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cow killer


cow killer
Photo Information
Copyright: jaap polak (carper) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2009 W: 122 N: 2581] (8424)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-05-07
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon 350D, Tamron 90mm macro
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/80 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-06-02 14:35
Viewed: 1090
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hornets are large unsocial wasps. The true hornets make up the genus Vespa, and are distinguished from other vespines by the width of the vertex (part of the head behind the eyes), which is proportionally larger in Vespa; and by the anteriorly rounded gasters (the section of the abdomen behind the wasp waist).
Life cycle of the European hornet In Vespa crabro, the nest is founded in spring by a fertilized female, known as the queen. She generally selects sheltered places like hollow tree trunks. She builds a first series of cells (up to 50) out of chewed tree bark. The cells are arranged in horizontal layers named combs, each cell being vertical and closed at the top. As the colony size grows, new combs are added, and an envelope is built around the cell layers, until the nest is entirely covered, with the exception of an entry hole. At the peak of its population the colony can reach a size of 700 workers. This occurs in late summer.
At this time the queen starts producing the first reproductive individuals. Fertilized eggs develop into females, unfertilized ones into males. Adult sexuals do not participate in nest maintenance, foraging, or caretaking of the larvae. In early to mid-autumn they leave the nest and mate during mating flights. The drones die shortly after the flights. The workers and queens survive at most until mid to late autumn; only the fertilized queens overwinter.
Stings
Hornets are often (although wrongly) thought to be very aggressive and dangerous, and are much feared by some people. Hornets can actually be seen to slowly crawl backwards and eventually flee, rather than attacking, when approaching them. This can make it hard to remove hornets from indoors, if they happen to come in through an open window or door. Some folk beliefs have it that three stings from the European hornet can kill an adult human, and that seven can kill a horse. While impressive due to their size, European hornets are in fact much less aggressive than some of their smaller relatives (notably the , and their sting isn't more dangerous. Unwarranted fear has often led to the destruction of nests, and the species is locally threatened. It benefits from legal protection in some countries, notably Germany.
Hornets are not harmless, however. They have a painful sting and can cause anaphylactic shock to persons with an allergy to wasp venom, a condition which can be fatal. While not aggressive when encountered far from the nest, workers will vigorously defend the nest if provoked.
Well when I read the note I had my thoughts. This insect can kill a cow. Wauw, and what happens with the photographer. Well I still alive, but I don’t know the next time. I hope you like the shot of this hidden hornet. It was between the leafs,
Gr. jaap
wallhalla15, loot, pilonm, jchemas, dew77, marhowie, ramthakur, liziafa, ellis49, SkyF, elefantino, livios, jhm, scottevers7, Fisher, RII, Alex99 has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To cam: The light is very good,did you use a flash?carper 1 06-04 02:20
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Critiques [Translate]

Great macro Jaap. Great composition with excellent sharpness and very good details. Great colours and great POV too. Very good job. Well done. Thank you for posting. Have a great weekend.
Gr.
Heinz

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5452 W: 594 N: 3651] (10035)
  • [2006-06-02 15:05]
  • [2]

Hi Jaap (stranger)
This insect was sitting at a rather peculiar angle for DOF so I believe you did very well. On top of that you had to cope with all the leaves causing various highlights and distractions. However, considering the dangerous nature of these hornets and the fact that you would probably disturb it and make it fly away, you definitely do not want to attempt to move aside the leaves. The composition, colours and details are fine.
I see you are progressing well with the new 350D. Good work and TFS.
Regards
Loot

  • Great 
  • pilonm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 548 W: 90 N: 871] (2919)
  • [2006-06-02 16:09]

Hello Jaap,

Nice picture of this hornet! The way you got the pov, you manage very well by having the focus on the head of the insect! Nice natural colors and bg! TFS,

Michel

What a great composition Jaap.
Super colors and the details are incredible.
I love the POV and the BG.
The framing is excellent too.
tfs!!!!
Regards
JC

Hi Jaap,
this is a very good macro from your DSRL.
Good details, nice colours and very good POV and composition.
Very well done, my friend.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2006-06-03 4:06]

Hello Jaap,
Excellent close up.I liked POV,lighting,details and sharpness on head and composition a lot.
TFS...:-)

hi
un superbe gros plan,c'est magnifique a tous points de vue.merci.
laurent

Hello Jaap,
I like the POV, and you have very good detail.
Nice colors, and you have composed this well also mf.
Very well done.

