Tuesday, May 25, 2010

(Day 145) "Fly me to the moon"

As we sat near the pond early this evening, we watched dozens of dragonflies racing around, undoubtedly keeping us from the usual swarms of bothersome bugs. Before long, a froggy suitor's serenade started whereby he hoped to entice a comely froggy maiden to join him for a pleasant evening side by side on a lily pad. I could make out the strains of that old lover's song "Fly me to the moon". I thought that if I could catch him performing his repertoire he might make a suitable subject for today's post. And so I did, and he did.

Well, it so happens that we're almost at full moon time (close enough when I looked up at the moon), and I haven't posted a moon shot. I decided that I should at least try. I made a few photos and as I was making them I heard the droning of an airplane. As luck would have it, the pilot's flight plan also followed my theme for tonight (you'll have to enlarge the photo to see how).

(70-200mm  f11  1/50 sec  ISO400)
















(70-200mm  f8  1/400 sec  ISO400)

35 comments:

Katherine said...

Oh my goodess ... these photos are amazing! That is one huge frog!
I love your 'day moon' photo ... it is awesome & the title of this post is so befitting. Isn't it amazing how the plane looks to be further away than the moon...a great optical illusion!

Rick said...

@Katherine - yes, we have several of this size; I actually watched a brief frog fight earlier - never saw that before but it was over before the 2nd round so I couldn't get my camera out in time. I suspect both were after the same 'maiden' :)

I took the moon shots just as dusk was starting. I found in the past when trying to shoot the moon at night that it always washed out since it was so brilliant. Early evening seems to be a much better time. And the optical illusion was totally planned. Not. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Don't you just love pond life? I do!

And Rick, I LOVE the frog shot!
And it's so funny that a plane was conveniently flying right by the moon.

Great set of shots. Even though they are of completely different subjects, they go together so perfectly!

['รด ] Avery

Scott Law said...

I really like that frog shot. Love the texture and the expression. Great! I looked up at the moon this evening and thought I should try to get a really good photo that shows the texture, but I was playing with the dog so I didn't. I don't feel too bad, I like playing with the dog.

What Karen Sees said...

Love the coloring on the frog. He looks huge. How big was he??

Rick said...

@Photog Ave - I find the pond fascinating - so much going on, and it attracts all kinds of wildlife (we even had a muskrat in it a couple of years ago - temporarily because I scared it off). Glad you liked my little segue.

Thanks for stopping by and commenting Avery :)

Rick said...

@Scott - thank you Scott. One thing I didn't notice until I downloaded from the camera was how the water splashed from the frog's back - likely from the vibrations he was making as he 'croaked'.

You've probably already got some great moon shots - I'm sure Missy wouldn't care about another :)

Rick said...

@Karen - about the frog: he was HUGE. We took our grandson inside as a precaution! LOL!!

Actually I think he was around 6 inches (without his legs stretched out) and I think he was in a scrap with a bigger one a little earlier.

My name is Riet said...

Die maan foto is prachtig Rick en is die kikker echt?
Groetjes van Riet

Unknown said...

Hi Rick,

Now I found my way to your blog. Nice pics you got here :-)

Greetz,

Joseph

bonifer said...

Neat shots, Rick !! I love the frog, but catching the plane and the moon is awesome !!

Kerri Farley said...

Really cool moon shot but that froggie is my favorite!! What a handsome dude!

Rick said...

@CarreraCaballo - hello Joseph. Thanks for following and your comments! Much appreciated.

Rick said...

@Riet - goede morgen (of avond) Riet. Dank u wel. Ja, die kikker is echt - hij zit lekker in onze vijver achter 't huis. Fijne dag toegewenst.

Rick said...

@bonifer - thank you! It was a stroke of luck to have that plane come by, although I had to zoom out to get them both in the frame :)

Rick said...

@Kerri - thanks Kerri; I'm not sure if the maiden he was serenading also thought he was that handsome - maybe she did after dark :-)

joey said...

Excellent, Rick! Last night's waxing gibbous moon was amazing ... great shot and post.

imac said...

Nice shots Rick, Lady Luck was sure with you with the moon shot.

Unknown said...

"Let me see what spring is like oooonnnn Jupiter and Marssss.... In other words... RIBBIT!!!"

;o)

These are lovely as always, Rick. The frog is a really spectacular capture. We don't have frogs here, I sure wish we did though.

I love the airplane shot. Wonder if they're preparing for a moon landing?

Rick said...

@joey - yes, it was a lovely sight - should be getting better even over the next 2 days. Thanks joey!

Rick said...

@imac - yes - right place, right time; thanks mac!

Rick said...

@Krista - LOL - I think I can hear crooning coming from the Yukon ;-)

No frogs in the Yukon ?? With all the bugs (you must have) over there, you'd think there'd be frogs aplenty. Shall I ship you a pair ?

As for the plane, yes - flight plan called for 50 day return trip with a stopover in Montreal :-)

Thanks for stopping by Krista!

Jeanne Frances Klaver said...

Love the frog. WOW! That plane really puts the moon in perspective, doesn't it? Great shot!

Anonymous said...

This is what I call, being in the right place at the right time. The moon is surreal and the plane did more justice to that particular shot. Well done friend!

S. Etole said...

It's amazing what you notice when you pick up a camera, isn't it? Nice shots.

Rick said...

@Jeanne Klaver - yes, makes us realize we're just mites in the grand scheme of things, although each one precious in His sight. Thanks Jeanne.

Rick said...

@M. Hassan - fortuitous, yes. Thank you M!

Rick said...

@S. Etole - thank you Susan. I think seeing is a conscious act, whereas looking can be done with the mind on autopilot.

darlin said...

Rick I don't like frogs and somehow you have me thinking that they are beautiful now! lol Wicked photo!

I did enlarge the moon photo and it is amazing. It's photos such as this that help me realize how little I am in the big picture of life. I am wowed once again by your photos, thanks!

Have a wonderful evening!

Rick said...

@darkin - ha ha - I turned him into Prince Charming! :)

Yes, that one puts things into perspective, for sure.

Thank you.

Rick said...

@darlin - oops; must get to bed now - can't spell names anymore :(

Unknown said...

Hehe... yes please, send me a pair would you? ;o)

I think we have a few of them, maybe in the very southern parts of the Yukon. But they would be out only amphibians I'm sure. I'll have to look into that more today at work and let you know what I find out. :o)

Rick said...

@Krista - maybe if I catch that amorous couple and ship them you'll have 100 or so by the time they get there ;-)

Julia said...

Wow! That's a great picture of the moon!!! When are they star pictures coming?

Rick said...

@Julia - thanks Julia; I'm still practicing on the moon - the stars will need to wait a little longer :)