATE: 8-9-09
My green froggy gymnast was awarded a Merit in the Port Macquarie Panthers Camera Club’s August 2009 Competition in the Open Digital Colour Section.

UPDATE: 26-9-09
My li’l bendy amphibian has been FEATURED in the Colour and Light Group.

UPDATE: 28-9-09
My flexible frog has been FEATURED in the Point and Shooters Group and
in the High Quality Animal Images Group.

[685 views as of 18-12-09]

Enjoy!

FROGS
(Click on the links!)

Litoria fallax – Bend Over Backwards