Truth be told, I don't know the emotional state of this toad. It's facial expression does seem a bit grumpy, much like myself on a Monday morning. However, the animal was in relaxed situation on the top of one of the posts that supports my mailbox, next to a shelter for the bicycles, and the whole thing is covered by a rose bush. Perhaps, then, the toad was just calmly having a slow morning. Afterall, it's got no rush to get to work!
Changing the camera angle slightly can change the background a great deal. In the above image, the cloudy sky makes a nice neutral grey background that gets the subject to pop.
Changing my position a few tens of centimeters to the left, we now have the green leaves of the rose bush behind the toad:
I do very much like the bright green background!
Cropping in yeilds a very regal looking portrait. Toad royalty? I thought it was the frogs that were supposed to be princes?
Having a full sized sensor allows us to crop in quite a bit and still have lots of fine detail. Check out the patterns on the toads iris!
This last one is a frog! Remember, all toads are frogs but not all frogs are toads!
The frog was a bit disturbed, I'd accidentally frightened it from it's place basking in the sun. A few moments after jumping into the rice paddy, it popped back up to assess the situation. Fortunately for me, it was very nearby and made for a nicely composed shot! If you look closely, or click the picture to get the full size, you can see some tiny invertebrates near the frog's eyes. I'm not sure if they are parasites or free swimming creatures that are just along for the ride.
Generally speaking, smooth skin = frog. Bumpy or pebbly texture = toad.
Thicker skin lets the toads tolerate drier conditions, though they still need a good deal of moisture.
Have a great day!
