Arnold my frog....

Paul IddonPaul Iddon Registered Users Posts: 5,129 Major grins
edited October 28, 2009 in Wildlife
Well, there was a love song once by Mike Harding (which was odd seeing as he is a comedian) but none the less, he sang a song about a girl he loved, and it was called "Arnold My Frog".


The fact that that song has absolutely noting to do with this post is irrelevant, except to give the frog in the photo an identity.


This frog has been a long time member of the pond in my back garden, so that meant, the redoubtable "me" had to go and find myself a photograph. And that meant, not from the back catalogue, but literally go and take a photo.

So this is where Arnold comes into the equation. Here he is, as photographed and posed live, at just around about 10 past nine. The movement of his throat is because of the 8 second exposure.

Why 8 seconds? 8 seconds is just a compromise. In the dark, ISO 400 and faster would bring in more noise on my 450D, even if that meant I would have 4 or 2 seconds exposure if I go to 800.

16 seconds at ISO 100 would be an age to wait, so I plumped for this, knowing Arnold would be breathing, but him being such a star, would otherwise stay pretty still because I have him so well trained. But not well enough for him to stop breathing temporarily... laugh.gif

Ladies and gents... I give you Arnold. My frog.



Exif:

Camera Make: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS 450D
Image Date: 2009:10:23 21:12:01
Flash Used: No
Focal Length: 105.0mm
CCD Width: 4.18mm
Exposure Time: 8.000 s
Aperture: f/14.0
ISO equiv: 200
White Balance: Manual
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)





800frog101.jpg


Paul.


Link to my personal website: http://www.pauliddon.co.uk






Comments

  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited October 24, 2009
    Amazing capture Paul and thanks for alll the details behind the capture.clap.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • Paul IddonPaul Iddon Registered Users Posts: 5,129 Major grins
    edited October 24, 2009
    You're welcome Harry, and thanks for looking! :ivar


    Paul.


    Link to my personal website: http://www.pauliddon.co.uk






  • GaleGale Registered Users Posts: 1,052 Major grins
    edited October 26, 2009
    Very good image.
    Well done
    Best Regards
    Gale

    www.pbase.com/techwish
  • Paul IddonPaul Iddon Registered Users Posts: 5,129 Major grins
    edited October 26, 2009
    Gale wrote:
    Very good image.
    Well done

    Ta very much! :ivar


    Paul.


    Link to my personal website: http://www.pauliddon.co.uk






  • riddim_makerriddim_maker Registered Users Posts: 1,835 Major grins
    edited October 27, 2009
    I can sure use your help to train my little dog to sit slill for 8 seconds for me to get a nice portrait like this
    mwink.gif
    Very well done thumb.gif
    Russ
  • Paul IddonPaul Iddon Registered Users Posts: 5,129 Major grins
    edited October 27, 2009
    I can sure use your help to train my little dog to sit slill for 8 seconds for me to get a nice portrait like this
    mwink.gif
    Very well done thumb.gif

    Hmmm, dogs... I don't think I'm in the league yet, lol...

    Paul.


    Link to my personal website: http://www.pauliddon.co.uk






  • lalalafotoslalalafotos Registered Users Posts: 10 Big grins
    edited October 27, 2009
    wow, great shot :)
  • Paul IddonPaul Iddon Registered Users Posts: 5,129 Major grins
    edited October 27, 2009
    wow, great shot :)

    Thank you :)

    Paul.


    Link to my personal website: http://www.pauliddon.co.uk






  • alexfalexf Registered Users Posts: 436 Major grins
    edited October 27, 2009
    Very nice!
    A trained frog. Who would have thunk?
    AlexFeldsteinPhotography.com
    Nikon D700, D300, D80 and assorted glass, old and new.
  • Paul IddonPaul Iddon Registered Users Posts: 5,129 Major grins
    edited October 27, 2009
    alexf wrote:
    Very nice!
    A trained frog. Who would have thunk?

    Well, I may be pushing the truth just a little teeny bit... :)


    Paul.


    Link to my personal website: http://www.pauliddon.co.uk






  • lizzard_nyclizzard_nyc Registered Users Posts: 4,056 Major grins
    edited October 28, 2009
    Paul Iddon wrote:
    Well, I may be pushing the truth just a little teeny bit... :)


    Paul.

    I am not in this forum too often, live in NYC and rarely photograph wildlife. But I kept seeing the title pop up "Arnold my Frog" and I just had to take a look see.

    Arnold is a star for sure--makes me want to get a frog:)
    Great shot, awesome portrait of Arnold--should be included in your Christmas card (I would anyway).

    PS--Ever see the Bugs Bunny cartoon where the bum finds a frog that can sing and dance, complete with top hat and cane--the song is"
    Hello, ma baby,
    Hello! my darling,
    Hello! ma ragtime gal
    Send me a kiss by wire,
    Baby my heart's on fire!

    But the frog will only do this for the bum and not when anyone else is around, ruining the man's hopes for a fast fortune:)

    Well I can see Arnold pulling that stunt.
    Thanks for the post.
    Liz A.
    _________
  • Paul IddonPaul Iddon Registered Users Posts: 5,129 Major grins
    edited October 28, 2009
    Thanks Liz.

    What a delightful reply :)

    Thanks for taking the time, and I'm pleased it invoked such an interesting reaction!

    Paul.


    Link to my personal website: http://www.pauliddon.co.uk






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