07/3/12

Frogs Are Green 2012 Photo Contest: Now Open for Submissions!

One of the winning photos from the 2011 contest. Photograph by Krista Herbstrith, Northfield, MN.

The 4th annual Frogs Are Green photo contest is now open for submissions. We hope you take your camera with you while you’re on vacation and get some great photos of frogs or other amphibians! Or you might take some great photos in your own backyard.

As in the past, we will be accepting submissions in two categories: Frogs in the Wild and Backyard Frogs.

Backyard Frog photos would include such photos as a frog perched on your picnic table or other unusual place. One year, for example, we received a photo of a frog sitting on a pool hose.

Frogs in the Wild photos, on the other hand, should feature frogs, toads, or other amphibians in their natural habitat: frog ponds, marshes, in the woods, and so on.

PLEASE—no photo manipulation and no photos of pet frogs. Please do not move the frog to get a better photo.

Photos of amphibians of all kinds, including salamanders, will be accepted.

This year we have a new contest area using Flickr, where you can enter yourself. You must add a caption/ description with your Name, Title and Location or your submission will not be added. For more information, please visit the contest page.There are three different group pools, two for photography so be sure to enter your photo into the right group pool.

Frogs Are Green Backyard Frogs 2012 Photo Contest

Frogs Are Green Frogs in the Wild 2012 Photo Contest

All entries must be received by November 30, 2012. Winners will be announced January 15, 2012.

The winner will receive a Frogs Are Green poster or t-shirt of his/her choice from our store.

We look forward to seeing your photos!

07/12/09

Announcing the FROGS ARE GREEN photo contest

We are happy to announce the FROGS ARE GREEN photo contest. The winner will receive a free “Prince of Amphibians” t-shirt and we’ll feature the photo in the gallery on our blog. See the information on the left side of the blog. (Note: your photo can be of any amphibian, including salamanders).

For those of you who have never photographed an amphibian, here are some tips from the book Frogs: A Chorus of Colors by John and Deborah Behler, which has a chapter on photographing these elusive and well-camouflaged creatures:

  • Try to learn about the animal first. What is its habitat? When are they active?
  • Walk slowly and stop frequently (it helps to have someone with you who is less than 3 feet tall and has sharp eyes). Frogs and toads blend in so well that they are hard to find. Be alert for subtle movements.
  • In summer, you might find the sit-and-wait frog predators hanging out on the edges of ponds and lakes.
  • Be aware of the position of the sun. Avoid taking pictures at midday on bright sunny days. In the morning, face east and it will keep sunlight from coming into your lens and washing out your photos.
  • Don’t necessarily put the subject in the middle of the photo. Keep the whole animal in the photo, but compose the picture so the background tells a story.
  • Bracket your photos, i.e., take the same shot with different settings. Also, try taking a flash photo. Without a flash, animals in photos may look lifeless and poorly lighted.
  • Try to be on the same level as your subject.

Have fun!

My husband John and son Jeremy looking at a toad

My husband John and son Jeremy looking at a toad