An outstanding macro of this yellow and brown hornet, Jaap.
The focus on the face is so sharp every detail stands out extremely clearly.
The naked human eye cannot perceive or see details to such a minute extent.
Thanks for sharing this great creation.

Hi Jaap,
Wonderful close-up!
Sharp, details, colors and light are perfect!
Well done!
TFS Malgosia

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 637 W: 32 N: 792] (3084)
  • [2006-06-03 12:23]

Hi Jaap, nice close-up of this hornet hiding in the branches. Excellent details and colours, aslo well composed. TFS.
Dean.

  • Great 
  • Graal Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 755 W: 31 N: 20] (5032)
  • [2006-06-03 13:47]

Hi Jaap,
good macro, nice colours and interesting note. I like the sharpness and DOF also. Good job.
Rgs, Aleksander

  • Great 
  • cam Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 87 W: 0 N: 78] (360)
  • [2006-06-03 22:27]
  • [2] [+]

Hello Jaap
As long as you do not put your foot on the nest,you will be fine.
The beauty of the 90 macro is that you do not have to be too close,a good thing.
The details are very sharp
The light is very good,did you use a flash?
The leaves,while a little disturbing are adding a welcome prop.Good of you to have seen it.
Charles

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2233 W: 188 N: 1929] (8127)
  • [2006-06-04 8:06]

Hi Jaap,
very nice close up of this bug. Love the POV and colors. Lovely sharp details, well presented.
TFS..Sky

Hi Jaap,
amazing details on this bee.
Great colors and BG, too.
Andrea

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2006-06-04 15:18]

Jaap, this is a very nice macro.

I like colors and composition, as well as saturation.

Great pov too.

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 649 W: 0 N: 178] (628)
  • [2006-06-06 2:17]

Dag Jaap,

Werkelijk de foto op de kop gericht dit met een schitterende kwaliteit, ook de kleuren zijn hier zeer mooi, ja Jaap er mogen zeker een aantal mensen kijken naar dit mooi spectakel, macro's uw specialiteit!
Groot werk.
Groeten,
John

Hi Jaap,
this hornet is beautiful - but I'm always not sure if I see a big wasp or a hornet - ok, a hornet is also a wasp. I have so many wasps in the garden, but a few are bigger - but collecting nectar in the flowers - I think a hornet doesn't do this, they only eat other insects. Anyway, wonderful creatures and I never thought I could like them sometimes - but I do ;-) Bye bye
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hi Jaap,
A very nice macro shot on this hornet. Fill flash exposure looks like it rendered some nice colors. Detail is very sharp around the head area with a gradual fall off in the DOF.
Nice work,
Scott

Hi Jaap,

Well done on the capture and composition. Beautiful work.

Mike

  • Great 
  • RII Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 485 W: 0 N: 884] (2812)
  • [2006-06-20 16:32]

Hi Jaap.
Very nice macro, excellent colors contrast and composition, fine details,good capture and note.

Thanks and I wait more photos , comments , tips and critiques.

Saludos......RICARDO.

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 962 W: 0 N: 89] (7801)
  • [2006-08-13 5:33]

Hi Jaap
Nice hornet close-up shot. Good details, sharpnes, Bg, light and POV. He looks dangerous.
Well done Jaap

osse

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3586 W: 143 N: 5690] (18601)
  • [2007-11-22 10:35]

Hi, dear Jaap.
Thank you for visiting and kind comments. I always like see you.

I also like your pictures and this one too. Very nice pictured scene. Amazing scenery, impressive set of leaves (at FG and BG). Insect is looked among them nicely. Sharpness of the head and body is great. Lights are wonderful as well as the colours. My best wishes and TFS.
Alexei.

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