photographing frogs

[UncleChester]

Front opening is great for photos.

You might want to try putting a diffuser on your flash, something like Do It Yourself Flash diffuser for point-and-shoot digital camera, or something similar. This makes a larger light source and is generally more pleasing. For up close distances like you'll be using it can make a noticeable difference.

The problem with an on camera flash is the lighting is very 'flat' (meaning there are little or no shadows that give your subject shape) and the background will end up very dark (typical 'snapshot' look). The best results will be from lights you can position yourself, like a couple of desk lamps. This does need a tripod though or you'll probably suffer from camera shake issues. You can work with the typical overhead vivarium lights as well, diffusing the light and using reflectors are touched on in the link I gave (tripod still needed here).

You can also try practicing on something the same size as your frog. That way you can take as much time as you like playing with different lighting options without worrying about disturbing your frogs.

[mim]

yeh i think ill have to invest in a tripod. like u say its so difficult to keep ur hand still (even wen u think its still, its not!) iv just had a mess about and tryin to figure out a good distance, think its gonna b a lot of trial and error. i want a close up pic but if i zoom too much its blurred and if im too close its blurred so i need to find the middle ground. like u say tho willow wasnt too fussed for a while. didnt even notice that the flash was goin off. she did jump off after a while and went to oki behind a plant but overall she coped quite well 9even if the cats all did come a running wen i opened the terrarium doors lol). gonna add the couple i got to my album anyways

[UncleChester]

For the largest closeup on most cameras you want to zoom in as much as possible (though check your manual). It won't be able to focus as closely as if you are zoomed out, but the longer focal length usually makes up for it. If your camera has a 'macro' setting use it so it knows you're after something close (even better if it has a 'manual focus' mode). When you half press the shutter it should give some indication when it thinks it has a focus lock. Keep the shutter button half pressed and move the camera forward and back until the frog is in focus, then fully press it to take the picture.

For instance, in this picture Picture 3 of 14 from whites you can see the corner of the vivarium behind the frog is in focus. After it achieved focus, if you backed up an inch or so before firing, the frog would have been sharper.

Willow has a lovely colour by the way.

[mim]

yeh the camera has macro but i think id need a tripod as everytime i use it it just says im too shakey lol. i think i might rearrange the terrarium so that the top of that branch isnt behind a hanging plant as thats where willow is usually sittin. i may put the branch in front of the plant so i can make life a bit easier for myself hehe. im always tryin to get the camera around the back corner of the tank
wen i had both the frogs they started off the same colour but willow has gone brighter and oki is darker-slightly bluey (not that i can ever get a pic of him), i think they r both beautiful. im so glad my lil boy decided he wanted us to have frogs lol