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C.S.I. Tool


C.S.I. Tool
Photo Information
Copyright: Gerhard Theron (gerhardt) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2210 W: 268 N: 4098] (11541)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-03-21
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS USM, Digital ISO 200, Kenko Extension tubes (68mm)
Exposure: f/32, 1/4 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): 50 - 60 points (chapter two), Flies - Moscas - Mouches [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-04-04 4:34
Viewed: 1188
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Flesh fly
Sarcophaga carnaria

WARNING: NOTE CONTAINS GRAPHIC DETAILS OF CORPSES AND DECOMPOSITION.

Forensic entomologists help resolve criminal investigations by interpreting entomological evidence.

The insects in the spotlight are blowflies particularly their larvae or maggots. They colonise the body more rapidly after death and in greater numbers than most other insect groups. They usually provide the most accurate information regarding the post-mortem interval--the time that has elapsed since death. This is a major objective in forensic entomology.

Within a few hours of death, corpses start to smell. Large numbers of adult blowflies are attracted by the odours of decomposition. These odours are mainly created by the action of bacteria on dead tissues. Entomologists use precise methods to collect and present the evidence correctly; a vital precursor to accurate interpretation. They determine facts about the location of the body and its accessibility to flies at the scene of the crime. The largest and therefore oldest maggots are the most important specimens but the complete range of maggots present will be sampled because they may shed light on different aspects of the investigation.

The maggots are plunged into water heated to just below boiling point for 10-15 seconds. Once dead, they are rapidly transferred to a solution of 80% ethanol. This prevents the discolouration and shrinkage that would occur if they were placed directly into common preservative solutions such as ethanol and formaldehyde whilst still alive. Shrinkage would make the maggots appear younger than they actually are.

On an uninjured body, blowfly eggs are usually laid at the openings of body orifices and it is in those areas that the emerging maggots start to feed. Blowflies are also attracted to injuries, so if maggots are found at sites other than the body orifices, they might indicate that some traumatic wounding took place before death.

Scientists then determine the age of the specimens to provide evidence as to when the female flies first found the dead body and laid their eggs--the minimum estimate of the post-mortem interval. This can be taken as the latest time by which death must have occurred. The estimation of maggot age relies on detailed knowledge of the fly lifecycle and the factors that influence it.

The major external factor affecting the fly lifecycle is temperature. They develop slower at lower temperatures and more rapidly at higher temperatures. If the hourly temperatures for the period over which the maggots were developing can be estimated at the crime scene, then the overall thermal input can be determined. The time of egg-laying can then be estimated.

Info from http://www.nhm.ac.uk/entomology/features/flies/flies.html.

Hope you like it.
Runnerduck, AndyB, khris_rino, Janice, coasties, carper, sAner, puffy, tinman, TAZ, LordPotty, Fisher, dew77, red45, Phoki, PDP, Luc, Callie, aktolga, liquidsunshine, Comandante, gerbil has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To ellis49: Welcome model...gerhardt 1 04-04 07:48
To Robbrown: It sat on....gerhardt 1 04-04 06:31
Not intended to offend.gerhardt 4 04-04 05:06
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Critiques [Translate]

Wow Gerhard! This is great! Just superb. Looks like an exhibit in Museum :-)
Great job!

A very graphic note, which for me personally was quite difficult to read.
An incredibly interesting post.

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1586 W: 32 N: 1350] (3980)
  • [2005-04-04 4:40]

Excellent Gerhard!
Amazing detail,so good its frightening!
Great note too.
Very well done.

Excellent details right down to the fine hairs!! TFS

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2005-04-04 4:47]

Magnificent details! Technically perfect macro shot...
Thanks for sharing it with your note...

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3464 W: 145 N: 5943] (17794)
  • [2005-04-04 4:59]

You've got me shivering Gerhard! I can't tick the "useful" box, sorry:) I should, because I love CSI. Okay, I've read it, and ticked the box.
You captured that fly soooooo well. The macro is amazing showing all its bits and pieces so clearly and sharply. Well done.

