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Flashback for the summer III


Flashback for the summer III
Photo Information
Copyright: Gert Ellstrom (ellis49) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3387 W: 343 N: 9480] (30807)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-07-16
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS10D, Sigma 180 Macro Ex H, Digital RAW 200
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/200 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-03-03 2:42
Viewed: 1601
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
A reminder of summer again. A scorpion fly female, Panorpa communis

I took this in the summer of 2004. This was my first day with the Sigma 180mm macro-lens.
Last year I didn’t saw any scorpion fly but hopefully I will see some this summer.

Some info about the Scorpion fly.
Scorpion flies are small to medium sized insects with a wing span up to 2 inches in some species. The name is derived from the fact that the abdomens of some male species often fly with abdomen raised resembling the stinging tail of a scorpion. Scorpion flies are often mistaken for giant mosquitoes or crane flies (Diptera) but can be distinguished by the following features:

The insect has 2 pairs of membranous wings of almost equal size. Some species are wingless. The mouthparts are at the end of a beak-like projection on the head. It has very long spindly legs with strong claws; filiform antennae and well developed eyes. The larvae is similar to a caterpillar with short legs.
The scorpion fly prefers to live near a body of water and are apparently mainly herbivorous. Adults lay their eggs in pockets in damp habitats, such as leaf litter and low vegetation.
Courtship is one of gift-giving. The male attracts a female with his scent plume and offers her an insect meal he has previously captured. It is thought this food is required by the female to assist with egg development. Eggs are usually deposited in the soil or moist leaf litter. Some species are aquatic and their eggs are placed in the water. Adults may hatch in spring or autumn depending on the species.
Scorpion flies feed primarily on nectar, pollen, fruit and moss although males will also feed on soft-bodied insects. Some species fly among flowering plants preying on flies, bees, caterpillars and other insect larvae. The diet of scorpion fly larvae is varied and may include dead and dying insects or various plant materials.
Its preferred habitat is cool, moist environments although some species are found in marshy areas. Adults are often seen hanging from low vegetation waiting for a chance to capture passing prey with their hind legs.


Canon 10d, Sigma 180 Macro HSM EX , tripod,
ISO 200, Raw-format, manual focus, manual exposure,
Convert, Levels, Contrast, Crop, resized to 800 pixels, Smart sharpen on the B/W channel in lab-colours. I used Adobe Photoshop CS2 for PP
ALIRIZA, red45, loot, AndyB, Dando, Janice, phlr, peter_stoeckl, dew77, TAZ, wallhalla15, scottevers7, fiyo, hummingbird24, Luc, pat, marjan has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To loot: Nice winter ;-)ellis49 2 03-03 05:36
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2006-03-03 3:10]

Hi Gert!

Yes, we're all very tired of winter... Beautifull summer gem today. This scorpion is probably just after big dinner. Great details, green colours and POV. I want to see something alive out of my window!

Hello Gert!
Excellent shot.Very good macro. Beautiful image with good framing, POV, nice colors and composition you have caught. Congratulations,
ALIRIZA

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5452 W: 594 N: 3651] (10035)
  • [2006-03-03 3:58]
  • [3] [+]

Hi Gert
Great capture of the fly. It looks like she could be full of eggs. I suppose summer is fast approaching and you'll be out to re-stock your archives.
As a matter of interest, here in sunny Zululand our winters are really the best time of year. With a minimum temperature in the region of +19 Celsius we seldom even put on a jersey during winter.
Your photo have good colour and the DOF is excellent. Exposure & lighting is spot on and composition and cropping were done very well.
Good works and TFS.
Regards
Loot

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1391 W: 32 N: 1350] (3982)
  • [2006-03-03 4:11]

Hello Gert,
A great macro.
Good lighting,nice sharp detail and very good composition.
I may have cloned out those leaves that are OE just behind the fly in the BG.
Just a minot nit on what is an excellent macro.
TFS

Have a good weekend.

