Quote Originally Posted by deranged chipmunk View Post
Brian, what can i say, but wow. so very cool. thanks a lot for sharing these pics. and the narrative compliment the pics very well
Thanks Bill, glad you enjoyed them!

Quote Originally Posted by John View Post
Wonderful, Brian! You know, I really think you would be an awesome pro nature photographer. I have to ask - how do you get so close to the bullfrogs? At what focal length are you working?
Cheers John! They're all Rana clamitans though, no bullfrogs:P. If the back isn't visible for the dorsolateral ridge confirmation, rest assured I checked it out.

Except for the very last one (with no live frog in it), they're all taken with a Pentax DFA 100mm macro on an aps-c crop body, an aging k100d. In practical terms this means to get a 3" frog to fill up the frame the front of the lens hood ends up about 13" away from the frog.

Their absolute first defense is crypsis, primarily achieved by being green and not moving. So as long as you move very, very slowly, you can creep up to them. Before they realise you're well within their comfort zone and it's too late for them to risk fleeing so you can pretty much take your time as long as you continue to move very slowly. Approaching from the water side is also helpful, as you're directly blocking their flight path so they tend to stay still with less effort. This approach is obviously wetter.

I usually try to creep back the way I came to avoid disturbing a subject that has treated me well, but sometimes if I'm on shaky footing I just try to get out without putting the camera in the drink. For the head on view of the frog in the water above combined with the leech assault I stood up and got out as quick as I could. Standing up this close to the frog meant it would immediately take the risk and dove into the water to avoid being eaten.

Know thy subject and don't be shy about getting your trousers filled with swamp water.