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Ocimum Tenuiflorum & Hoverfly


Ocimum Tenuiflorum & Hoverfly
Photo Information
Copyright: Pankaj Bajpai (pankajbajpai) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1558 W: 105 N: 4679] (16507)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-03-15
Categories: Bushveld
Camera: Nikon D80, Sigma Apo 150mm f/2.8 EX macro DG, 72mm UV
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/200 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Map: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-03-30 6:05
Viewed: 1028
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 56
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I am back after a long break. Today i am posting a picture of part of plant of Ocimum tenuiflorum also known as TULSI along with a hoverfly resting on it.

The TULSI is found in most of the homes in India as its worshipped. This plant has been used in Aruveda for is theruptic propertiles.

from wikipedia:

Ocimum tenuiflorum (also known as ocimum sanctum, tulsi, tulasī (तुलसी‌) in Sanskrit and Hindi, tulasi (తులసి) in Telugu, (തുളസി) in Malayalam, (துளசி) in Tamil, (ತುಳಸಿ) in Kannada, Maduruthala in Sinhalese) is an aromatic plant in the family Lamiaceae.

It is an erect, much branched subshrub 30-60cm tall, with simple opposite green or purple leaves that are strongly scented, and hairy stems. Leaves have petioles, and are ovate, up to 5cm long, usually somewhat toothed. Flowers are purplish in elongate racemes in close whorls.

Tulsi is native throughout the Old World tropics and widespread as a cultivated plant and an escaped weed.

It is cultivated for religious and medicinal purposes, and for its essential oil. There are two main morphotypes cultivated in India—green-leaved (Sri or Lakshmi tulsi) and purple-leaved (Krishna tulsi).

It is known across South Asia as a medicinal plant, commonly used in Ayurveda, and has an important role within the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism, in which devotees perform worship involving Tulsi plants or leaves.

About Hoverfly:

Flies in the 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 to most other animals despite their mimicry of the black and yellow stripes of wasps, which serves to ward off predators.


The shot has been taken with Nikon D 80 along with sigma 150 mm macro lens handheld. Necessary editing has been done before final presentation.
maurydv, MMM, Heaven, Argus, valy67, jaycee, cataclysta, nglen, Juyona, Marx44, flashpoint, eqshannon, jusninasirun, goutham_ramesh, nasokoun, anel, boreocypriensis, sranjan, Pitoncle, parthasarathi has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Pankaj,
what a wonderful picture of this insect of the family Syrphidae, very good sharpness and splendid colours, i like the lovely posture of the Syrphidae on the flower against a marvellous OOF BG, very well composed.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 921 W: 0 N: 1985] (8905)
  • [2009-03-30 6:25]

Hi Pankaj
Another nice composition.Good POV I like to see a lot of space on the top portion and in front of the Hoverfly it give the impression that the fly is climbing.Beautiful colors and sharp image.
TFS Michel

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 652 W: 15 N: 1622] (6301)
  • [2009-03-30 6:27]

Hello Pankaj
Nice capture with wonderful composition and great details.
Well done.
Regards
Razvan

Hi Pankaj!

It's a pleasure to see you back, and you start your "comeback" in a very pleasant way! I like your delicate and fine picture very much. It has a well pronounced artistic effect, and the pastel colours add to the value of it. I also like the detailed notes very much.

Kind regards

Markus

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3824 W: 190 N: 11393] (35107)
  • [2009-03-30 7:53]

Hello Pankaj,
Nice to see you back with us!
This is a beautiful image, the composition of the flowering Tulsi and the Hoverfly being very artistic. This, together with the fine sharpness against the neutral BG make this a top class photo.
Thanks for sharing this beauty,
Ivan

Hello Pankj !
Such a wondeful picture ! The flowers are lovely, and the Hoverfly on them is a great bonus (it looks exactly he same as our French Hoverflies, even though you live at the other end of the world). Sharpness, details, composition, POV, blured BG, colors, everything is beautiful, it's a fantastic shot. Very well done !
Valérie.

