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Vacation with a Damsel


Vacation with a Damsel
Photo Information
Copyright: iris'hues ss (iris) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 389 W: 40 N: 730] (2302)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-20
Categories: Insects
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-05-23 3:29
Viewed: 481
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi,
I been on my vacation for the past one week.
A visiting uncle and his camera helped…I was still trying to understand its function when i saw this beauty...The macro function seemed to have some hitch, hence i decided to get close as much as i could handle.So here is what I am sending you…

I used vivid colour option as it semed to catch the green eyes of the damsel well as also the complimenting green all around.
Also do notice,the way it has torn or folded the edge of the leaf where it's holding onto.

Damselflies
---------------------------------------------
Order - Odonata.
Suborder – Zygoptera
WINGS: 4 - long, same-sized, veined wings
METAMORPHOSIS: Gradual (egg, nymph, adult). Nymphs are aquatic and feed on Mosquitoe larvae.
MOUTH: Chewing
FEATURES: Small, more delicate will fold wings when at rest. Wings are narrow at base. Weak flyers. Projecting Eyes

Damselflies begin their life underwater, hatching from eggs and spending their first stage of life as aquatic larva or nymphs. During this stage of their lives they breath through gills and are ferocous aquatic predators, feeding on other aquatic larva, tadpoles and small minnows.

A damselfly nymph has a long, slender body with three, feathery tail-like gills which allow it to breath underwater. It moves through the water by sort of wriggling from side to side.

Some species of damselfly live underwater only a few months, while some of the large dragonfly species take up to three or fours years to mature. During their underwater lives, nymphs may molt many time. When ready to molt for the final time, the nymph leaves the water, crawling up a plant stem or up onto a rock until its entire body is out of the water. There it's final, incredible metamorphosis takes place. The outer skin of the nymph cracks, splitting open and an adult damselfly emerges. They begin to extend their long, slender wings and abdomens. After their wings have completely dried and their bodies have hardened, the adults are able to fly and begin hunting for food and for a mate.

While some species of damselflies live an entire season, many kinds live only a few weeks as flying adults. During this short time they will stake out a territory, hunt for food, locate a mate, court, and begin the entire life cycle again.

An damselfly has a very long, slender abdomen and, when not flying, usually holds its long stiff wings together with tips touching over its back. Though their wings have a relatively small arc and only beat around 30 times per second, their flight muscles are extremely powerful. With wings positioned near their center of balance, damselflies are very strong fliers and are capable of amazing aerial acrobatics. They easily fly straight up, hover, dart sideways, change directions in midflight, stop instantly, fly backwards and accelerate to speeds as fast as 30 miles per hour. Evidence of their flight strength is demonstrated by some species which actually migrate over great distances.

These insects also have excellent eyesight! Their huge, protruding eyes have as many as 28,000 individual facets. I donot know whether that’s he reason why I saw it darting away each time I approached it.Each of the tiny facet faces a different direction and each produces a tiny image. The insects brain puts all of these tiny images together to form a picture, much the way the dots on a television or computer screen do. With these powerful compound eyes, they are able to spot their prey, such a mosquito or gnat, from as far away as 40 yards!

Damselfly’s speed, agility and excellent sight all work to their benefit, making them efficient predators and difficult prey for other insect eaters. They have a very unique technique for capturing prey, too! Folding their long, bristly legs into a basket or net like shape beneath their bodies during flight, they fly around literally scooping prey right out of the air. Once prey is caught, the legs very quickly transfer it from the "trap" to their mouth.
Thanks for stopping by!!!!
----------------------------------------------------
(with notes from http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/)
angybone, eqshannon, TAZ, JORAPAVI, nainnain, ramthakur, oscarromulus, ridvan, PaulH, Alex99, uleko has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To oscarromulus: Forgot about your green question!iris 1 05-26 06:36
To oscarromulus: Thank youiris 1 05-26 06:33
To ramthakur: Hopeless !iris 2 05-26 06:27
To eqshannon: Thanks and Camerairis 1 05-25 01:34
To angybone: Am Fine!!iris 1 05-25 01:32
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Critiques [Translate]

What a vivid green!!!!

