Amphibians of Costa Rica

Photographing amphibians can be an adventure and a challenge. Frogs for instance are very small, some of them are poisonous and require much care when handling them. In nature, they prefer moist and dark places, which means that light will be scarce and low shutter speeds, flash and a tripod are of utter importance. Yet those living things are among the most diverse and fascinating, not just due to their wonderful colors, but also their unique behaviors and characteristics.

“Focusing on the eyes” is one of the most important elements in general photography, but particularly so in macro. The eyes are usually one of the most striking features in wildlife and macro lenses can bring out impressive detail out of them. It is said that the eyes are a window into the soul of a human, and a similar thing can be said about wildlife. The gaze of an animal can express feelings just like we humans do.

Macro photography is also a balancing art between very sharp and detailed subjects and very soft and featureless backgrounds that enable the subject to stand out. Light in the background can create circular figures called “Bokeh”, or disappear entirely into one smooth blotch of color. In other cases, the photographer will also want to use techniques to show the environment in which the amphibian is found, providing a back story to the portrait.