The Split-Second Hunt

This photo shows something that is over almost before it begins: a water frog launching itself out of the shallows, mouth open, towards a damselfly hovering just above the water.

Wait, then strike

Frogs are ambush hunters. They sit motionless and let insects come to them, judging distance with forward-facing eyes. When prey is close enough, the frog lunges with its whole body, and its tongue does the rest.

A tongue built for speed

A frog's tongue is attached at the front of the mouth rather than the back, so it flips forward and out. It is soft and coated in sticky saliva, which grips the prey on contact. The whole strike happens in a fraction of a second, far faster than a human blink.

Freezing the moment

Catching a strike on camera takes patience and a fast shutter. It means watching one frog for a long time, predicting when an insect will drift into range, and keeping the focus on the frog rather than the prey.