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Rare NZ Snail 2


Rare NZ Snail 2
Photo Information
Copyright: Sue Way (sway) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 303 W: 85 N: 308] (1224)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-07-30
Categories: Molluscs
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC-F828
Exposure: f/4.5, 3 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-07-31 3:33
Viewed: 1469
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Powelliphanta snails are not your common garden snail! Powelliphanta are giants of the snail world. They can reach up to 90mm across, or the size of a man’s fist.

They are also beautiful. Their oversize shells come in an array of colours and patterns, ranging from hues of red and brown to yellow and black.

And Powelliphanta snails are most unlikely to be found in your garden. Most favour living in the forest, and particularly like to eat earthworms, sucking them up through their mouth just like we eat spaghetti!

In fact, these meat-eating giants of the forest floor are true biological oddities. They are as representative of New Zealand’s unique evolutionary history as the kakapo, moa or kiwi.

Unfortunately, they are also one of the most threatened of New Zealand’s invertebrates. A total of 40 species or subspecies are ranked as being of national conservation concern.

Powelliphanta snails lay about 5-10 large eggs a year. Each egg is up to 12-14mm long, pearly pink and hard-shelled - just like a small bird’s egg!

It is estimated that Powelliphanta snails can live up to 20 years. In snail terms, that is an incredibly long life span!

The snail you see pictured here was about 3cm across. I spent the day walking in the bush searching for one of our native snails and this is what I came up with. They have a beautiful shell.

Another Angle

I used Photoshop to rezise and frame the image.
omnia, chiliu, Janice, liquidsunshine, coasties, PDP, bedford67 has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To bedford67: Rare NZ Snailsway 1 08-01 04:57
To PDP: Rare NZ Snailsway 1 08-01 02:42
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Critiques [Translate]

Hey Sue,

WOW what an interesting creature. Well done with your note. It's really interesting and informative. As usual your photography is excellent.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6160] (21052)
  • [2005-07-31 4:18]

Excellent shot of the spiral on that snail shell. It must be difficult to catch it just right, what with the shiny surface and all. You did a great job with the light and the colors. Well done and TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • omnia Silver Star Critiquer [C: 34 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2005-07-31 4:50]

Excellent shot of the shell, the pattern is beautiful. Very nice macro, great composition and light.

Hi Sue,
Very good composition, good lighting, great colour, nice framing.
TFS!
Chi

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2005-07-31 4:54]

Excellent shot of this snail too Sue. The colours are good, and the details and textures are as well. A good job; and excellent notes too.

Hi Sue!
BIG! And scarry :-) You made very interesting shot!

Hi sue
Very nice composition end perspective !
Great Shot

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2005-07-31 16:36]

Excllent capture Sue. I like the composition and exposure a lot.

Very well done and thanks for posting.

Good shot Sue,
Good sharp detail and good POV. Nicely exposed and superb colours. Good composition.
Well captured, thanks for posting.
Have a good week

Hello Sue

Good shot. Lovely light displaying many colours. Focus is soft in parts, but it's nice all the same. Thanks.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-08-01 2:27]
  • [+]

Wow! That's a large snail! Nice sot Sue. The details are great and well done for such a long exposure. How did you support the camera?
I'd like a little more DOF but that would mean even longer exposure. Thanks for teaching me about this interesing snail.

Well done.

Hello Sue,
Very beautiful capture! I did not know this snail. Perhaps you know that in France, we eat snails, but this one would have difficulty to pass by the stomach!
More seriously, your photograph is really interesting. I find the composition, contrast and the colors perfect.
TFS, cordially,
Jean-Patrick

Nice macro. I like the design on the shell and the composition of the shot.

Regards,

Tom

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