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Cicada


Cicada
Photo Information
Copyright: Murali Santhanam (smurali) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 206 W: 14 N: 552] (3244)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-12
Categories: Insects
Camera: Pentax *ist DL, Sigma 180 mm F3.5 EX HSM
Exposure: f/8, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-05-12 3:18
Viewed: 453
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi,

After a long time myself and Satish went to Omkar Hills again today. Omkar Hills is yet to get back to its typical level of activity. There were butterflies. But they were restless and would not pose for us. Further the sky was overcast (till 9:30 a.m. when we left Omkar Hills). While walking around we say many empty Cicada shells. It meant that many Cicadas are out and must be lurking somewhere. As we were just about to leave the forest we spotted this Cicada sitting on a tree. Normally they look like a tree bark and are not visible. But with Satish and me looking for the same, it could not escape our attention.

Cicadas are very vociferous. They make lots of noise as they move around and fly. This makes it easy for us to feel the presence of Cicada. They also make short flights from one tree to another. However tough they may look, Cicadas are harmless to human beings and in some countries end up on the plates of human beings.

The male Cicadas make most noise by using noisemakers called tymbals located on the sides of their abdomen. Here is some interesting information from Wikipedia on how Cicada's make sound.

The tymbals are regions of the exoskeleton that are modified to form a complex membrane with thin, membranous portions and thickened "ribs". They rapidly vibrate these membranes with strong muscles, and enlarged chambers derived from the tracheae make their body serve as a resonance chamber, greatly amplifying the sound. Some cicadas produce sounds louder than 106 dB (SPL), among the loudest of all insect-produced sounds. (This amazing sound has frequently inspired haiku poets in Japan to write about them.) They modulate their noise by wiggling their abdomens toward and away from the tree that they are on.

Only males produce the cicadas' distinctive sound. Both sexes, however, have tympana, which are membranous structures used to detect sounds; thus, the cicadas' equivalent of ears. Adult cicadas have a sideways-ridged plate where the mouth is in normal insects.

Regards,
Murali Santhanam
extramundi, joey, dew77, cicindela, uleko, satish_h, SelenE has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Bratman: Thank yousmurali 1 05-18 10:10
To sharmabc: Sigma 180mmsmurali 1 05-16 09:35
To GLEM: Welcome to Southsmurali 2 05-13 09:06
To batu: Parasitessmurali 1 05-12 19:30
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Murali.
This is a very nice study of this cicada.
I like the monocromatic tones, focus is very good, and details clearly seen. Lovely BG too.
Thanks and regards.

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1683 W: 242 N: 5560] (19685)
  • [2007-05-12 5:52]

Hi Murali,
a brilliant capture. The detail in the eye is fantastic and it is very sharp.
It's gone straight to my favourites!
Well done,
Joey

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1007 W: 285 N: 3322] (10976)
  • [2007-05-12 6:37]
  • [+]

Hello Murali,
admirable sharpness and most suitable point of view. A very detail-rich picture of the cicada including the red parasites of the family Ixodidae.
Best wishes, Peter

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2007-05-12 8:11]

Hello Murali,
Magnificent close up.Details on eyes are amazing.I liked POV,sharpness,BG and composition also a lot.Have a great weekend!
TFS..:-)

  • Great 
  • GLEM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 524 W: 87 N: 693] (5739)
  • [2007-05-12 9:34]
  • [+]

hi Murali,
vraiment une superbe image, j'attends avec impatience de retourner dans le Sud pour pouvoir les revoir. Magnifiques détails, couleurs magnifiques.

gl

Great focus on the whole cicada. I like the BG and color composition too.
TFS

Hello Murali!
Very interesting POV clearly showing the main characters of cicada. I like natural and warm colours of this insects and very nice DOF.
Bravo also for the interesting note.
TFS and have a nice evening!
Radomir

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2459 W: 168 N: 7421] (23442)
  • [2007-05-12 13:23]

Hello Murali,
Very interesting macro of this Cikada showing sharp details and nice colours. I very much like the sharp focus on the eye. It looks as it he's carrying some red mites as well!! I like the soft background which makes the subject stand out very clearly.
TFS and regards, Ulla

Hi Murali,
U made nioce use of the situation. The POV and BG is good. It is parasites as mentioned by Batu, that are lerking the cicada. I am sure they are (parasites-Red) there in my pictures of Cicada, taken last year. Good capture.

  • Great 
  • magal Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 227 W: 0 N: 314] (1241)
  • [2007-05-12 14:52]

Hi Muali,
Beautiful shot of this Cicada,. Lighgt management is excellent and the focussing is spot on, rendering very sharp detail.
TFS
Mark

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2339 W: 59 N: 3778] (12122)
  • [2007-05-12 19:03]

Hi Murali,
Great sharpness, focus and details. Composition, colors and the POV is very good. Well done and tfs
Selen

Hi Murali,
This is one of the best pictures of cicada that i have seen, in fact its much better than my collection of these insects. congrats!
so U'ppl have been going to Omkar hills ,nice to know.
I've not explored much here in amsterdam! will post some later!
TFS
Goutham

hiMURALI
voici une excellente macro, bon travil , les couleurs sont nettes et claires
bons détails
bien vu
merci, amitiès
edith

Dear Murali, Amazing details, very good capture and composition. Congrats !
with best regards.vab.

Wow ! excellent shot. How is the performance of sigma 180mm macro lens on Canon DSLRs ?. Pls let me know if you have any idea.

Hi Murali. Great macro with bags of detail. I would clone out the stick? on the right as it distracts a little. Excellent magnification and focus. Best, Brat.

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