Lesser known backyard visitors

<< Previous Next >>
Lesser known backyard visitors
Photo Information
Copyright: Dietrich Meyer (meyerd) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 354 W: 63 N: 974] (3009)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-05
Categories: Insects
Camera: Konika Minolta Dynax 7D, Minolta AF 100 Macro
Exposure: f/18.0, 1/125 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-04-06 11:30
Viewed: 391
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Lesser known backyard visitors

This is not your everyday wasp, but a queen of the French paper wasp (Hymenoptera; Vespidae; Polistes dominulus, formerly P. gallicus; Französische Feldwespe). It has been hibernating under a stone (I saw it there in February, but the picture taken then was without interest). The 16 mm big wasp is now eating pollen and flower parts on the Wild plum, Prunus insititia.

You may notice why the Vespidae family is known as "Faltenwespen" in german: the wings are folded lengthwise at rest. I added a more detailed picture of the same wasp in the workshop section.


The species is easy to identify because of the orange antennae and tarsi. It occurs in Middle and Southern but not in Northern Europe. The queen will have to found a nest all by herself, under a roof tile or in a rock hole.

Technical stuff: I used a macro and Kenko extension tubes, a twin flash, a monopod. It was sunny. ISO 200. In PS i removed a stamina and a flower bud, cropped, sharpened.
crs, boreocypriensis, vanderschelden, mariki, XOTAELE, Alex99, peter_stoeckl, marhowie, SelenE, Silvio2006, touristdidi 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
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Excelente acercamiento Dietrich, que nos permite observar minuciosamente todos los detalles de la anatomía de este Hemíptero.
Buena luz y colores reales, en especial combinados con los pétalos y particularmente con los pistilos. Lograda profundidad.
Un buen trabajo.
Saludos: Josep Ignasi Tejedor

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 795 W: 5 N: 2038] (7715)
  • [2008-04-06 11:44]

Hi Dietrich,a macro incredible! Wonderfull details and colours,excellent under all corners of view,a 1st class pic! Thanks for this great work,have a nice day,Luciano

  • Great 
  • crs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 117 W: 0 N: 160] (681)
  • [2008-04-06 11:49]

Hello Dietrich,

This is an amaising macro of the wasp. The image quality is excelent havind a very good DOF rendering remarcable details of insects body. Wings look great as the way you used light color and texture are very nice underlined. Very good details of insects body construction and colors are available. Polen grains on insects head brings more life of the photo.

Congratulations,
Cristian

Hi Dietrich,
Excellent macro shot of this polistes bee my friend! TFS.
Greetings from Sanliurfa (Birecik),
Bayram

  • Great 
  • Amadeo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 166 W: 0 N: 489] (2154)
  • [2008-04-06 12:28]

Hola Dietrich, excelente aproximación, seobservan buenos detalles, nitidez y buena luz. Un saludo

Hello Dietrich,
Very good sharpness especially if you take into account it's a macro.
Well done
TFS
Annick

Hello Dietrich,

Beautiful picture of this wasp. Good composition and sharpness. Beautiful detail.
Cheers,
Mariki

Bonjour,
Magnifique spécimen bien net et bien coloré.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

Hola Dietrich.
Una fantástica macro, con unos detalles finísimos.
Bellos colores y genial presentación.
Saludos, JL.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2416 W: 132 N: 6653] (20877)
  • [2008-04-07 9:50]

Hello Dietrich,
I'm impressed by the DOF you achieved in this fine capture of a queen French Paper Wasp on a wild plum flower. All the features of the species are well and sharply shown and the composition is perfect for the POV of both the wasp and the flower.
Thanks for sharing this fine image,
Best wishes, Ivan

Hallo Dieter,
äußerst präzise, sehr detailreiche, vorzüglich ausgeleuchtete Nahaufnahme dieser Feldwespe - von beeindruckender Tiefenschärfe, schön komponiert.
Mit Dank und herzlichen Grüßen,
Peter

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1266 W: 103 N: 4311] (19463)
  • [2008-04-07 20:25]

Unbelievable sharpness Dietrich! Well composed macro with great technique! Thanks!

Mario

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2935 W: 142 N: 4217] (13775)
  • [2008-04-08 0:52]

Hi Dietrich.
Great macro shot. I am impressed again with wonderful reproduction of details and colour tones of the petals. It is clear (at your execution) wasp and all its details are reproduced brilliantly. Perfect work and my compliments.
Alexei.

Hi Dietrich,
Excellent DOF, as with most all of your great macro work :)
And not your "everyday" wasp, a special treat..
Nice job on the PP with very good detail, color, and flashwork.
Howard

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2337 W: 59 N: 4094] (13345)
  • [2008-04-08 11:27]

Hi Dietrich,
Lovely macro shot. I liked the details, focus, sharpness and POV a lot. TFS
Greetings,
Selen

Hi Dietrich, superb macro of splendid wasp, fantastic colors, great details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Messy eater! Must enjoy her meal! Exquisite photography!

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF