New Ranitomeya benedicta

[bshmerlie]

Impressive how you captured them on film.
They aren't exactly the kind of frogs waiting for you to shoot your pictures

That's because John uses "display" leaves that are tacky like fly paper. That way he can take them out and take their pictures with perfect lighting. Come on....haven't you wondered how his leaves are all so perfectly clean? And the perfect color?

[John]

Haha, no they're not tacky. They're just sea grape leaves, just like I use in most of my terrariums. I've spent much of the past 5 years photographing wild amphibians. They're so much more challenging than the captive variety, so photographing these guys, while not easy, is not as challenging given the handling skills I've developed. Mind you, I work up a lot of sweat taking photos like these. You have to watch the frogs like a hawk in case they get close to jumping off the table. You also have to be quick with the photography because they don't pose well (this species is particularly fond of bunching up and honkering down).

Regarding keeping them together, there's no problem when they don't have any laying sites, and not enough room to dominate each other. Though they do seem to be more belligerent than imitator.

[bshmerlie]

So when you're taking pictures of your frogs they're sitting on leaves on a table? And they stay? LOL....I'm doing something wrong. Are you sure no spray glue was involved in the making of your pictures?

[DonLisk]

Wow, the colors are so intense on these Ranitomeya benedicta, and you pics are awesome as always John.

[John]

So when you're taking pictures of your frogs they're sitting on leaves on a table? And they stay? LOL....I'm doing something wrong. Are you sure no spray glue was involved in the making of your pictures?

Well, they don't stay exactly. They eventually try to jump off the table. Basically I herd them around as they jump, and then I try to shoot them after they land. It takes some skill to constantly watch them, catch them, shoot, and not squish them. I've never squished a frog or harmed one in any way, but I grew up handling frogs from about the age of 4. I've also been blessed with lightning reflexes - they've saved me a lot of potential anguish!

Wow, the colors are so intense on these Ranitomeya benedicta, and you pics are awesome as always John.

Thanks Don. Often I give the RAW photos a saturation boost but not in the case of these guys. That red, if anything, is more intense in person than in the photos. The blue is a kind of dark pastel blue - not as pretty as what you see in imitator, vents, and variabilis.

[DonLisk]

Come on John, we know your really Ave Ventura and can hypnotize the frogs with just the quick evil eye.
Then you pose them, snap a pic or two and snap your fingers to awaken them. We Know.

[bshmerlie]

Shooting them on a table with leaves does explain a lot. Now, I just have to work on that courage of mine.