Frogs of the World Photographic Workshop Report

Phyllobates terribilis – captive bred

Yesterday, Saturday June 8th Understory Enterprises and yours truly hosted another sold out Frogs of the World Photographic Workshop at the Crinan Community Hall near West Lorne, Ontario. Everybody had a great time and captured many stunning images of the numerous species that were featured. We had two new species to highlight during this recently concluded workshop. An Argentine Horned Frog and a Madagascar Painted Frog.

Madagascar Painted Frog – captive bred

 

Argentine Horned Frog – captive bred

 

Ameerega bassleri – captive bred

 

Fringed Leaf Frog – captive bred

 

Phyllobates terribilis – captive bred

 

Epipedobates anthonyi – captive bred

 

Argentine Horned Frog – captive bred

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Just Announced: Frogs of the World Photographic Workshop

The next Frogs of the World Photographic Workshop has been confirmed and will be held at the Crinan Community Hall in Dutton, Ontario on the following dates:

Saturday, June 8, 2019  (10:00a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)  (SOLD OUT – wait list only)

The space for this workshop is limited to a maximum of 8 participants to allow ample time for folks to photograph each species of frog.

These are the only workshops available whereby you will be able to capture stunning imagery of 15 – 20 different species of frogs from all over the world. We will be photographing numerous varieties of dart frogs endemic to the Amazon rainforest, and several tree frogs of Costa Rica and South America. It would cost tens of thousands of dollars to explore the jungles of the world, with hired guides, on your own in hopes of photographing a mere fraction of these species. These workshops, in partnership with Understory Enterprises, will bring you an incredible opportunity to photograph these 15 – 20 species of frogs in a comfortable atmosphere with natural studio set-ups.

The recommended gear for photographing these tiny frogs is a macro lens and off camera flash. Alternately, using high quality close-up filters such as the Canon 500D filters will allow many lenses such as the Nikon 80-400mm or Canon 100-400mm to focus close enough for these small subjects. Please contact me here if you have any equipment inquiries when registering for this workshop. I also have custom made flash diffusers that will allow folks to capture stunning imagery using camera mounted flash as well.

Coffee, tea and snacks will be provided during the workshop.

To register for this workshop contact me by clicking here .

Payments can be made via email transfer or by cheque made payable to Andrew McLachlan.

Hope to see you there!

The one day cost of the workshop is $195 CDN plus taxes.

Cancellation Policy:

No Refunds

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PERU – Landscapes & Micro Fauna of the Cordillera Escalera – minimum of 2 required

Explore the foothills of the Andes Mountains among Peru’s Cordillera Escalera within the Amazon Rainforest this October. We require a minimum of 2 participants to make this photo tour run.

For further information on this once in a lifetime opportunity please click here. Any additional questions please do email me here so that I can be of assistance to you 🙂

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Frogs of the World Photographic Workshop Wrap-up

Red-eye Tree Frog – captive bred

On Saturday February 16th we held another highly successful and sold out Frogs of the World Photographic Workshop with 8 fabulous participants. Several of those participants were repeat students. During these workshops with captive bred specimens we use set-ups that mimic the natural habitat of the frogs in the wild for a truly realistic appearance.

Each image that appears in this post utilizes my homemade flash diffuser that was the highlight of the This Might Just Be The Best Flash Diffuser Ever blog post and post processing techniques employ light use of luminosity masking techniques by using the TK Basic V6 Action Panel by Tony Kuyper

To find out more about future Frogs of the World Photographic Workshops please click here and to be added to the contact list for upcoming events please send me an email  by clicking here

Ranitomeya vanzolinni – captive bred

 

Fringed Leaf Frog – captive bred

 

Dendrobates auratus microspot ablino – captive bred

 

Oophaga sylvatica – captive bred

 

Vietnamese Mossy Frog – captive bred

 

Vietnamese Mossy Frog Abstract – captive bred

 

Fringed Leaf Frog – captive bred

 

Ranitomeya vanzolinni – captive bred

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Frog Workshop Report

Fringed Tree Frog (Cruziohyla craspedopus)

On the weekend on February 24th & 25th we held another highly successful frog workshop. This workshop, aside from the incredible assortment of dart frogs, included several species of captive-bred tree frogs. My typical set-up for photographing these frogs is to use my Nikon D500 with an old discontinued Nikkor 105mm Micro lens and an old discontinued Nikon SB400 Speedlight mounted on a single arm Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket. The Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket allows me the flexibility to position the flash anywhere I desire for optimum lighting on the subject.