Wowb gerhard what superb detail to add to the very informative note.
I believe they can even tell what time of year both recent and prehistoric deaths have occoured the same way, because the species changes slightly also.
what is the fly sat on and what did you do to persuade it to stay there with a lens poking in its side?
TFS Robert

Super shot Gerhard. The subject is not so pretty though. Fantastic detail. Spooky eyes. Very informative note. Well done!

prachtig Gerhard,
fanastic macro with good super details in it,
the colours are realy nice and I saw F32, oeps,, very good job, I like it,
gr. Jaap

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1648 W: 79 N: 1438] (4742)
  • [2005-04-04 6:32]

Excellent note! Which of the three CSI's do you like best Gerhard? I prefer Miami. Anyway, back to your picture; it's unbelievably sharp! Really amazing! RAZORSHARP details, excellent POV, great composition. One of the best macro's I have seen in a long time. TFS!

  • Great 
  • puffy Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 314 W: 0 N: 352] (1349)
  • [2005-04-04 6:51]

Wooow Nice shot Gerhard, if I am not a CSI fans, most properly I won't read the rest of it! hehehe, but since I am... its like I am watching and listening to CSI again. Great notes (even thought I feel a bit yurky). It is an excellent macro shot, the detail and sharpness just great. Thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3186] (10922)
  • [2005-04-04 6:59]

Incroyable et superbe ! Quelle macro extraordinaire de qualité ! Et une note très instructive.
Excellent Gerhard !

Beautiful shot Gerhard. Very clear and sharp with fantastic detail. Well done

Hi Gerhard.
This is a lovely post.What a pretty fly.I always think they look much more attractive like this.(They piss me off when they land on my shaved head though)
Your note makes very pleasant reading and is very informative.
The macro is absolutely perfect.You must have an amazing camera and lenses.I wish I could do stuff like this.
Brilliant work!

Great close-up, my friend.
I see you use the whole set for this one. F32, 1/4 sec ?
Did you use glue the fly ;-))
Excellent sharpness with great details, nice compostion and a very good note.
Excellent work.

Excelent side profile of the blowfly. Your note was very interesting. TFS
Well done

Mike

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2816 W: 75 N: 7977] (26975)
  • [2005-04-04 8:59]

Great post Gerhard. Note is superb, very interesting despite corpses present :-) Macro is very detailed, with excellent quality. I like it very much!

Great composition, not a nit. Great sharpness and BG.
Well done.
TFS.

Wow!!!Great note!great pic!TFS!Wordless!!!

Hello Gerhard, Running late..comments later

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2005-04-04 11:36]

The detail here is stunning, but the note is enough to put me on a diet :) This is a text book quality image and note.

Very well done and thanks for posting

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2951 W: 366 N: 3779] (11763)
  • [2005-04-04 14:41]

Very nice shot Gerhard. The details and focus are superb. Excellent shot and note, great stuff.

Woooooow, great shot... Congratulation... Thanks for sharing..
Regards, Murat.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2052 W: 315 N: 4301] (14719)
  • [2005-04-04 15:46]

Personal assessment of the photo: great.
Great visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: very interesting.
Thanks Gerhard for this excellent profile: picture and note.

  • Great 
  • Callie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1243 W: 106 N: 2606] (7501)
  • [2005-04-04 16:35]

Disgustingly beautiful, vivid details and I love the whole of it! You need no macro, with shots like this, We must meet again, so that you can show me how you do this, A stunninf sliver brommer. Mooi MAN!!!

Fantastic shot Gerhard,
A very thorough note to accompany a real treat of a macro.
Wonderful details, fantastic job.
Thanks for posting

Great macro shot!
Very clear.superb details,sharpness at 1/4 shutter speed.
Very good job!

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