I think these photos capture the WordPress Photo Challenge this week…
This little frog (about the size of a thumb) is a Sierran Treefrog (Pseudacris sierra), formerly called Pacific Treefrog or Pacific Chorus Frog and was not living in a tree, but at the time, an unused spa in our backyard.
It was in a crevice so I did not really have much of a choice but to shoot through the slit near the heating element area, making the photo naturally follow the rule of third, and a little of the “bokeh” that Jen discusses for the challenge .
I did not have to crop the frog photo above, and slightly cropped the one below.
And here is one with my grandson Jun showing me a sand dollar that washed up during a beach visit. I think I could have adjusted the shot slightly for more of the 1/3 rule here…
The rule of 3rd is something that was basic that I do think about now, when composing photographs. And as far as the “bokeh” shots I’ll definitely look to improve and experiment with…so thank you WP Photo Challenges!
A note on frogs from my earlier post:
You may have heard that frogs are considered indicator species, or animal sentinels, and a sort of planetary canary.
Frogs have thin skins that are permeable to water, and lay their eggs in bodies of water. Perhaps because of this, they are sensitive to pollutants and other problems with the environment.
It is comforting to know the little frogs survive in our backyard, despite the large presence of big business agriculture in our county (Monterey is the only county in the United States with more than 1 BILLION in annual vegetable sales).
Though these frogs are not endangered, frog populations can decline quite quickly.
For more, please visit California Herps – A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of California
To see amazing interpretations and beautiful photography showcasing the rule of thirds, click here.