We are currently in the midst of planning our next event for the London, Ontario area, which will feature both dart frogs and an even larger selection of awesome tree frog species displayed on beautiful tropical flowers. These events will be planned as full day (8 hour) workshops that will include 3 hours of Photoshop instruction at the end. Yours truly will walk folks through the steps I use edit and optimize my frog photography. Folks will also be encouraged to bring their own laptops to the workshops so that I can assist them with editing and optimizing a few of their own image files.

Stay tuned for dates to be announced soon. If you would like to be added to the contact list for this or any other workshop notifications please do contact me by clicking here.

Here are a few of my recent captures from the recently concluded workshop.

Ameerega pepperi

 

Dendrobates tinctorius “Patricia”

 

Amazon Milk Frog (juvenile)

 

Red-eyed Tree Frog

 

Vietnamese Moss Frog

 

Abstract of Fringed Tree Frog Skin

 

Ranitomeya fantastica

 

Phyllobates terribilis

 

Vietnamese Moss Frog – a master of camouflage

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Update: Dart Frog Workshop Additions

Red-eyed Tree Frog – captive bred

This just in! The recently announced Dart Frogs of the Amazon Rainforest Photographic Workshop will now feature three amazing additions to the line-up of incredibly beautiful dart frog specimens. Folks attending the events on February 24th or 25th or both dates will now be photographing Red-eyed Tree Frogs, Brazilian Milk Frogs, and Vietnamese Moss Frogs. The Red-eyed Tree Frogs and Brazilian Milk Frogs will be displayed on both natural branches and Bromeliads in full bloom for an added pop of color and interest. The Vietnamese Moss Frogs will be displayed in such a manner to emphasize their amazing, cryptic coloration that allows them to perfectly camouflage themselves on moss covered rocks and bark, as they do in the wilds of Vietnam. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to photograph these amazing tree frogs. It would cost thousands of dollars to travel to the native habitats of each of these specimens in hopes of capturing a few images. Folks in attendance will easily created hundreds of images at a fraction of that cost.

To register yourself for one or both of the workshop dates please email me by clicking here for enrollment and payment details.

Brazilian Milk Frog – captive bred

 

Vietnamese Moss Frog – captive bred

 

Red-eyed Tree Frog – captive bred

 

Red-eyed Tree Frog – captive bred

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Announcing the First Dart Frogs of the Amazon Rainforest Photographic Workshop for 2018

 

The first Dart Frogs of the Amazon Rainforest Photographic Workshop for 2018 will be held on the weekend of Saturday February 24th and Sunday February 25th. As many of the folks that have previously attended several of these events know, we always have new species available to photograph. The February dates will be no exception, with some new varieties being featured on each day.  All of the frogs featured in these workshops are captive-bred specimens. Below is the workshop info and details on how to register yourself for the event:

The next Dart Frogs of the Amazon Rainforest Photographic Workshop will be held in Mississauga, Ontario at LifeLike Imaging on:

Saturday, February 24, 2018 10:00a.m. – 3:00 p.m. ($195 + hst)

Sunday February 25, 2018 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. ($195 hst)

The space for each workshop is limited to a maximum of 8 participants to allow ample time for folks to photograph each species of frog.

These are the only workshops available whereby you will be able to capture stunning imagery of 15 different species of dart frogs endemic to the Amazon rainforest. It would cost tens of thousands of dollars to explore the Amazon jungle on your own in hopes of photographing a mere fraction of these species. These workshops, in partnership with Understory Enterprises, will bring you an incredible opportunity to photograph these 15 species of dart frogs for only $195, plus HST, in a comfortable atmosphere with natural studio set-ups. The recommended gear for photographing these tiny frogs is a macro lens and off camera flash. Alternately, using high quality close-up filters such as the Canon 500D filters will allow many lenses such as the Nikon 80-400mm or Canon 100-400mm to focus close enough for these small subjects. Please contact me here if you have any equipment inquiries when registering for this workshop. I also have custom made flash diffusers that will allow folks to capture stunning imagery using camera mounted flash as well.

Coffee, tea and snacks will be provided during the workshop.

To register for this workshop folks may contact me by clicking here for availability.

Payments can be made via email transfer or by cheque made payable to Andrew McLachlan.

Hope to see you there!

Cancellation Policy

Full refund 31 days prior to the workshop date

No Refunds 30 days prior to the workshop date

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Frogs Pics & Workshop News

Ranitomeya reticulata (Iquitos) – captive bred
Nikon D500, Nikon 105mm Micro Lens
Nikon SB400 Speedlight on a Wimberely F-2 Macro Bracket
ISO 100, f22 @ 1/60 sec

Over the last several days I have been hard at work doing an edit on my soon to be completed eBook on frog photography. I have also been doing a few edits of recently captured images from the November installment of “Dart Frogs of the Amazon Rainforest Photographic Workshop,” which was a great success with folks creating many stunning photos of 15 different species of frogs endemic to the Amazon rainforest. It is also important to mention that all of these frogs are captive bred specimens. As of this writing the next frog workshop will likely be held in late February after I have returned from my Cayman Brac 2018 Photo Tour. Folks that are interested in attending this event should reach out to me here to be added to the contact list.

