Photographing the Okinawa Rail has been one of the more rewarding and equally humbling challenges of my time on the island. The species—shy, elusive, and never in any rush to pose.
Hidden within the subtropical forests of northern Okinawa Island, the Ishikawa’s Frog (Odorrana ishikawae) is often hailed as Japan’s most beautiful amphibian
Wild weekends in Okinawa, “Yes, there will be snakes”. To answer the first question that invariably gets asked when discussing the wildlife of Okinawa.
Ishikawa’s Frog had evaded me since my arrival in Okinawa just over four years ago. IVe constantly had this critter in my mind, hoping, waiting for the day I would get to photograph it. But it’s not just Ishikawa’s Frog but more so the blue morph of this ridiculously scarce amphibian.
Photographing Frogs as a Macro Photographer I learned a long time ago any thoughts of this being a glamorous shoot should be stowed and discarded, like, forever!
Andersons Crocodile Newt is pretty much a dinosaur. To be found during specific times of the year and in a few pockets of dense jungles in the Northern areas of Okinawa main island, it is sadly in decline due to habitat loss and illegal pet trade poachers.