Are you OK, Ladybird?

Critiques [Translate]

•  
• jusninasirun (7662)
• [2008-10-19 0:07]

Hi Alexei. Wow, bright light and brighter bug. Superb autumn leaf with the lady well perched downward. Fine macro with excellent details. I like it and very good TN post. Regards. Jusni

•  
• Argus (34981)
• [2008-10-19 0:17]

Hello Alexei,
A technically superb and interesting macro of a Seven-spot Ladybird that has some external red parasites that look like they might be lice. This is new to me and it takes a fine macro like this to show that ladybirds can be parasitised in this way.
Thank you my friend,
Best wishes,
Ivan

•      
• cataclysta (5468)
• [2008-10-19 0:36]

Hi Alex
It looks like some kind of Acarina but on the other hand I cant see thge legs on the first specimen. Very interesting presentation. Beautiful light, great satureted colors and perfect sharpness. I like it very much
Best wishes
Krzysztof

•  
• martinmena (1384)
• [2008-10-19 0:57]

Bonjour Alexei.
Trés belle coccinelle,à 7 points,jolie image.Mes compliments

•  
• uleko (2787)
• [2008-10-19 1:06]

Hello Alexei,
If this is a leaf from a fruit tree they may be red mites which the Ladybird may have for breakfast! ;-) I'm not sure about their ID but it is certainly an excellent macro showing very sharp details in good light and in fine natural colours. Well done!
TFS and kind regards, Ulla

•  
• matatur (4472)
• [2008-10-19 1:44]

A fine Coccinella specimen under strong, harsh sunlight Alexei, and you may well be right, she does look in trouble with those mite or lice like ectoparasites, the one in the back seems to find a suitable place to stick its proboscis between the elytrae. A fine, educative capture my friend.
Mehmet

•  
• ellis49 (30807)
• [2008-10-19 2:13]

Hi Alexei,
this is a very good close-up with fine sharpness and details,
the small parasites are well seen, a FF camera must be great for closeup/macro.
The light is beautiful and colours are natural.
Well done, mf

•  
• lousat (19673)
• [2008-10-19 3:07]

Hi Alex,beautiful macro,colors and sharpness very very perfect,we can see the 2 little aphids too over the ladybird!My best compliments,have a nice day,Luciano

•  
• siggi (16222)
• [2008-10-19 3:07]

Hello Alexei

A very crisp and sharp image of this ladybird.The contrast and colours are very well done.The colours are vivid and bold.The DOF and POV are very good and you have composed this photo nicely in the frame.TFS

Regards Siggi

•  
• cloud (4689)
• [2008-10-19 5:42]

Hello Alexei,
Very good close up. Sharpness such small creature is splendid. Maybe too hard light.
Kind regards, Pawel

•  
• nagraj (4870)
• [2008-10-19 7:21]

hi alexi,
beautiful composition and colors, nice background if one can call it. tfs.
nagraj.v

•  
• jaycee (21912)
• [2008-10-19 9:32]

Hi Alexi,

These tiny parasites would only be visible in a wonderful macro such as this. The ladybug is still very beautiful and I hope not bothered by the intruders. Wonderful colors, details, and composition on the autumn leaf.

Jane

•  
• nglen (32138)
• [2008-10-19 9:41]

Hi Alexei. I did not know you had new kit . I hope you enjoy your purchase. You are using it well all ready. This is a fine close up of the lady bird with good detail and rich colours. I have seen other pictures with parasites . wel ldone TFS.
Nick..

•  
• flashpoint (10335)
• [2008-10-19 10:16]

hello Alexei,
my compliments for the new "jewel" Nikon and for the wonderful catch with extreme details
and perfect focus of the ladybug and guests

best regards sERGIO

•  
• Gert-Paassen (13780)
• [2008-10-19 10:25]

Hi Alexei,

Good macro shot from this insect, beautiful colours.

Gert

•  
• hester (11638)
• [2008-10-19 11:33]

Hi Alexei

I am wondering if they are just aphids, I have seen pictures of red aphids before. This is nice macro work, I love the details including the epidermal layer of the leaf. Lovely colours and an interesting shot

TFS

Karan

•  
• Hil (5027)
• [2008-10-19 12:12]

Hi Alexei,

Great macro of the Ladybird complete with some parasites too, which is quite interesting as never imagined this would happen.
Superb details and excellent colours too.

Hil

•  
• horia (14900)
• [2008-10-19 13:11]

Hi Alexei

I can't even believe that i haven't noticed you changed you equipment in your last post. I'm sorry for my lack of attention in that part...however, in my defense, you've adapted to this new kit so well that i haven't seen any drop in the quality and level of perfection of your macros :)

But back to this lovely image here: yes, as other already pointed out, those are external parasites - ticks - that seem to affect all sorts of insects. I've actually seen a lot of dragonfly shots this year with such ticks on their wings and thoraxes.
Anyway, thanks for posting such a shot. These things should really be studied harder to see if there is something big happening, or if this is just normal.

