THE Traveler: David McMahon of Minneapolis.
Viewfinders: Close-up with a red-eyed tree frog in Costa Rica
June 3, 2016 at 12:30PM
The scene: A red-eyed tree frog grips a branch in Costa Rica's Arenal Volcano National Park.
How I got this shot: McMahon shot the iconic amphibian during a guided hike to explore the lava flow from the 1968 eruption of the park's still-active eponymous volcano. "We found this guy shortly after dark (around 6 p.m. in late January) sitting up in a tree. Needless to say, both the frog and we were watching out for snakes at the same time, as most snakes like to hunt at night," McMahon wrote in an e-mail.
The equipment: McMahon snapped this shot with his iPhone 6, without flash, when his guide's flashlight landed on the frog.
The destination: "I loved Costa Rica," McMahon wrote. "I went there for three things — to see the Arenal Volcano, which is a beautiful, cone-shaped volcano; to zip-line (Costa Rica is probably the most amazing country in the world for zip-lining); and to see cool wildlife. In addition to the red-eyed tree frog, I saw howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, toucans, crocodiles, coatis, iguanas, anteaters and most definitely the biggest spiders I've ever seen in my life. It was a great winter getaway — a perfect combination of nature, wildlife and lying by the pool with drinks."
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about the writer
Five generations have vacationed at Ely’s charming, rustic Camp Van Vac. As the end of a family legacy approached, guests anxiously awaited its fate.