Good to see you posting again...I was worried since I hadn't seen you. :)

Nice clear sharp damselfly!
:)

Aha! A camera you should put in your collection. The greens are amazing! But nothing can detract from the focal point of the picture. I was so lost in the overall picture that I almost forgot to read the notes....Although I have not seen all of your works, this one is one that I would keep on returning to. Surely you should have it framed.

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 917 W: 4 N: 2282] (10648)
  • [2007-05-24 10:51]

Iris, Glad you are back in action. Very good details and well taken. I shot something similar and I know the hard times chasing them for a shoot. TFS Ganesh

Hola Irishues,
Una buena toma con buena definición y mucho detalle, y agradable composición. Saludos
José Ramón

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3184] (10918)
  • [2007-05-25 7:06]

Hello Iris,
Great macro !!! This is a lovely "Libellule" and you caught it nicely.
The "+++" : composition, subject, pose on the leaf, POV, vivid green colors, sharpness, DOF, exposure, useful note...
The "-" : nothing...
Congratulations & thanks for sharing.

bonjour iris
tres jolie demoiselle sur exceelnt BG, bonne netteté
bien vu, merci, amitiès
edith

Your uncle's camera did make a lot of difference, Iris :-).
At the trial stage, you have done a fairly good job of it.
The shot is well composed and the rich green ambience highlights the subject very well.
Can't you persuade your uncle to gift the camera to you?
TFS

Hi Irishues, wonderful damsel with splendid light and colors, great details, very well done, have a nice week end, ciao Silvio

bonjour iris
de mieux en mieux!encore un peu loin mais les couleurs sont tres belles,c'est net et bien exposé.
laurent

Iris,
Is it all very green !!!???
NOT easy to get them on camera. They are shy.Love green. This one is ALIVE.Notes are meticulas. Highly educative. Are you a teacher? Presented very well. Great composition. Greetings from Canada from Mario.
P.S.Today, all the snow in Calgary has "GONE WITH THE WIND". Have "posted" same "snowless" Spruce trees.

selam irish; amazing shot and nice compo with beautiful colours.good POV and good focus of the lovely damselfly. TFS
well done
regards
ridvan

Hi Irishues ,
very nice shot with amazing colours.
well composed and nice sharpness.
well done
Regards
Saeed

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1032 W: 26 N: 2994] (10800)
  • [2007-05-26 7:56]

Hi Irishues,

amazing colours! The profile angle of your Damselfly is great, and shows how light it must be as the leaf it is sat on doesn't seem to be bent with it's weight at all1

Great work, thanks for sharing.

Paul

Bonjour Irishues
Elle est superbe cette prise de vue en Macro. Les couleurs,les détails sur cette demoiselle sont de toutes beautés et l'éclairage est parfait.
Félicitations et merci pour l'envoie.....JP

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3030 W: 148 N: 4521] (14603)
  • [2007-05-26 13:34]

Hi Irishues.
You have really taken a very goof picture. Excellent composition, great DOF (damselfly and leaf are in focus and BG is nicely blurred), crisp sharpness and details of the insect. TFS and best wishes.
Alexei.

Hi Iris,
Nice DoF, well focused, lovely colors.

BL

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-05-28 1:01]

Hello Iris

A very well composed shot of this damselfly.The lighting is very nice,and the colours are well saturated.You managed very good focus with sharp details.The shot has almost a glow to it.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2459 W: 168 N: 7421] (23442)
  • [2007-05-29 10:47]

Hello Iris,
I love the orange and green colours of this Damselfly, it looks really exotic! Very nice POV, great sharpness and a fine composition.
Many thanks and regards, Ulla

Hello Iris.

Excellent picture, very good details and colors.
Great composition.

Regards.
Jose Luis.

Hi Irishues.
Nice shot. Excellent coloured presentation. Harmony of atmosphere, colours, lightning. Well done. tfs. Stev

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