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Chernobyl Dedication!


Chernobyl Dedication!
Photo Information
Copyright: iris'hues ss (iris) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 392 W: 41 N: 735] (2314)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-13
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon SX100 IS
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-04-26 0:44
Viewed: 579
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi,
Summer is scorching here but one still cannot resist going out and seeing those riotous colours of orange dahlias and the little bees and flies humming around.
While I prepared the shot for the post, I also came across an incident that April 26 as a day is etched in world history.

The Chernobyl Disaster Day.
-----------------------------
The "Chernobyl disaster", reactor accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, was the worst nuclear power plant accident in history and the only instance so far of level 7 on the International Nuclear Event Scale, resulting in a severe nuclear meltdown.On 26 April 1986 at 01:23:40 a.m. Reactor number four at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant located in the Soviet Union near Pripyat in Ukraine exploded.

The 2005 report prepared by the Chernobyl Forum, led by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and World Health Organization (WHO), attributed 56 direct deaths (47 accident workers, and nine children with thyroid cancer), and estimated that there may be 4,000 extra deaths due to cancer among the approximately 600,000 most highly exposed and 5,000 among the 6 million living nearby.

Impact on Flora & Fauna:
After the disaster, four square kilometres of pine forest in the immediate vicinity of the reactor turned ginger brown and died, earning the name of the "Red Forest", according to the BBC. Some animals in the worst-hit areas also died or stopped reproducing. Most domestic animals were evacuated from the exclusion zone, but horses left on an island in the Pripyat River 6 km from the power plant died when their thyroid glands were destroyed by radiation doses of 150-200 Sv. Some cattle on the same island died and those that survived were stunted because of thyroid damage. The next generation appeared to be normal.
In the years since the disaster, the exclusion zone abandoned by humans has become a haven for wildlife, with nature reserves declared (Belarus) or proposed (Ukraine) for the area. Many species of wild animals and birds, which were not seen in the area prior to the disaster, are now plentiful due to the absence of humans in the area. A robot sent into the reactor itself has returned with samples of black, melanin-rich fungi that are growing on the reactor's walls.

The incident is a reminder of the caution that mankind should take dealing with nature and its bounties.

This is a dedication to the thousands of lives that were affected by this horrendous incident. Let time not erase the valuable lessons we are taught in our lives….Each new life on earth tells the resounding truth of the Lord and His glory. Amen!
*************************************
Hover Flies Mating
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Family Syrphidae
Order Diptera
Hover flies have a characteristic flight pattern - hovering in one spot, moving suddenly forwards or sideways, then hovering again and hence their name. They are important as pollinators of plants.

Identification
-------------
Hover flies have large heads, large eyes, and small or inconspicuous antennae. Their bodies are medium to slender, with a waist that is not significantly narrow, unless it is a wasp mimicking species. They have one pair of clear wings, and the banded forms have yellow and black bands of equal width. They are small to medium sized flies, with an average body length of 1-1.5cm. Most hoverflies have ornate body patterns, often of black and yellow, to mimic wasps and bees but are harmless.

Mating
------
The male hoverfly generally has two strategies in seeking a mate. 1) He patrols around oviposition sites. The female will have already mated if she is seeking a site to lay eggs. But if the male can persuade her to mate again his sperm will have precedence. 2) He patrols over flowers. This is shown above. He will investigate anything that remotely resembles a female hoverfly bouncing down to get close or even touch the insect. Mating is rarely common sight seen and hence a lovely sight is presented here for you.

After mating, the female look for the good site to lay her eggs. Usually somewhere near the aphids feeding place. Some hover fly species (Eristalis sp) lay their eggs in stagnant water. These aquatic larvae have a long thin breathing tube - hence the common name, "rat-tailed maggots". Another hover fly species (Microdon sp) has a larval form that scientists originally classified as a mollusc because it looks rather like a small slug. Microdon larvae survive by scavenging in ant nests, mimicking the ants' chemicals in order to escape detection by their hosts.

