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The Hoverfly


The Hoverfly
Photo Information
Copyright: Pankaj Bajpai (pankajbajpai) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1557 W: 105 N: 4678] (16503)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-12-07
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D80, Sigma Apo 150mm f/2.8 EX macro DG, 72mm UV
Exposure: f/13.0, 1/160 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Map: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-12-13 21:06
Viewed: 629
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I am back posting after a break of two weeks. These days i am not able to shoot, post or write critiques regularly. I will be heading for another business trip on tuesday for a week.

I found this hoverfly resting on a small branch of a shrub. the shot has been taken handheld with Nikon D 80 along with Sigma 150 mm macro lens. I havent got good control of this lens so far but hope that by using it more often i will get some fine macro shots.

Information from wikipedia about hoverflies:

Flies in the Diptera family Syrphidae are commonly known as hoverflies, flower flies, or Syrphid flies.

As their common names suggest, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at flowers; the adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while the larvae (maggots) eat a wide range of foods. In some species, the larvae are saprotrophs, eating decaying plant and animal matter in the soil or in ponds and streams. In other species, the larvae are insectivores and prey on aphids, thrips, and other plant-sucking insects.

Aphids alone cause tens of millions of dollars of damage to crops worldwide every year; because of this, aphid-feeding hoverflies are being recognized as important natural enemies of pests, and potential agents for use in biological control. Some adult syrphid flies are important pollinators.

About 6,000 species in 200 genera have been described. Hoverflies are common throughout the world and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Hoverflies are harmless despite their mimicry of the black and yellow stripes of wasps, which serves to ward off predators.

Your critiques and comments are most welcome.
eqshannon, Miss_Piggy, Alex99, ramthakur, siggi, Argus, ddg, JoseMiguel, uleko, zulfu, red45, bahadir, boreocypriensis, goldyrs, gracious, Pearl, valy67 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Two weeks? Sometimes it is so long I almost forget how good your images are Pankaj! Lovely shot.Even as the insect is pesky the green backdrop makes up for it...and with red eyes..it almost has a Christmas flavour to it! Welcome back!
bob

Hallo Pankaj
A stunning macro of this hoverfly. All parts are really sharp, and details is really impressive. Lovely combination of colours and patterns on the body. Very interesting to look at. The size of the eyes is really impressive and very clearly seen and the different colours in the paws is very pleasant to look at. Great focus and sharpness in this image. Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards
Anna

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3556 W: 143 N: 5626] (18415)
  • [2008-12-13 22:30]

Hi Pankaj.
Very cute scene. I have never seen hoverfly on so non interesting (for food or anything else) twig. Very elegant composition with crisp sharpness, exact colours and perfect flash light. DOF is great and impressive smooth nicely coloured BG decorates the image excellently. My best regards and TFS.
Alexei.

You are being modest, Pankaj. This picture of a Hoverfly you found and shot recently is of high quality. You are using your 150mm macro very well now. The colours and details on the fly are very beautiful.
Since I am quitting my school assignment, I too am busy winding up these days and peep in only occasionally here.
TFS and regards.
Ram

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1338 W: 56 N: 4515] (15556)
  • [2008-12-13 23:30]

Hello Pankaj.
A very good close up shot of the Hoverfly.You have captured fine detail with your shar focusing. Excellent rich colours, with a nice pose . Best regards Siggi

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3750 W: 187 N: 11171] (34499)
  • [2008-12-13 23:54]

Hello Pankaj,
Interesting macro of a Hoverfly take fom aventro-lateral POV and well illuminated by flash to show the details with great sharpness against a fine green neutral BG.
A nice one to view and thanks for sharing it,
Regards,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 855 W: 23 N: 942] (5111)
  • [2008-12-13 23:56]

Bonjour Pankaj, great lighting around this bug and a perfect focus and sharpness too. Nice pose. Best regards, Didier.

Hi Pankaj,
You've got excellent results, having in mind that this is a handheld shot.
Good fill flash lighting to produce sharp and fine details on the insect.
I like a lot the proposed composition and the dark green background.
Great work and thanks for share.
My best regards,
JM

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2961 W: 162 N: 826] (2453)
  • [2008-12-14 4:54]

Hello Pankaj,
Nice to see you back! This is a very fine composition showing a Hoverfly from an unusual angle in a fine pose on the bud. Excellent sharpness, beautiful light and colours and a very fine dark background to set it off. Well done!
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1021 W: 0 N: 162] (858)
  • [2008-12-14 5:10]

Hello Pankaj, nice composition and wonderful shot of a hoverfly. Wonderful colours and details.
TFS and G's,
Mehmet

Simplicity always wins me over...and that's the beauty of this shot...simple, balanced, clean and clear. Lovely work!

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2703 W: 74 N: 8857] (30219)
  • [2008-12-14 8:11]

Hi Pankaj!

This is excellent macro!

Not only subject is very interesting, sharp and detailed, but first of all composition is breathtaking! Pure beauty!

Hello pankaj. Superb close-up. the composition is great.
TFS and rgards,
Bahadır

Hi Pankaj,
An excellent macerro of this howerfly on a twig with splendid colours and details.
TFS and cheers my friend.
Bayram

Ciao Pankaj, superb macro of beautiful hoverfly with fantastic blurry BG,fin details and splendid colors, perfect focus and great sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Pankaj da,
Yadi main ye kahoon ki ye shot sundar hai, to ye shaayad sooraj ko diya dikhana hoga. This is one of the best macros I've seen till date.
Respect!!
Goldy

Hello Pankaj,
Nice to see your beautiful posting after a while and I am also absent a while due to busy workload!
anyway, this is a good macro with quality with great sharpness, wonderful colour and details!
the dark bg makes the subject very outstanding
take care and my sincere regards to you
Tony

Hello Pankaj,

This is very nice come back,I like the overall contrast of the picture, lovely background, however I felt few pixeles could have been cut at the bottom and made a horizontal picture.

  • Great 
  • Pearl Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 85 W: 25 N: 45] (137)
  • [2008-12-14 23:36]

Hello Pankaj,

This is a beautiful macro of the Hoverfly. The focusing, lightplay and sharpness are perfect. The details are very clear and crisp. Good composition with a nice POV. Colors and tones are brilliant. TFS.

Pearl.

Hello Pankj !
What a cute hoverfly, I love her big brown eyes and her colors, white and yellow - I had never seen this species before. Your made an excellent capture, with sharp details, spotless composition and POV, splendid blurred POV to make the insect stand out, and you made excellent use of your flash. Very well done !
Valerie.

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