I started going to this particular nature park in ’98, and 27 years later, I still enjoy the thrill of seeing something I’ve never seen before. One of the best examples of that was a hot, steamy Saturday afternoon in 2016, when the pond was full of croaking bullfrogs — I could hear more of them than I could see. But two of them actually seemed to be having a conversation. The timing and the volume both contributed to that. I already knew that croaking bullfrogs are establishing territory. If that meant any of the lady frogs in that area were included, well, what a coincidence, hm? So I’ve been told.

Anyway. The two bullfrogs were speaking to each other, and I am saying here that tension was definitely building between the two in a way even a clueless non-frog human guy like me could pick up on. Finally, Bullfrog 1 decided that Bullfrog 2 was quite full of crap, and started swimming over to where Bullfrog 2 was.

It was quite a distance. I took a number of pictures of Bullfrog 1 getting closer and closer to Bullfrog 2. Bullfrog 1 actually swam past Bullfrog 2, in that “I am totally not going to fight you; I’m just heading to the store for a pack of smokes” way. But then he stopped! He turned! He faced Bullfrog 2 and paused! They were facing each other! Tension! I think I was the only one in the world at that moment who excitedly thought, “I am in the right place at the right time to see two bullfrogs fight!” as I snapped away.

And then Bullfrog 1 swam over to Bullfrog 2! And when they got close, they leaped at each other! Just like in this photo! Bullfrog 1 jumped a little too soon, and Bullfrog 2 got under him and had the strength to knock him over! I got the picture! I got more pictures! There was splashing and the brawl lasted for a few moments, not that bullfrogs are known to perceive time!

And then it was over. Bullfrog 1 — the closer of the two in this photo — lost. I don’t know how these are decided, and think it may actually have been on an If You Know, You Know scoring system.

And Bullfrog 1 began the very, very long Swim of Shame back to where he had been hanging out originally. Even to me, it seemed like it took a much longer time to get back than it took for him to get to Bullfrog 2. The pond had quieted down. Everyone in Bullfrog City knew. Bullfrog 1’s world was already a little smaller, and every other bullfrog on the block was thinking that maybe they could get a little more space for themselves, too.

And that is why I love this photo.

June 18, 2016. Cropped from a larger image. Nikon D7100 (DX sensor), Nikon 70–300mm lens at 220mm (35mm equivalent: 330mm), f/16, 1/250, ISO 1,600.