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Excuse Me!


Excuse Me!
Photo Information
Copyright: Bente Feldballe (milloup) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 538 W: 48 N: 628] (1704)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-06-23
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Tamron 28-300XR, Hama Close-up +2
Exposure: f/13.0, 1/125 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-01-09 18:07
Viewed: 1480
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Last summer brought some exhilarating new discoveries for me - I got the chance to witness darters sympetrum actually emerging from their larvae shells in one of our small waterholes. Sadly, that same waterhole is now probably doomed, as the area on which it's situated has recently been designated a "development area" on which houses are to be built. Mogens and I have agreed to try to make some noise about that, though, but if they intend to build a few complaints from two bug-a-holics probably won't move much..
Anyway, that was an aside.
Now, given the fact that some of my remarks seem to have been taken by certain menfolk to mean that we Danish women keep our men under lock and key, I decided to post one showing how Danish darter ladies treat Danish darter males - and please pay careful attention to the choice of words here.. ;-))
This photo clearly shows how the female is using the poor male on her way up the "career ladder", climbing all over him on her way up ;-)) The poor wee male - about 1 hour younger than the female - cannot do a thing about it, as he's not yet in a position to move away, not entirely out of his larvae shell yet. So, all he can do is patiently endure the ministrations of the female. I was under the distinct impression, that he didn't like it very much. When he felt the female starting to climb over him - just when I pressed the shutter - he swung forward as if trying to avoid the contact. That's the reason for his head being outside the focus range, for which I apologize.
Okay, banter aside there are several interesting things to see in this photo. Notice how her wings are already see-through and shiny, whereas his are still all shrivelled up and yellowish. Likewise, there's a clear difference in the eye colours of the two, with the female's eyes already turned the proper darter eye colour. Also, notice the difference in the colour of the legs. Hers are already hardening and she's able to use them for serious business, whereas his are still like soft spaghetties - he can wave them frantically, but that's about it. For both of them there's still a few hours to go before they can actually fly. The last part of this time is spent sitting in the top of the rushes while hardening further.
The change that takes place in such a tiny creature during the first few hours of its adult life is truly an amazing thing to witness.
By the way, if you're wondering how I can tell that the left one is male and the right one female, take a look here bottom of the page. I'd already seen the female emerge (she's the one shown on the left on the above homepage), so I know her sex, but you'll just have to take my word for it as it cannot be seen in this photo.
Treatment: Crop, Contrast +10, Brightness +10, Saturation +10, USM and resize.
scottevers7, Luc, carper, gerhardt, Callie, Robbrown has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Callie: More driving ;-))milloup 1 01-11 10:25
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Critiques [Translate]

A very nice macro shot of these darters. I am sure it took some patience to make this shot. Great information on the notes.

Great macro Bente. You captured a rare moment here. Very well done

Well Bente,
It's now for sure Danish women keep there men under lock and barrel. Very good macro, good pof and dof and a very good imformative note, great job

Composition: ****
Sharpness: ***
Color: ****
DOF: ***
POV: ***

Very good composition, I think a bit too close.
TFS.

I'm really affraid of your photo. Do you think I will have a nighmare? But it is done very well!

What a moment. I know what this feels like from my mantis emerginging. It's a very nice shot Bente. Vey difficult to get all in the DOF but you did very well. Excellent write up too. Well done.

Driven INTO submission, I see. And this just because of the drive to get to the top, to drive the last vestiges of softness from her body. And I note, carefully, the wording.
Nice one here Bente, and a very good not note too.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2058 W: 315 N: 4404] (14713)
  • [2005-01-11 11:40]

I believe in you on word, Bente. You are an expert in the subject. And you have the talent to arrest my attention with this double detailed description: image and note.
Thank you very much.

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2005-01-11 21:41]

Now this is typical female! She is already getting him used to the battering he is going to receive for the rest of his life! To him this will be normal and he would think she is "nice" when she gives him some time off while she is powdering her nose. The moment she has finished the beauty session she will be back in the driver seat. Looking at the wings and legs that need to harden, the female has one thing that is ready from the first moment - her mouth! :)

Jokes aside.

This is a wonderful moment that you caught with great skill. The sharpness is very good (excellent on the female of course) and the exposure great.

Very well done and thanks for posting

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16856)
  • [2005-01-22 21:07]

Bente, it's easy to realize you have (at least) two great talents: you shoot very well and you write very well too. It's always pleasant to see your pictures and to read your notes. Here, that wasn't different. Congratulations on the picture, congratulations on the note.

Lívio

Another image I seem to have missed, Sorry bente,
This explains why we see Dragons with damaged wings and legs when quite young, my books say damage at this time is more likely to lead to lead to failure to pass though this stage, so it is good to learn he survived this trampling. the image show well the intermediate stage of wing extention with the wings vertical over the back, before the are folded flat, which she it going to do when she finds room enough to flattern them out with out them comming into contact with anything or they may become bent and unusable.
Thank you for sharing this one with us , I know how early you had to get up to get this one.
Sorry out of points, just trying to catch up with people.

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