In case folks missed the posts announcing some of my recent workshop additions for 2018 please click on the below workshop titles for more information and how you can get signed up for these events while there is still space available:

Muskoka Winter Waterfall Spectacular

Peru 2018: Landscapes & Micro Fauna of the Cordillera Escalera

Lake Superior Wild & Scenic Photography Retreat

 

Cruziohyla craspedopus – captive bred
Nikon D500, Nikon 105mm Micro Lens
Nikon SB400 Speedlight on a Wimberely F-2 Macro Bracket
ISO 100, f22 @ 1/60 sec

During the most recent frog workshop we had fun trying out both white and black backgrounds for creative effect. The Dendrobates tinctorius Matecho worked out quite well on both. This was a large, male specimen of about 2 inches and quite co-operative.

Dendrobates tinctorius (Matecho) – captive bred
Nikon D500, Nikon 105mm Micro Lens
Nikon SB400 Speedlight on a Wimberely F-2 Macro Bracket
ISO 100, f22 @ 1/60 sec

 

Dendrobates tinctorius (Matecho) – captive bred
Nikon D500, Nikon 105mm Micro Lens
Nikon SB400 Speedlight on a Wimberely F-2 Macro Bracket
ISO 100, f22 @ 1/60 sec

For those that sign up for the first-ever Peru 2018 photo tour you will have the amazing opportunity to photograph dart frogs within their natural habitat, not too mention the incredible landscapes and other micro fauna opportunities. One such specimen we are likely to encounter will be Ranitomeya summersi shown below. Having photographed dart frogs in captivity and in the Amazon rainforest I can honestly say that it is quite a thrill to be able to see them in the wild and to photograph them too.

Ranitomeya summersi – captive bred
Nikon D500, Nikon 105mm Micro Lens
Nikon SB400 Speedlight on a Wimberely F-2 Macro Bracket
ISO 100, f22 @ 1/60 sec

A newcomer to the frog workshop this time around was the Dendrobates tinctorius oyapock. In a few weeks I will be doing a private shoot of many new frogs that will be featured in upcoming workshops, including a nice selection of tree frogs. Stay tuned for the new pics soon 🙂

Ranitomeya tinctorius (Oyapock) – captive bred
Nikon D500, Nikon 105mm Micro Lens
Nikon SB400 Speedlight on a Wimberely F-2 Macro Bracket
ISO 100, f22 @ 1/60 sec

 

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Dart Frogs of the Cordillera Escalera

Ameerega trivittata, Chazuta, Peru
Nikon D500, Nikkor 105mm Micro Lens
ISO 100
f16 @ 1/60 sec
Nikon SB400 Speedlight on a Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket

 

Perhaps the biggest highlight of my recent trip the Cordillera Escalera region of Peru was having the opportunity to photograph several species of dart frogs within their natural habitat. Since dart frogs are a diurnal species, searching for them is made somewhat easier as we are doing so during the light of day. Often we encountered the frogs among the dry leaf litter on the jungle floor where their brilliant coloration really stands out. My go to set-up for photographing the dart frogs in the wild is the same set-up that I use here at home, in the wild or in my Dart Frogs of the Amazon Rainforest Workshops – a Nikon D500 with Nikkor 105mm Micro Lens and a Nikon SB400 Speedlight mounted on a Wimberlet F-2 Macro Bracket (the best macro bracket available today). To be more specific regarding my macro lens of choice, I use the Nikkor 105mm f2.8 D Micro Lens originally released in 1990 and now discontinued, but it is still a fantastic lens that focuses down to lifesize which is perfect for these tiny frogs.

The above photo of the Ameerega trivittata represents the largest dart frog we encountered, with this species being approximately one inch in length. The remainder of species encountered were not much larger than a thumbnail. Since the dart frogs are most often encountered on the jungle floor creating pleasing images of them means you to must get down to their level. Lying down among the leaf litter will, 99% of the time, yield the best perspective from which to photograph them.

Please note that I prefer to caption my dart frogs according to their scientific name. Not only is the most accurate means of identification, it is also less confusing as many of these dart frog species can have several common names.

 

Ameerega cainarachi, Chazuta, Peru
Nikon D500, Nikkor 105mm Micro Lens
ISO 100
f22 @ 1/60 sec
Nikon SB400 Speedlight on a Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket

 

The below Ranitomeya imitator is actually a frog that mimics the coloration of dart frogs. These tiny frogs are completely harmless and incapable of producing toxins, yet their brilliant colors warn potential predators that perhaps they should stay away.

