When the Pond Comes Alive

The sun has gone, the sky has turned blue, and this frog is just getting started. It sits on a duckweed-covered bank in the last of the evening light, eyes wide open.

Cooler, damper, safer

Night suits frogs well. The air is cooler and more humid, so there's less risk of drying out, and many daytime predators like herons have settled for the night. Insects are still flying low over the water, so there is plenty to hunt.

Eyes for low light

Frogs have large eyes relative to their head, which helps gather what little light there is. Their vision is especially good at picking up movement, which is exactly what they need to find insects after dark.

The blue hour

The short window after sunset, when the sky still holds some colour, is a good time for night-time frog photos. There is enough ambient light to show the scene without a flash, and the cool blue tones match the mood of the pond at night.