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Pond life


Pond life
Photo Information
Copyright: Dietrich Meyer (meyerd) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 412 W: 64 N: 1225] (3835)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-09-05
Categories: Amphibians
Camera: Konika Minolta Dynax 7D, Minolta AF 100 Macro
Exposure: f/19, 1/125 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-09-29 0:11
Viewed: 234
Points: 12
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Better known backyard inhabitants:

The backyard pond is bustling with spawning newts in spring. In summer however unseen larval life takes over. The young newts are the preferred prey for dragonfly larvae but they are well hidden in the forests of Chara algae and Utricularia plants.

The picture shows a 24 mm long larva of the Alpine newt (Amphibia; Salamandridae; Triturus alpestris; Bergmolch). Larvae retain some very ancestral morphological traits like gills and the flat head, things seen in fossils from the Devonian times on (around 400 M a ago).

The larvae leave the pond in September. During metamorphosis the gills are resorbed, the lungs filled with air and skin breathing becomes essential. On land the newts first hide in my meadow, then look for vole burrows to spend the winter there.

Technical stuff: I took the shot in situ, so I had to avoid ripples of the water surface and flash reflexions. Some postprocessing was needed, correct color temperature and increase contrast besides the usual stuff (cropping, sharpening, exposition).
cedryk, matatur, jpdenk, Argus has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  •      
  • cedryk Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 969 W: 57 N: 1662] (5072)
  • [2008-09-29 0:25]

Hello Dietrich,
Nice presentation of the larva in its natural environment - not an easy work from the technical point. You managed it very nice. Good presentation how the larva colouration and pattern fit the substrate. I used to keep larvae of newts in a tank and watch the transformation when I was a kadi + so zou also bring me a nice memories :-)
Best greetings from Lodz!
Michal

Not a frequently seen group member Dietrich, a fine macro which plainly demonstrates the external gills of the larva. Tried my hand on some colour correction, hope you like it.
Cheers,
Mehmet

hi dietrich,
very good image of not so often seen larva of newt. i have n't seen one in nature and so no idea about its coloration, your original image also looks good. the composition worked well with diagnol placement of the subject. well done. tfs.
nagraj.v

nice pic, TFS Ori

Hello Dietrich,

A very interesting note and image, a nice clear shot of the Newt larva and you did a good job with the reflections.

How lucky you are to have a backyard pool where such interesting things live! I've wanted to build a small pond in my yard for some time, but have too many trees with surface roots and leaves that would quickly fill a pond in the autumn.

Thanks,
John

  • Great 
  • clnaef Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 773 W: 66 N: 646] (6692)
  • [2008-09-30 23:42]

Bonjour,
Intéressant sujet bien documenté.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2770 W: 151 N: 7984] (24857)
  • [2008-10-03 6:41]

Hello Dietrich,
If an Alpine Newt larva were to be illustrated without using a glass tank then this is the way to do it. This dorsal POV against the smooth rock taken woith fine sharpness and lighting is great. The gills stand out well and details of the eyes as well as the rest of the body are clear in a fine DOF.
An excellent image Dietrich and one that deserves more attention.
Thanks for sharing it,
Best regards,
Ivan

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