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 637 W: 32 N: 792] (3084)
  • [2006-03-03 4:16]

Hi Gert, truly excellent macro. The POV, colour and detail spot on. TFS.
Dean.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2006-03-03 4:30]

Hi Gert, what a stunning macro shot of this insect. His details are so sharp and so clear to see. Everything looks just perfect to me Gert... A superb catch, thank you
Janice

  • Great 
  • phlr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1241 W: 129 N: 881] (2814)
  • [2006-03-03 4:35]

Stunning macro!
Perfect sharp and details!
Excellent DOF and POV!
Very good bG!
TFS!

Phantastic picture, Gert.
Perfectly focussed, and perfectly chosen DOF to make the insect sharp and to set it off very well from the BG at the same time.
Colours are rich, full of light, and just beautiful.
Nice to see from that close that also these scorpion flies do not cling to a leaf with the tips of their "feet" but in a very relaxed looking way with some thorns higher up on the legs.
Great contribution. Thank you!
Peter

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2006-03-03 5:51]

Hello Gert!
Excellent close up.POV,sharpness,details,framing,simple
BG and composition are wonderful.TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • honza Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 537 W: 0 N: 716] (4191)
  • [2006-03-03 6:52]

Very nice picture Gert. Superb sharpness and colors, very good composition and POV. TFS

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2006-03-03 6:56]

WON-DER-FUL ! I like very much this macro ! Details are impressive, colors are superb... Congratulations Gert for this great shot and TFS.

Great macro shot Gert, great sharpness, details and clarity, nice DOF/POV too! Thank you for sharing. Have a great weekend. (tomorrow the butterly house here is open... ;-) )

Hi Gert,
The quality of light in this shot is superb. Perfect exposure has given beautiful colors. Detail is razor sharp, and the DOF is perfect. That green OOF backround has the fly standing out very well.
Scott

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 987 W: 5 N: 2762] (10618)
  • [2006-03-03 7:59]

Hello Gert,
Very nice capture with perfect POV.Wonderful colours and a lot of nice details.TFS

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 1044 W: 156 N: 1218] (4046)
  • [2006-03-03 8:30]

Hi Gert,
Fantastic detail, beautiful warm colours and perfect exposure. Great shot. I have to say I like winter as much as summer, it has it's own merits.
Adrian

  • Great 
  • TPAKT Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 114 W: 23 N: 19] (87)
  • [2006-03-03 10:33]

Privet Gert.
It is possible to look for a long time as this fly is arranged. Quality of details allows it. The author has tried. Bravo.

Hi Gert,
this is one of the most impressive insects for me. I had the chance to see a very young one this summer - but at this time I haven't known what this is - I first had to search in the net. Yours is wonderful, so close, so sharp, keep fingers crossed for me that I find one this summer, thank I'm happy ;-)
Bye and thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 856 W: 2 N: 617] (2142)
  • [2006-03-03 15:22]

Hello Gert , wauww what a shot from the scorpio fly .good details pov dof sharpnes
and compositie , nice weekend Teunie .

Fantastic macro Gert! The detail is incredibly sharp and the light is perfect. :)

Hi Gert,
Very quick visit.
Well worth a big Smile.
Thanks for posting, have a great weekend.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2006-03-04 3:08]

Jolie macro toute droite sortie de tes archives.
La température est vraiment maussade chez nous, ce qui m'empêche d'exercer ma passion.
Merci frére et ami Gert.

quality shot Gert,
super details shot, well taken, taken an insect so as a photographer must do it, with my compliments my friend,
gr. jaap

Hello Gert,

An excellent macro of this very intimidating insect.

Great details, colors, pov, BG and exposure.

A perfect capture, thank you!

  • Great 
  • pat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 87 W: 0 N: 125] (410)
  • [2006-03-04 13:04]

Hi Gert,
Outstanding macrophoto you could shoot of this interesting Panorpa with your Sigma macro tele-lens. Excellent sharpness, colour composition with pastel tone on abdomen. Nice blurred background. Thanks for sharing, Patrick

Hi Gert,
EXCELLENT close-up!
Very good DOF and sharp.
Well done!
TFS Malgosia

  • Great 
  • marjan Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 474 W: 14 N: 360] (2641)
  • [2006-11-25 12:00]

hi Gert, very interesting POV , in first look I think it is some kind of wasp. Aftere looking in bigger photo and red your nitice i see excelent shot with good coloures.
marjan

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