 

Ranitomeya imitator, Chazuta, Peru
Nikon D500, Nikkor 105mm Micro Lens
ISO 100
f22 @ 1/60 sec
Nikon SB400 Speedlight on a Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket

 

My favorite encounter was with the Ranitomeya summersi we discovered during a grueling 8 kilometer hike through a large, multiple hectare reserve belonging to Understory Enterprises. Without the expertise of Understory Enterprises these dart frog images would have been very difficult to capture.

 

Ranitomeya summersi, Chazuta, Peru
Nikon D500, Nikkor 105mm Micro Lens
ISO 100
f22 @ 1/60 sec
Nikon SB400 Speedlight on a Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket

 

The below images of Ameerega femorlais and Cryptophyllobates azuriventris were located on a short excursion in the jungle near Pongo, Peru. The Cryptophyllobates azuriventris was a particularly nice find as my guide indicated it was the first time he had found an adult specimen here in about 12 years.

 

Ameerega femoralis, Pongo, Peru
Nikon D500, Nikkor 105mm Micro Lens
ISO 100
f22 @ 1/60 sec
Nikon SB400 Speedlight on a Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket

 

Cryptophyllobates azuriventris, Pongo, Peru
Nikon D500, Nikkor 105mm Micro Lens
ISO 100
f22 @ 1/60 sec
Nikon SB400 Speedlight on a Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket

 

During one of our night excursions along small streams within the Cordillera Escalera to search for tree frogs and insects we encountered several Hyloxalus nexipus sleeping on narrowed leaved plants over-hanging the streams. To create the below image sitting in the stream to gain the low perspective was required.

 

Hyloxalus nexipus, Tarapoto, Peru
Nikon D500, Nikkor 105mm Micro Lens
ISO 100
f22 @ 1/60 sec
Nikon SB400 Speedlight on a Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket

 

WORKSHOP UPDATE

A quick update on the Dart Frogs of the Amazon Rainforest Photographic Workshop – Understory Enterprises and yours truly have added a second date on Sunday November 26 in Mississauga, Ontario and there are only two spaces remaining for this event. We do not use wild caught specimens in these workshops, they are all captive bred here in Ontario at the Understory Enterprises breeding facility. These workshops give folks the incredible opportunity to photograph nature’s most colorful animals in a comfortable setting with natural set-ups. Click here for more information and click here to register yourself for this event.

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New Dart Frogs of the Amazon Rainforest Photographic Workshop

 

Without a doubt nature’s most colourful animals are the Dart Frogs which are endemic to the Amazon Rainforest. You have seen many of my images of these amphibians before as well as the stunning photos created by the previous workshop participants. We are holding one more Dart Frogs of the Amazon Rainforest Photographic Workshop in 2017 and it will be held in Mississauga, Ontario at LifeLike Imaging on:

Saturday, November 25, 2017  10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The space for each workshop is limited to a maximum of 8 participants to allow ample time for folks to photograph each species of frog.

Workshop fee is $195.00 plus HST. ($195.00 + $25.35 HST = $220.35)

To reserve your spot in this workshop payment in full is due now.

These are the only workshops available whereby you will be able to capture stunning imagery of 15 different species of dart frogs endemic to the Amazon rainforest. It would cost tens of thousands of dollars to explore the Amazon jungle with a guide in hopes of photographing a mere fraction of these species. These workshops, in partnership with Understory Enterprises, will bring you an incredible opportunity to photograph these 15 species of dart frogs for only $195, plus HST, in a comfortable atmosphere with natural studio set-ups. The recommended gear for photographing these tiny frogs is a macro lens and off camera flash. Alternately, using high quality close-up filters such as the Canon 500D filters will allow many lenses such as the Nikon 80-400mm or Canon 100-400mm to focus close enough for these small subjects. Please contact me here if you have any equipment inquiries when registering for this workshop. I also have custom made flash diffusers that will allow folks to capture stunning imagery using camera mounted flash as well.

All frogs photographed at these workshops are captive bred subjects and we will be featuring 15 species not featured at any of the previously held events.

Coffee, tea and snacks will be provided during the workshop.

To register for this workshop folks may contact me by clicking here for availability.

Payments can be made via email transfer or by cheque made payable to “Andrew McLachlan”

Hope to see you there!

This will likely be the last “Dart Frogs of the Amazon Rainforest Photographic Workshop” until April 2018.

 Cancellation Policy

• More than 30 days notice will be refunded their workshop fee less a $25 administration fees.
• 30 days notice or less No Refunds.

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