Ciao Pankaj, lovely composition with delicate fowers and beautiful hoverfly, splendid light and colors, excellent sharpness and wonderful blurry BG, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2009-03-30 8:53]

Hi Pankaj,

So nice to see you posting again! This beautiful picture reminds me of a delicate Oriental print. The flowers are lovely and the hoverfly is trying to steal the scene with his bright colors and sharp details. Framing and composition are wonderful.

Jane

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2398 W: 94 N: 5543] (17640)
  • [2009-03-30 9:39]

Hello Pankaj,
Very nice to see you back.
Superb delicate photo. Perfect composition and a lovely POV. Fantastic clarity and OOF BG. Great sharpness.
Regards,
Peter

Hi Pankaj
Simple, beautiful, elegant. Great wide frame, fantastic colors ,perfect blured background Nothing to critique I like it very much
TFS
Krzysztof

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2916 W: 34 N: 8651] (32250)
  • [2009-03-30 12:08]

Hi Pankaj . Its nice to see you again i hope all is well with you. This is a beautiful picture. so simple but first class. You have taken it with good detail and natural colours. The plant itself would have bben enough but the hoverfly is a bonus. well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2264 W: 10 N: 2633] (15577)
  • [2009-03-30 12:39]

Hola amigo
fina macro y detalles,
atractivos colores y pov,
saludos

  • Great 
  • Marx44 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 174 W: 95 N: 604] (2146)
  • [2009-03-30 12:48]

Hi Pankaj, good picture.
The colours are good and it's a nice composition.
TFS
Marx

hello Pankaj!
i like the composition with this smart Pov
good quality of details and colors

best sERGIO

Ha! You're too humble and way too good...but I knew that a couple of years ago...and am so glad you're back to show off these wonderful and teaching masterpieces.
Bob

Hi Pankaj,

I like the shallow depth silencing the background beautifully here. The focus is tact sharp and details are so well established.

TFS and best regards,
Jusni

Excellent placement of the subject in the frame, the picture has some kind of 3D EFFECT., and nice notes too , no nits really

Hello Pankaj,
A beautifully composed shot of this auspicious hoverfly offering obeisances to Sri Tulasi Devi.

It must be singing:

namo namah tulasi krsnas preyasi
radha-krsna-seva pabo ei abhilasi

(O Tulasi,beloved of Krsna,I bow before you again and again,
My desire is to obtain the service of Sri Radha-Krsna)

I remember circling the Tulsi tree and singing this kirtana and Sri Tulsi Pranama at the temple in Christchurch.
I was a regular there for over 14 years.
I remember the best beads for a mala were always made of Tulsi.

Thanks for sharing this.
Cheers
Steve

hello Pankaj
your photo
simply exceptional
best regards
Nasos

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1726 W: 0 N: 3927] (15770)
  • [2009-03-31 4:41]

hello Pankaj,
A very original and fine composition you show here. I like the way you composed the picture and the very subtle colors of plant and background. The little hoverfly appears like a gem on the flowering branch.
Very well done
Thanks and best regards
Anne

Hello Pankaj.

Excellent composition, very good details and colors.

Saludos.
Jse Luis.

Namaste Pankaj,
this arrangement is so beautiful, I love the flower and the pretty brown BG - and this hoverfly is so lovely, thanks, very well done
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2009-03-31 9:40]

Pankaj Fantastic composition. what a sharp picture. Brilliant work. Ganesh

very nice close up, TFS Ori

Hi MF Pankaj, a splendid macro capture of this beautiful flower-bee composition in a charming atmosphere with great clarity and nice DOF. The BG colours are great MF!
TFS and cheers,
Bayram

Hello Pankaj, beautifully composed picture, I like the way the fly is resting and you have captured it along with tulasi plant so well.tfs

hello Pankaj
great composition with very good details
beautiful colours
great sharpness
greeting lou

Hello Pankaj Bhai,
Khoobsurat karnama again with Ocimum Tenuiflorum & Hoverfly. Excellent composition & candid details of the subject. TFS
Regards-Subhash

Bonjour Pankaj,
Très belle publication avec cette belle macro bien composée, finement détaillée et délicatement colorée.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

Great shot you had captured.

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