The Big Night: Photographing the Salamander Migration in Ohio

During the first warm rains of spring, something incredible happens in the Ohio woods. Amphibians begin to wake up and migrate from their winter homes to vernal pools to spawn. I first discovered this migration last year after seeing a post on social media and knew I had to go check it out. It was such an awesome experience that I property prepared to really document it this year.

Eastern Newt - an unfortunate casualty

The migration has gained a lot of attention lately through social media, which is a bit of a double edged sword. On one hand, it’s great that more people are aware of the awesome wildlife we have right here in Ohio. On the other hand, it can be bad for the salamanders themselves due to improper handling and disruption. At some of the more popular locations in the Cleveland Metroparks, that definitely seemed to be the case.

Because of masses of people, I did my own research to find other vernal pools within a reasonable drive, and it paid off. I was very successful in finding many specimens and only came across a couple of people during my search, most of whom weren't even there to observe the migration. It made for a much quieter, more respectful experience in nature.

For most of these images, I utilized my Nikon Z8 and 105mm Macro with a very simple two light setup using my Profoto A10 and B2. This setup provided dynamic light that showed off some really great detail on the salamanders. My only wish is that I would have had a little more rain while I was actually out shooting to add a bit more atmosphere to the images!

Overall, I’m super happy with what I came up with this season. It’s a unique challenge to shoot in these conditions, and I’m already excited to see what next year brings! Spotted Salamander👇

Jefferson Salamander👇

Eastern Newt👇

Eastern Red Backed Salamander👇

Eastern Toad👇

Wood Frog👇

Spring Peeper👇

Green Frog👇

Pickerel Frog👇

I even came across a couple other creatures!

Millipede👇

Wooly Bear Caterpillar👇

Finally, the coolest random animal to run into, a weasel! Unfortunately, he bolted just after I saw him, so I was only able to get one, not so great, photo. 👇