That aside, your macro here is great and the magnification and sharpness achieved are impeccable. The DOF is also great and the high ISO the camera selected doesn't even show...almost no noise at all.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

•  
• Adanac (17609)
• [2008-10-19 13:17]

Hello Alexei,
Amazingly sharp macro image with nice depth of field. The colors are vivid and comopsition is very pleasant, thank you.
Rick

•  
• EOSF1 (23469)
• [2008-10-19 14:23]

Hello Alexei, well done my friend, the Ladybug is beautiful and verysharp and the colors are vivid. Well composed and a great exposure it is. Thanks!

Mario

•  
• eqshannon (27911)
• [2008-10-19 17:36]

Odd enough...this one was on my bed last night..never seen one in the house before but it looks like the same one:-) Neat shot...of a common yet VERY helpful thing to have in our gardens and our world. Children always seem to enjoy them..I remember I did some 55 years ago...
Bob

•  
• gracious (13068)
• [2008-10-19 20:57]

Hello Alexei,
Yes, This is a real good image with good ISO used, the details and texture of the leaf can be clearly seen in good colour as well apart from the subject!
perfect exposure and focus well done
take care and my sincere regards from NZ
Tony

•  
• Mana (18516)
• [2008-10-19 23:15]

Hi Alexei,
Outstanding macro shot of this gorgeous looking Ladybird. Immaculate sharpness and great handling of natural lighting. I like the dried leaf as BG and the posture. Excellent DOF, POV and composition.
TFS.
Sumon

•  
• maurydv (16502)
• [2008-10-20 2:59]

Ciao Alexei,
spettacolare macro, eccellenti POV e DOF, meravigliosa composizione per la splendente luminosità e il contrasto dei vividi colori, impressionante la definizione dei dettagli con una super "texture" della foglia.
TFS.
Maurizio

•  
• gannu (14691)
• [2008-10-20 5:36]

Hello Alexei, Very nice shot with superb clarity. Excellent note and good composition. Ganesh

•  
• crs (3543)
• [2008-10-20 9:20]

Hello Alexei,

You have used well your new equipment as you have got excelent DOF and very vivid colors in your image. The way you have rendered wings structure is astonishing. Even the structure of the leaf is very well shown and makes a good contrast with the polished surface of the insect.

Thank you for sharing,
Cristian

•  
• PaulH (13083)
• [2008-10-20 10:03]

Hi Alexei,
awesome clarity and crisp detail as we come to expect, with very good framing. It seems you really have mastery over your D700 - the auto ISO feature is very effective here. Well done on another great shot.
tfs
Paul

•  
• livius (1169)
• [2008-10-20 10:34]

Hello Alexei
another great release of quality. beautifulst the details of this ladybird and great the composition. interesting the contrast between the vivid red color and the leaf that by now stretches to closely in autumnal colors (sorry for my non perfect english)
Livio

•  
• rousettus (12789)
• [2008-10-20 17:56]

Hello Alexei
great macro-shot in your usual quality. everything great, from focus and lighting to colors and POV. Thanks for sharing.
You are true, they are mites. I have met them in many times on bats, mice, shrews, cricketes and other insects, even scorpions, which almost without ectoparasites. So, your post is great too as scientific document.
well done my friend
Ahmet

•  
• CeltickRanger (15122)
• [2008-10-21 7:18]

hello Alexei

excellent shot of this coccinelle, with fine POV and framing,
beautiful luminosity of the im image and also beautiful colours,
excellent sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

•  
• sayat (1457)
• [2008-10-21 11:05]

This is a shot with a fantastic sharpness Dear Alexei! The composition too is amazing and thanks for directing our attention to these small red parasites on our beloved ladybugs. Sad but great shot.

•  
• claudine (0)
• [2008-10-21 11:20]

This is microcosm! This is amazing to see what this lens can capture (and the photographer too of course) You chose very good composition with nice brilliance on this cute insect, amazing details and proximity. I wonder what those little parasites do on its shell! Greetings,
Claudine

•  
• oscarromulus (5684)
• [2008-10-21 12:59]

Alexei,
What a GREAT image.
Absolutely WONDERFUL!!!
SUPERB.
Greetings from COLD COLD Calgary.
Mario.

•  
• cicindela (8635)
• [2008-10-21 13:42]

When I saw this picture I believed that you wanted just to present a normal specimen of ladybird. But something was "wrong", the title suggested something more. And after reading your note and watching bigger version of photo everything is understood! The beetle has parasites! It is very rare situation, especially among Coccinnelidae! In Geotrupidae, Carabidae or Staphylinidae it is not so rare (in these cases mites are rather a "company" then parasites), but in ladybirds - I can see such situation first time in my life!
Alexei, this picture is very unique and has great documentary value! I would like to give you much more than only 2 points for this photo! :>
Bravo and thank you for showing this picture!
Best greetings from Lodz,
Radomir

PS. By the way, just for fun, please feel free to watch parasites on Odonata species here :>

•  
• joey (24727)
• [2008-10-21 14:19]

Very good macro of this Ladybird, Alexei.
Brilliant detail and clarity.
Lovely colours.
Great DOF.

Well done,
Joe

•  
• cako (3213)
• [2008-10-22 6:25]

Hi Alexei
very nice colors and composition
well done.

