<< Previous Next >>

Smelling to heaven


Smelling to heaven
Photo Information
Copyright: Dietrich Meyer (meyerd) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 519 W: 68 N: 1696] (5366)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-13
Categories: Insects
Camera: Konika Minolta Dynax 7D, Minolta AF 100 Macro & Kenko tube
Exposure: f/20.0, 1/125 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-02-03 1:04
Viewed: 716
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Better known backyard creatures:

This is the 9 mm long Mint beetle (Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae; Chrysomela (=Chrysolina) coerulans; Himmelblauer Blattkäfer; Chrysomèle bleuâtre).

The beetle is well known in Europe except the British islands and in the North, Central Asia and Central China. It occurs wherever there is wild or cultivated Mint growing. The animal is a specialist herbivore, it overcomes the noxious terpenoids found in the plant. Terpenoids are efficient repellents for many other herbivores. What's more, the beetle larva incorporates the terpenoids into its own body and becomes repulsive to birds! And to spare the birds the trouble (and the beetle the danger) the beetle signals with the bright blue color that it is better to be left alone. Man of course thinks highly of those repellent chemicals---in diluted form.

Technical stuff: Konica Minolta Macro lens, macro double flash without dispersers (mistake, see reflexes), sunlight. ISO 200, 1/125 sec, f/20, monopod. Postprocessing in PS: stamp over overexposed leaf parts, remove blemishes, crop, enhance contrast by 12%, sharpen 20%, resize, sharpen again 18%.

JORAPAVI, mariki, Miss_Piggy, dejo, Alex99, spalaxtr, Maite, Heaven, boreocypriensis, cicindela, Adanac, marhowie has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To marhowie: consider a zoom inmeyerd 1 02-22 01:24
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2008-02-03 2:28]

Hi Dietrich,very impressive macro,wonderfull sharpness and reflection,thanks for share,Luciano

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1060 W: 290 N: 3952] (13358)
  • [2008-02-03 2:29]

Guten Morgen Dietrich,
ein wunderschön vergrößertes Exemplar diese blau-schillernden Käfers mit den für Fotografen
so schwer zu 'bewältigenden' dunklen und zugleich glänzenden Oberflächen.
Die Körperunterseite sowie die Beinstrukturen - inkl. der Klauen - sind überzeugend dargestellt.
Beste Grüße,
Peter

Hello Dietrich,

Perfect shot. Great detail. Good light. Very nice colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hallo Dietrich
This one is just going one way, and that is to my favourites. A delightful, metallic coloured beetle. I actually had to put on my sunglasses looking at this photo. It is so bright and shiny, but oh so pretty. A real feast for the eye. I think you have outdone yourself with this macro. A lovely close-up portrait, with clear details. You were really very lucky capturing this beetle in this position. Just proof that being at the right place at the right time, is a huge advantage for any photographer. I think it is stunning and this photo really made my day. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your day.
Kind regards
Anna

Ciao Dietrich,
non è facile fotografare questi coleotteri così lucidi.
Tu sei riuscito ad evitare fastidiosi riflessi.
La visione laterale permette di osservare in tutti i particolari questa bella specie di Chrysomela.
Grazie,
Marcello

Hi Dietrich,
what an excellent shot,beautiful colors,contrast and exposure.
Rishabh

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 375 W: 51 N: 519] (2238)
  • [2008-02-03 10:07]

Hello Dietrich,
great macro capture of this beautiful Chrisomela beetle!
nice details and sharpness, lovely colors,
best regards, Dejan

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3585 W: 143 N: 5672] (18539)
  • [2008-02-03 11:13]

Hi Dietrich.
What a superb reproduction of the beautiful beetle. BG created by impressive leaves is great too. All together they create a wonderful composition. Bravo. First-class macro shot.
Alexei.

Hi Dietrich,
Great portrait of this colorful insect. POV, DOF and composition very nice. TFS,
Regards,
Mustafa

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1007 W: 64 N: 1266] (5195)
  • [2008-02-03 12:08]

Hello Dietrich
What a fantastic close-up of this interesting and beautiful blue bug! You can see it with sharp crisp detail. Magnificent use of light, DOF and excellent composition.
My compliments and best regards
Maite

  • Great 
  • clnaef Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 778 W: 67 N: 645] (6814)
  • [2008-02-03 13:01]

Bonsoir,
Voilà un bel acrobate qui par sa position spectaculaire nous donne une photo nette et artistique. Les belles couleurs sont la cerise sur le gâteau.
Bonne soirée.
clnaef

  • Great 
  • Heaven Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 811 W: 108 N: 1736] (6060)
  • [2008-02-03 23:43]

Hallo Dieter!

Dieses Bild verdient wirklich den grünen Favoritenstern. Es ist eine wahre Augenweide, auch für mich als Laien bezüglich Insekten. Die Farben sind prächtig, die Details eindrücklich und die Erklärungen lehrreich.

Ich denke gerne an unseren Abend zurück und wünsche dir eine gute Woche.

Grüessli

Markus

Hello Dietrich!
This is a very nice capture of chrysomelid beetle. Once again you showed not only interesting object (even if common in the field - rare on TN). Technique is really very good, you kept in right way sharpness, DOF, details and light.
I like also note, maybe not very long, but still informative :)
Best greetings and all the best!
Radomir

hello Dietrich

A wonderful capture of Mint beetle with excellent details in both its structure and feeding biology. Very informative friend!
Greetings,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
  • [2008-02-05 18:23]

Hello Dietrich,
Amazing macro image with razor sharp details and exquisite color. This bug has little grappling hooks for grip. Fantastic work Dietrich.
Rick

bonjour dietrich
il y a queques petits coupp de flash qui auraient pu etre supprimés en PP,mais dans l'ensemble c'est une belle et bone macro avec de belles couleurs et une bonne neteté.
laurent

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1899 W: 36 N: 5579] (18518)
  • [2008-02-06 9:42]

Hi Dietrich,
Wonderful macro shot of this Beetle with awesome colours and details. Good use of flash lighting and among the green leaves it stands out elegantly. Excellent POV and superb diagonal composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Buen captura Dietrich, y más desde tan cerca. Estas Chrysolinas son complicadas a veces para captarlas, por su textura y color, pero resolviste bien.Algún reflejo extra, pero todo no puede ser jeje. Buen encuadre y elegante conjunto.
Saludos: J. Ignasi

Hola Dietrich,
Precioso escarabajo que nos muestras con gran definición y detalle, buena luminosidad y bellos colores. Saludos
José Ramón

Hey Dietrich,
I think this is excellent all the way round..
I don't do workshops anymore, gave it up. But I would "consider" a zoom in, and a bit of patchwork to minimize the flash glare at the edges??
Howard

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF