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Guess who's coming..


Guess who's coming..
Photo Information
Copyright: Dietrich Meyer (meyerd) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 388 W: 63 N: 1144] (3517)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-11-26
Categories: Molluscs
Camera: Konika Minolta Dynax 7D, Minolta AF 100 Macro
Exposure: f/20.0, 1/125 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-12-01 1:43
Viewed: 456
Points: 31
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Lesser known backyard critters:

I know, I know.... snails and slugs don't make cookie points on TN. But I just HAD to show you this one. It's a Leopard slug, (Mollusca; Limacidae; Limax maximus; Leopardschnegel; La limace léopard). This animal showed up at night ---in November! The animal is always welcome in my yard and I tell you why.

It's not one of the slugs that eat your salad like the Garden slug Arion, it's more of a forest living species, eating decayed materials and fungi under the dead leaves and wood. Among biologists Limax is known for it's spectacular way to copulate; our friend Michal (cedryk) has presented a good shot on that. And then it's just moving in a gracious way, it's beautiful.

The family of Limacidae is characterized by the fingerprint-like ripples on the mantle, and a watery slime, the species by it's size (10-15 cm) and the freckles. There is a rudimentary snail shell which is completely covered by the mantle, some kind of an evolutionary souvenir (see my other slug picture) of the past. The common Garden slug Arion no longer has a shell, much to my frustration when I was a boy (at a time I had been eager to dissect anything that crawled my way). Snails have one of the strangest body plans. The feelers doted with eyes are extended by sheer blood pressure and retracted with muscles. The eye here is a simple black pigment spot with a few light sensitive retinal cells embedded while another mollusc Sepia has a complex eye with lense, diaphragm and vitreus body.

I consulted M. Kerney, R. Cameron & A. Betrand,1999. "Guide ses escargots et limaces d'Europe". Delachaux Niestlé Paris.

Technical stuff: The november sun gave the animal it's translucency. The twin flash with light dispersers lightened the shadowy parts. Macro lens, dipod, ISO 200,1/125 sec, f/22.
In PS I regulated the contrast and sharpened slightly after resizing the picture. I have a brand new 21" adjusted screen, on other screens the picture may look quite different (a banality this).
valy67, JoseMiguel, mariki, marcellr, Alex99, marhowie, anel, gerbilratz, red45, peter_stoeckl, SelenE, ridvan, boreocypriensis, jpdenk has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Dietrich,
A very good and clear capture of this snail.
I like the close approach and lighting made here, the reflections on the wet skin works pretty well.
It's very good the composition built placing the snail on the diagonal.
Congratulations and thanks for share it.
My best regards,
JM

Hello Dietrich,

Very nice composition, sharpness and colours. Beautiful and interesting picture.
Cheers,
Mariki

"...I know, I know.... snails and slugs don't make cookie points on TN..."

Ciao Dietrich,
come ho scritto nella mia introduzione apprezzo le foto tecnicamente ben riuscite e anche io cerco di ottenere le immagini migliori.
Per me è però molto importante il valore documentaristico dell'immagine e non soltanto quello estetico o artistico.
La tua foto perciò mi piace molto, sia perchè ben realizzata, sia perchè mostra animali assai poco noti e trascurati, sia su TN che altrove.
Complimenti,
Marcello

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3040 W: 148 N: 4529] (14629)
  • [2007-12-01 7:12]

Hi Dietrich.
Once more excellent macro shot with lovely colours and terrific details from you, my friend. Again DOF is terrific as well as flash work. Very impressive diagonal composition and framing. My best wishes and TFS. Well done.
Alexei.

Cool headshot Dietrich, never seen a "leopard" slug before. Nice sharp detail with excellent fill on this near-side. Very good color, a well composed closeup. Most excellent notes on this one with links.."Love me Tender" was interesting, Thank You!
Very nice work,
Howard

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1173 W: 0 N: 1968] (8355)
  • [2007-12-01 11:19]

Lieber Dieter,
Noch so etwas exotisches in Deinem Garten! Wusste gar nicht, dass es solche gibt. Gutes Bild, schön diagonal ins Bild gleitend,die Limax und die Fühler ausgestreckt (hatte sich wohl an dich gewöhnt). Interessante Notiz und Links. Gut gemacht, wirklich
Liebe Grüsse
Anne

I agree about the cookie points and slugs...but a great mollusc and superb composition and POV...good info as well.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2829 W: 75 N: 8024] (26857)
  • [2007-12-02 3:56]

Hello Dietrich!

Very nice portrait of this common but rather not popular on TN animal. I like its name - it's quiteobvious looking at slug's body. Details are great, same as sharpness and diagonal composition. It isn't very easy to take good picture of slug/snail, but you've made it! Last but not least - great note.

Lieber Dieter,
eine exquisite, herrlich durchscheinend transparent "durchlauchte" Schönheit von Nacktschnecke im kessen Leopardenmäntelchen, die sich sehr selbstsicher so spät im Herbst in Deinem Garten tummelt. Satte Farben, klare Details, und eine kräftige, bestimmte Komposition.
Ich bewundere die Tiefenschärfe und auch das Fehlen jeglicher Bewegungsunschärfe - das meine ich nicht im Scherz, denn Schnecken sind zwar langsam, doch so kontinuierlich in Bewegung, dass sie mir bei Nahaufnahmen fast immer verwischen wie ein Maserati vor der Ziellinie. Ungewöhnliches Motiv, mit Eleganz serviert.
Mit Dank und besten Grüßen,
Peter

  • Great 
  • OzBY Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 182 W: 2 N: 310] (1069)
  • [2007-12-02 15:09]

Hello Dietrich,
Great picture of this slug.
Great color, lighting and background.

Oz

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2348 W: 61 N: 3801] (12188)
  • [2007-12-02 23:29]

Hello Dietrich,
I liked the focus, sharpness, details, color tones, POV and the composition. TFS
Have a nice week
Selen

What a beautiful snail this is!
Very nice macro, great light and colors.
Well done!

  • Great 
  • ridvan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 556 W: 0 N: 1138] (5140)
  • [2007-12-04 11:24]

selam dieatrich; Excellent macro shot of this snail .Nice composition.Good POV and sharp image whit nice details.splendid Colors. well done.
TFS ridvan

Bonjour Dietrich !
J'aime beaucoup les limaces, dommage qu'on en voit si peu sur TN... Celle-ci est particulièrement belle, avec ses jolis motifs sur le dos. La composition et le point de vue sont excellents, tout comme les détails. Vous avez fait un excellent usage du flash. Félicitations !
Valerie.

Hi friend Me again!
A Fabulous shot of this beautiful garden slug! Perfect! Its pointed pattern is interesting and lovely. TFS.

Best regards,

Bayram

Hello Dietrich,

A very interesting image and an excellent note. Who cares about points, this site is for sharing knowledge about nature and nature photography. Well done!

Thanks,
John

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