•  
• Maite (5195)
• [2008-10-22 13:22]

Hello Alex
Magnificent macro of this ill-accompanied ladybird. I have also seen some of those red parasites on butterflies and bees, and they are really tiny though in your photo you managed to show them rather big. Very well done.
Thank you very much for this illustrating pic.
Greetings
Maite

•  
• Royaldevon (4225)
• [2008-10-22 13:27]

Hello Alexei,

You have captured wonderful details in this well-lit shot!
I had no idea that ladybirds could be parasitised. Your excellent shot leaves this is in no doubt!
Were you tempted to help the ladybird and remove these red lice or was it too late to assist?

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

•  
• jignasi (14687)
• [2008-10-22 13:46]

La saturación del color creo que está bien aplicada para poder distinguir mejor esos parásitos que parecen pequeñas arañas. Un documento precioso y poco común.
Saludos Alexei: Josep Ignasi

•  
• mariki (9467)
• [2008-10-23 1:18]

Hello Alexei,

Very nice capture of this ladybird parasited with small ticks. These ticks seem to be the same which affect also the bees. Very good picture without flash, with my very simple camera, I cannot exceed ISO 200 without having a lot of electronic noise.
Cheers,
Mariki

•  
• tomszat (200)
• [2008-10-23 5:59]

Hi Alexei,
Very nice macro of ladybird, it's razor sharp and the colours are very vivid and vibrant, I like the composition too, nice work,
TFS & best wishes,
Tomasz

•  
• izler (504)
• [2008-10-23 10:41]

merhaba my friend
i have no idea about its parasites ;)
POV, DOF, light, colours and sharpness are great
TFS
regards
izler

•  
• Luis52 (12761)
• [2008-10-23 15:32]

Hola Alexei.- This is a true Macro Photo. We can see fine details in the image. Lovely colors and excellent sharppnes. Very interesting note too.
Saludos
Luis52.

•  
• Silvio2006 (41320)
• [2008-10-24 11:38]

Hi Alexei, it's all ok for your fantastic ladybird, superb macro with great DOF, splendid colors and excellent sharpness, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

•  
• Jamesp (16522)
• [2008-10-24 20:05]

Hello Alexei

A very good close-up with excellent colours and detail. Gret work my friend.

James

•  
• ridvan (5196)
• [2008-10-26 1:41]

Hi Alexi; fantastic and beautiful macro of ladybird.amazing shot with superb details and good colours.Very nice BG and composition.TFS
regards
ridvan

•  
• angybone (7672)
• [2008-10-28 6:36]
• [+]

Fascinating shot. Wow - to think that even bugs get bugs! This reminds me of the Dr. Seuss story "Horton Hears a Who!" - - - every world is home to another world. Amazing!
Beautiful colors here. Great sharpness!

And now a quote from Horton Hears a Who!:
Oh be kind to your small person friends. Every Who may be somebody's mother. Be kind to any Who on every speck. Any one of them might likely be your brother.

•  
• angela926 (3069)
• [2008-10-29 14:15]

Hello Alexei,
Fantastic macro shot, superb sharpness and details, beautiful vivid colors and nice lighting.
TFS
Angela

•  
• Juyona (15565)
• [2008-10-30 1:09]

Otra exquisita macro,
color y encuadre,
sorprendente parásito,
(no lo sabía)
detalles de la hoja "vestida" de otoño.
saludos amigo.

•  
• JORAPAVI (4627)
• [2008-10-30 3:47]

Hola Alexei,
Bonito trabajo con tu nueva cámara, excelente la nitidez sobre la mariquita y los ácaros que transporta, buena luz y color, saludos
José Ramón

•  
• clnaef (6814)
• [2008-11-01 3:45]

Bonjour,
Pas plus tard que hier soir, un même modèle s'est posé sur mon clavier.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

•  
• saguzar (7198)
• [2008-11-01 4:40]

Hi Alexei,
Certainly looks like to be it has ectoparasites. The image is exclllent, I like also how you´ve taken your pic and the note explaining it.
Regards
Hernán

•  
• vmukherjee (1331)
• [2008-11-01 20:38]

Beautiful colours, and the pattern in the leaf looks nice.

•  
• haraprasan (17792)
• [2008-11-04 7:10]

Hi Alexei,
A nice capture of this beautiful ladybird with a mite over it. Superb details and a lovely composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

•  
• marhowie (302)
• [2008-12-13 7:15]

Hello Alexei,
Great added interest with those tiny red creatures hitchin' a ride :)
Very detailed with natural color and a well composed frame also..
Well done!
Howard

•  
• valy67 (8733)
• [2009-01-01 13:38]

Hello Alexei !
Poor little ladybug, those tiny red things look really like parasites. I don't knowhow it is in your country, but in France we say they bring luck ; I don't know if it's true, but I know that I like those beetles very much. You made excellent use of your new equipment, and the result is a striking beautiful picture. I love everything, but I like most the vivid warm colors, it's a real pleasure for the eye. Very well done !
Valerie.

•  
• gpeler (363)
• [2009-02-06 14:05]

Hello Alexei,
Perfect colours and details. TFS.
Best Regards,
Gamze:)