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A little bit of summer


A little bit of summer
Photo Information
Copyright: Monika MvJ (thistle) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1317 W: 77 N: 3012] (9272)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-07
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 4200, Nikkor ED 38-114 F/2.8-4.8
Exposure: f/4.8
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-02-08 5:09
Viewed: 948
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Something from my summer archives again: Five-spot burnet Zygaena trifolii.

As far as I know three species of Burnets can be found in my neighbourhood. I have lots of pictures of them because in July, when they emerge, I can see them everywhere, especially on any violet flowers. Their favourite are Coulter Knautia arvensis which you can see on my picture. Sometimes you can find even 5-6 moths on one plant.

It's very easy to take pictures of Burnets because they aren't afraid of camera almost at all. Even if you touch them gently they will rather stay and continue feeding than fly away.

There's nothing strange about that of you realize that these moths don't really have any natural enemies. This is becuase their body is poisonous and contains hydrogen cyanide HCN - one of the most deadly poisons. It's solution in water is called hydrocyanic acid or prussic acid. Pure hydrogen cyanide is a colorless, very poisonous, and highly volatile liquid that has a faint, bitter, almond-like odor.

The striking red colouring of Burnets is therefore a kind of warning. They can feel safe and just spend most of the time feeding and looking for a mate.

I choose this picture because of the warm, summer colours and lighting that makes the wing look semitransparent.

phlr, wallhalla15, honza, mogens-j, Dave, red45, scottevers7, PDP, hummingbird24, marhowie, peter_stoeckl, Janice, samos, sAner, cedryk, limier has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • phlr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1241 W: 129 N: 881] (2814)
  • [2006-02-08 5:37]

Very beautiful photo Monika!
Good POV and beautiful BG!
Very beautiful colours!
TFS!

Hello Monika, this is another fine capture. Excellent composition with great colours, sharpness and POV. Great work, very well done.
Thank you.

  • Great 
  • honza Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 537 W: 0 N: 716] (4191)
  • [2006-02-08 5:57]

Nice photo of the Zygaena Monica. Very good composition, colors and sharpness.

One wing does look different from the other due to transparency effect. Very pleasing capture.
Ram

Very nice capture Monika and very clever use of the diagonals. The colours are great and look very natural. Great note too.

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 525 W: 47 N: 674] (2173)
  • [2006-02-08 6:12]

Very beautiful and colorful picture Monika!
Excellent composition!
Thanks,
Dave

Hi Monika,
Beautifully composed this image with excellent sharpness, great colours and nicely framed.
Thanks for sharing!

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 616] (3404)
  • [2006-02-08 6:13]

Beautiful shot!Lovely colours and nice composition.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2006-02-08 6:18]

Hi Monika!

Looks like we both dream about same thing - Summer :-) Great shot, I like pose of this poisonous guy with spreaded wings and well visible red alert spots. Warm colours and flower on BG made excellent, hot composition. Note is very interesting for me [you know well that I like info about poisons ;-)].

Hi Monika,
Excellent shot. The exposure looks good with the nice vivid colors. I like the backlighting, and how it is showing thru the wing. Detail looks pretty good. Nice OOF backround.
Scott

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2006-02-08 8:09]

Hello Monika, nice warm feeling to this shot. I like the light coming through the wing. Good composition and details. Well done.

Hello Monika,

Nice details, colors, POV, exposure and note.

Who would have thought something so pretty could be lethal...

Great capture, thank you Monika!

Hello Monika,
Excellent color, sharp detail and very well composed, I like it! Very nice, Thank you!

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2009 W: 122 N: 2581] (8424)
  • [2006-02-08 11:19]

very nice one Monika,
the dof is here the winner in the shot, it is a fantastic dof, the insect is well taken, and you did a good job.
gr. jaap

Hello Monika,
very beautiful shot, excellent details, delightfully rich colours. I love how you show the transparency of the burnet's wings. Very well balanced composition. An ideally chosen background, too. A pleasure to look at. Thanks and congratulations!
Peter

  • Great 
  • Graal Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 755 W: 31 N: 20] (5032)
  • [2006-02-08 13:23]

Hej Moniko,
motylkowo u nas. Też mam tą "zygaenę". Tutaj dobra jakość, piękne kolory i ostrość. Dobra robota.
Pozdr. Al.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2006-02-08 14:52]

Monika, I have alwats loved seeing these Burnet moths, so pretty and colourful. Wonderfully captured by you, thank you
Janice

Hi Monika,
I'm still very busy, so have no time for a longer visit to TN.
Very good capture, and as always good details, colours, sharpness and composition.
Thanks for posting, have a great week.

I hope to get back to normal in a week or two. Then I can spend longer appreciating your brilliant images ;)

  • Great 
  • samos Gold Star Critiquer [C: 81 W: 4 N: 2] (39)
  • [2006-02-08 17:41]

Hello Monika this photo is so wonderful nice POV excellent colours very sharp very good work thanks for this beautiful view regards Stavros

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2006-02-09 2:10]

Wonderful shot Monika! The colors are just sensational and the composition is very strong. Sharp details and great POV. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

  • Great 
  • cedryk Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 966 W: 52 N: 1694] (5184)
  • [2006-02-10 20:35]

Czesc,
Ladne swiatlo i detal. Ciekawa kompozycja.
Serdecznosci,
Michal

Hi Monika
This moth is one of my favourite.
We have many of them in my village and as you can understand I grow near them.
Love to see them and in your country.
See you

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