While hiking the Horton Slough Trail at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, I came across a beautiful green tree frog perched on a reed at the water’s edge. I instantly recognized it as an American green tree frog, thanks to its bright green color and white stripe along the side. This vibrant amphibian is a fairly common species in wetland areas of the eastern and central United States.
I quickly grabbed my camera gear and snapped some photos before the little guy hopped away. Here are the details:
Equipment:
- Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III
- Lens: Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Date & Time: September 18, 2023 at 9:58 AM
Settings:
- Date & Time: September 18, 2023 at 9:58 AM
- Aperture: f/5.6
- Shutter Speed: 1/400 sec (set automatically)
- ISO: 800
- Exposure Compensation: 0 EV
- Focal Length: 400mm
Getting sharp shots of frogs and other quick wildlife requires fast shutter speeds to freeze motion. The shallow depth of field from my lens’s wide aperture also helped isolate the frog from the busy background.
Spotting this American green tree frog made my hike extra rewarding. I feel lucky to have captured its vibrant colors and textures before it disappeared into the wetland foliage. Keep your eyes peeled during spring and summer hikes – you never know what photo opportunities you might encounter!