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The Moth I Brought Home


The Moth I Brought Home
Photo Information
Copyright: Ram Thakur (ramthakur) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3298 W: 167 N: 9919] (32178)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-23
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D200, Sigma EX 105mm F2.8 DG Macro, 58mm UV
Exposure: f/16, 1/40 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2007-06-02 5:47
Viewed: 739
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Friends, this is the second picture of the moth I brought home from a KFC outlet in Riyadh last month.
This time I have shot it from the front. Had to lie on my belly to get this shot while the moth lounged comfortably on a green towel spread on the floor.

My friend Krzysztof from Lodz, Poland, has identified this moth as a member of the Noctuidae family in his critique on my previous post of it. I take him on his word and produce below a note borrowed from Wikipedia:

The Noctuidae or Owlets are a family of robustly-built moths that includes more than 35,000 known species, possibly 100,000 species altogether. Most have drab forewings, although some have brightly coloured hindwings. There are usually few differences between the sexes. The overwhelming majority of noctuids fly at night and are almost invariably strongly attracted to light. Many are also attracted to sugar and nectar-rich flowers.

Some of the family are preyed upon by bats. However, these members have developed an evasive system whereby upon hearing the high pitched note which is emitted by the bat to locate its prey, a tiny organ in the ear sends muscles in the wings into spasm - causing the moth to dart around erratically. This random movement has the effect of evading the incoming bat.

Several species have larvae (caterpillars) that live in the soil and are agricultural or horticultural pests. These are the "cutworms" that eat the bases of young brassicas and lettuces. They form hard, shiny pupae. Most noctuid larvae feed at night, resting in the soil or in a crevice in its food plant during the day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noctuidae

PS: A fuller view of the wings of the moth has now been posted by way of a Workshop for the benefit of Mr Goutham Ramesh in particular.

Thanks for loking and regards to all.
iris, Argus, cataclysta, Jamesp, eqshannon, jaycee, Alex99, Cori, dew77, lawhill, gannu has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To goutham_ramesh: View from topramthakur 1 06-02 12:14
To cataclysta: hiramthakur 1 06-02 06:58
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Critiques [Translate]

hello uncle,

its a nice moth.especially i liked the sharpness at the front.TFS

Akshay

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3825 W: 190 N: 11396] (35111)
  • [2007-06-02 6:42]

Hello Ram,
This noctuid is looking a little worn with some of the hair-scales missing on his thorax but he looks fine against the towel BG.
You have achieved an excellent sharpness and DOF here, helped by the use of flash. The face-on view looks right in this central composition.
Fine macro work!
TFS and best wishes, Ivan

Hello Ram
I like another POV of your little friend. Great sharpd details of his "face".

I wonder maybe you could crop it a little bit more to bring the subject closer to us.

Best wishes
Krzysztof

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16524)
  • [2007-06-02 7:22]

Hi Ram

Really nice and sharp image, with excellent, slightly menacing point of view. Great!

James

Hello Ram,
Nice shot. The image is crisp clear. I notice the red patch on the back of this moth. I took a moth picture with the same red patch. Now I can conclude that it is the color bear skin. TFS this fine image.
JC

It appears you were in some way ready for the moth friend this time and gave him a comfortable yet colorful background to land upon.

The correct use of fill flash is something I tried to avoid because of the complexity of film photography. Those who have it down do a good job of showing detail. Perhaps he knows what you are doing and wants to be in a Hollywood thriller....or perhaps Bollywood:)

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1899 W: 36 N: 5579] (18518)
  • [2007-06-02 10:03]

Hi Ram,
I still remember that fabulous incident of yours. You did have a nice time with this owlet it seems. Made the 'model' pose for you the way you wanted and that is an excellent macro shot. Fantastic eye contact. Very neat and sharp. I am sure it enjoyed giving you poses as much as you did capturing them as a wonderful memory to cherish later in life. It would be very interesting to know about the farewell too - if at all you have bid goodbye that is.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2007-06-02 11:13]

Hi Ram,

Fascinating head-on macro of this moth. Wonderful details and colors on this. The tufts of fur stand out well, and we can see the face well. You placed him on a good bg.

Jane

Hi Ram,
The details are excellent here. I would like to the see the pov from the top.
TFS
GR

Hi Ram, splendid moth with wonderful details, great colors, very well done, have a nice week end, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3591 W: 143 N: 5691] (18607)
  • [2007-06-02 13:40]

Hi Ram.
What a perfect close-up shot and fantastic POV. Very impressive view and amazing details and sharpness of the moth image. I like applied technique so much. Bravo and my best wishes.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • Cori Silver Note Writer [C: 8 W: 0 N: 18] (78)
  • [2007-06-02 14:11]

Hi Ram, Great fur collar! Cori

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2007-06-02 15:20]

Hello Ram,
Beautiful close up.POV,clear details,sharpness,colors and framing are excellent.
TFS..:-)

Hello Ram,
Great macro, very shap and with nice colors, TFS bet regards/Lawhill

Hello Ram,
Good deatils are captured from an effective point of view!
Good natural colours, and let me say... the towel matches nicely!
Well composed presentation, with a well working DOF!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2007-06-03 6:50]

Hi Ram,
an unsual POV that brings out the face.
Good DOF and composition.
Well done,
Joey

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 469 W: 60 N: 947] (3016)
  • [2007-06-03 8:43]

Hello Sir,
From this PoV your freind from the KFC outlet certainly looks different. The macro shot you had done other day showed off only the white tufts above its eyes.I feel it could have been sharper,compared to your usual shots.
TFS & Cheers

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2007-06-04 4:36]

Hello Ram sir, Lovely and I really liked the eyes and the shining spot the eyes. TFS Ganesh

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