Bullfrog at Night

[Andrew McLachlan]

While away at the family cottage last week I spent lots of time with the Bullfrogs in the nearby marsh on the lake. Decided to try some late evening images and push the ISO way up on the D800. This fella had his head raised nicely out of the water so I squared him up for a headshot...using live view and bubble-level I leaned over the canoe and held the camera at the water's surface. After a few shots he lunged forward and in one quick motion swallowed another frog that I had not noticed.

Cloned numerous dust spots (I have slacked off on sensor cleaning). Left everything else as is to see what folks think.

Nikon D800
Nikon 105mm Micro lens
ISO 6400
f22 @ 1/40 sec
Live View
Bubble-level
Hand Held

Look forward to comments.

131868

[Diane Miller]

This is beyond awesome, artistically and technically as well! It would be wonderful for a tripod shot at ISO 100, but for the specs, wow! Does anyone remember ISO 6400 film??

[edwardselfe]

Stunning - love the bubbles around the chin. 5*.
Ed

[Rachel Hollander]

Andrew - this is fantastic and amazing considering the techs. Love the reflections in the eye, the pov and the comp. Well done!

TFS,
Rachel

[Steve Kaluski]

Awesome in both image @ techs, HH Andrew, amazing. Is this FF or a crop, if crop could you post the FF I just wonder if there is another option?:tinysmile_shy_t:

Great to have you posting here.

TFS
Steve

[Gregor Bergquist]

WOW! Speechless. And you leaned over the side from your canoe holding your expensive D800 at water level and got this handheld at 1/40s. God ****, that is good! I would not even dare to do that. But everything for the shot :) It payed off!

[Carole Deschuymere]

an amazing shot, especially considering the circumstances! Did you remove any noise? because I can't see any, and that's almost unbelievable at that ISO! Great job! Carole

[Andrew Merwin]

A superlative image to say the least. The eyes make the shot IMHO. It is an image to croak :w3 for. Excellent techs. TFS.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Awesome work Andrew, showing the D800 can be pushed in the right hands! :5
I particularly like the reflections in the frog's eyes... :cheers:

[Andrew McLachlan]

Much thanks for the kind words folks...greatly appreciated.

[Andrew McLachlan]

Awesome in both image @ techs, HH Andrew, amazing. Is this FF or a crop, if crop could you post the FF I just wonder if there is another option?:tinysmile_shy_t:

Great to have you posting here.

TFS
Steve

Thanks Steve...this is full frame (no cropping) however I do have a one version with more room on top...what is your idea?

[Andrew McLachlan]

an amazing shot, especially considering the circumstances! Did you remove any noise? because I can't see any, and that's almost unbelievable at that ISO! Great job! Carole

Thanks Carole, I applied a tiny bit of noise reduction in ACR and that was it.

[Andrew McLachlan]

This is beyond awesome, artistically and technically as well! It would be wonderful for a tripod shot at ISO 100, but for the specs, wow! Does anyone remember ISO 6400 film??

Thanks Diane, I did grab some flashed images at ISO 100 but preferred this one for the natural lighting. No possible way to use tripod or stand in this location...the substrate in this marsh is very, very soft muck. If I tried to stand in it I am sure I would disappear :S3:

[Loi Nguyen]

Quite amazing. I think I see your reflection in the bullfrog eyes. I do see a little bit of noise in front, but hey it is ISO-6400. Good choice of F22. Well done. Loi

[Shreyas Mantri]

Jabba the Hutt in color :bg3:
Excellent shot...quite a result even at such high ISO!
TFS

[John Ippolito]

An extraordinary image, Andrew !! The eyes, full frame perspective, and D800 @ ISO 6400. Love it:cheers:

[Anette Mossbacher]

Andrew, I loooove your processing on this image :5
Fantastic image, very well done. Will try the same up in our lake, hope I do not fall into the water :))

Have a great day

Ciao
Anette

[Andrew McLachlan]

Andrew, I loooove your processing on this image :5
Fantastic image, very well done. Will try the same up in our lake, hope I do not fall into the water :))

Have a great day

Ciao
Anette

Thanks Anette, sitting on the bottom of the canoe while doing this will prevent you from going for an unwanted swim :)

Sent from my SGH-T989D using Tapatalk 2

[Andrew McLachlan]

Additional thanks to Loi, Shreyas & John, much appreciate the kind words.

Sent from my SGH-T989D using Tapatalk 2

[Anette Mossbacher]

I would place myself on the edge of the water still on ground or on a wooden platform. No boats are allowed o that lake! :bg3: Thanks for the tip Andrew, will keep it in mind for sure, whenever I sit in a boat again for such things, but for sure test the live view shooting. Only do that sometimes for Landscape.

[Carl Walker]

Super super shot Andrew. I guess with those techs you would have to be a maestro. Great PP work as well.

[Andrew McLachlan]

Much thanks Carl...greatly appreciated!