Thanks you for looking in:)
Cheers


Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl_disaster#Flora_and_Fauna
www.austmus.gov.au/factsheets/hover_flies.htm
http://www.bumblebee.org/invertebrates/DipteraHoverflies.htm
XOTAELE, Alex99, matatur, Silvio2006, uleko, maurydv, Ken52, mariki, JPlumb, eqshannon, Amadeo, SelenE, boreocypriensis, yasin has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hola Irishues.
Bellos colores y genial presentación, con una buena y nitida macro.
Excelente comentario, que nos trae el recuerdo de una tragedia que nunca debió ocurrir.
Saludos, JL.

spl

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3046 W: 148 N: 4553] (14701)
  • [2008-04-26 8:10]

Hi Irishues.
Fantastic picture, great note and exact analogy. That days I was in Kiev (not so far form Chernobyl) and did not know about this tragedy. However we know what was happened then and what is happing now around station and so on. Superb coice of subject. I like fire of colours, combination of sharpness and blurriness, two small hoverflies in the middle of the "fire". Bravo and best wishes.
Alexei.

A beautiful composition in reds, yellows and browns Iris, the chosen viewpoint clearly shows the mating hoverfiles amongst the florets of the dahlias in sharp focus and fine detail. TFS my friend.
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988] (16346)
  • [2008-04-26 19:22]

Hi Irishues,
You make me remember a sad day and these bright red colours of the petals are so poignant of the blazing fire. The two mating Hoverflies seems to be engulfed by the fire as it would have been then. Very impressive and delicate shot with perfect lighting and a well chosen POV. Very nice composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hi Irishues, splendid colorful composition with very interesting note, wonderful idea, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2615 W: 133 N: 7512] (23431)
  • [2008-04-29 1:44]

Hello Irishues,
Superb 'fiery' macro of a pair of mating hoverflies in a red flower. The sharpness, composition and POV are excellent and the choice of commemoration day very apt.
We need to be reminded on what destructive species we are when it comes to live and the environment on this planet and we can only hope that Homo sapiens has the 'sapiens' to do something about it before it is too late.
Thanks for sharing this,
Best wishes, Ivan

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2470 W: 168 N: 7478] (23630)
  • [2008-04-29 9:51]

Hello Irishues,
Wonderful bright colours from a hot and sunny India! Excellent capture of these Hoverflies on the pretty Dahlia. Great focus and fine details too.
A fine dedication - The Chernobyl disaster was a great shock to us as we'd only just moved to my homeland, Sweden, and were just beginning to accept the fact that our Prime Minister Olof Palme had been murdered shortly before. Northern parts of Sweden were affected by radiation and you still cannot eat mushrooms picked there nor Elk meat.
Many thanks and regards, Ulla

Un'immagine di forte impatto per un giorno disastroso, POV aggressivo ed efficace, molto bello il taglio compositivo, buona nitidezza, splendidi e saturi di fuoco i colori. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • Ken52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 663 W: 98 N: 1260] (4181)
  • [2008-04-30 22:08]

Interesting photo and note. Brilliant colors and nice sharpness on the hover flys.

Hello Irishues,

Excellent presentation of this couple of hoverflies mating in this colourful dalhia. Great POV, DOF and sharpness. Wonderful vivid colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hi Irishues, this flower really suits these Hoverflies, the colour ties in with them very well. Your timing on this shot is excellent, catching these two like this. The overall colour is incredible, the shot is well lit, with very good sharp clarity.

Thanks, John

It looks as though I had marked it use full then my mind went blank....fine image. Very well saturat3ed with colours! Superbly noted!
Bob

Hi Irishues,
the colors of this post are amazing!
Composition is great, too.
The two hoverflies are captured very sharp and detailed.
Well done & TFS
Tatjana

  • Great 
  • Amadeo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 199 W: 0 N: 667] (2959)
  • [2008-05-03 10:56]

Hola Irishues, una explosión de color, con una composición acertada, una buena selección del enfoque y con buena luz. Un saludo

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2352 W: 61 N: 3814] (12240)
  • [2008-05-07 23:39]

Hi Iris,
Colors and contrast look great. Well composed and exposed capture with good details. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

Hi Iris,
very colorful shot and great sharpness on the bees!
Well done!
and TFS
Vanessa

Superb macro capture and lovely dedication Iris! Well done my friend! TFS.
Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • yasin Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 31 W: 1 N: 43] (129)
  • [2008-06-06 1:40]

Namaste Silpa,
Excellent captured and great composition of those riotous colours of orange dahlias and the mating. You've done the excellent study also.
Sukriya for sharing :))

Salaam
Yasin

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