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Hovering for a second...


Hovering for a second...
Photo Information
Copyright: Andy Cole (flagman) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 357 W: 43 N: 607] (2396)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-04-26
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Canon 70-200 f/4L, Hoya Super HMC Pro1 67mm Sky1B
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/800 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: A week in Elveden Forest
Theme(s): Flying images [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-05-06 8:32
Viewed: 1799
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
All those flying bird photos seemed too easy-peasy for me, so I thought I'd try something a little more challenging ;oD

This is a hoverfly. I don't know which species as there are over 250 species in Britain!
I used a Canon 70-200 F4L on manual focus. Auto-focus is useless on a subject this small as the camera just can't pick out the fly from the surroundings. I approached the fly which would dart about and hover for a few seconds before moving again. Seems like long enough time to focus but I think the camera's 'in focus' beep would alarm the fly and frequently it would fly away before I could depress the shutter. Anyway, I got a few nice photos.
Heavily cropped, as I was only using 200mm from a distance of about 1.5 metres.
Un-sharp mask and then ran through neat-image.
I hope you like it but I welcome any criticisms/tips, I want to learn!

General info:

Everone should be able to see a hoverfly at the moment! There are 250 British species and several of them are very common in gardens. They are found from April to October, hovering in the sun and darting from place to place.

Hoverflies are between 6 - 13 mm long, and look very similar to bees and wasps. This similarity in appearance between hoverflies and bees and wasps protects the hoverflies from attack even though they are completely harmless.
PDP, elroyie, Runnerduck, AndyB, sAner has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-05-06 8:47]

Nice shot Andy, can you see a heavily looped vein in the wing? that tells you the fly belongs to the Eristalini tribe, the genus is very likely Eristalis, a drone fly. Nice capture, well done.

Very good capture, excellent background and almost perfect picture, a little sharpness is missing.

  • Great 
  • VeTTe Gold Star Critiquer [C: 162 W: 0 N: 0] (684)
  • [2005-05-06 10:59]

very nice shot and background..
good sharpness and details..

A fantastic shot, very sharp. Well spotted! The background is great too.
Well done and thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1391 W: 32 N: 1350] (3982)
  • [2005-05-06 15:50]

A great shot and not easy to get at all,they dart off rapidly at the slightest movement.
Nice and sharp with good detail.
Nicely placed within the frame too.
Good work,well done.

Great shot Andy!
It looks amazing. I must admit that if I would have seen it somewhere else I would probably was sure that it's a graphics not photo.
Anyway, I like it very much.
Well done!

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-05-07 5:00]

Hi Andy,

This is a very good shot as it's not easy at all to make this shot and get a decent focus on the subject. I tried to shoot some hovering bees a while ago, but didn't succeed. You did well. I really like the composition (non-centered) and the BG is great. Good and informative note aswell. TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

This is a good shot Andy.
It's not easy to shot, good sharpness and nice POV.
Well done.

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2005-05-23 17:31]

Andy, this is a very nice capture.

Great composition, great moment.

In case you wish, check one of mine on www.treknature.com/gallery/South_America/Brazil/photo9393.htm

P.S.: I added your picture to a theme of mine too.

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