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My friend the Platycnemis


My friend the Platycnemis
Photo Information
Copyright: Felipe Mateo and Cristina (extramundi) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1875 W: 339 N: 4174] (12818)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07-06
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro, Digital ISO 800
Exposure: f/18.0, 1/200 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-01-06 7:19
Viewed: 833
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Here we have a Platycnemis damselfly posing in a flower.
This little specie gets used to your presence and is quite collaborative if you are patient and spend some time with them.

Some facts:

Eyesight
Dragonflies are visual hunters and have impressive vision being able to see in colour as well as ultraviolet light and polarised light, which enables them to see reflections of light on water.
Their large compound eyes are made up of as many as 30,000 facets or lenses (ommatidia). Those in the upper part looking forward are usually larger and more numerous that those elsewhere providing the area of best visual acuity. This is why dragonflies usually approach prey from behind and below.

Flight
Dragonflies are usually most noticeable when in flight, as the sunlight catches their wings and the iridescence on their bodies. Sometimes they can be heard before they are seen when their wings catch the vegetation.
Hawker Dragonflies can fly at 36km/hour and Damselflies at 10km/hour.
Dragonflies are beautifully adapted for flight, having powerful flight muscles and wings that move independently. They are incredibly agile and manoeuvrable and are able to hover, fly forwards, backwards, sideways and to rapidly change the direction and speed of flight.

Feeding
Both the larvae and adult dragonflies are voracious predators.
Adults feed on flying insects, especially small flies, midges and mosquitoes. Some of the larger species, such as the Emperor, will take butterflies and damselflies. Many species consume their prey on the wing, but some damselflies and chasers tend to rest while feeding.
Dragonfly larvae are mostly ambush predators, feeding on anything that is smaller than them such as insect larvae, water fleas, snails, small fish and tadpoles. They extend their modified lower lip (labium) at lightning speed and impale prey on the sharp mandibles.

Why they're Important
Their size and beauty make them especially valuable subjects for research into insect behaviour and ecology. They have played a significant role in some cultures and they are increasingly being used as subjects for art (for example).
Dragonflies have aquatic larvae, which generally rely on good water quality. Consequently they can be used to make rapid assessments of water quality and indicate a healthy ecosystem.

I found this info HERE.

Hope you like!

F:18 - 1/200 - ISO800 - Manual exposure - Handheld - Flash
RAP, phlr, Silvio2006, horia, Juyona, scottevers7, Maite, cmarzano has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To ellis49: Thanks for your sincere critic.extramundi 3 01-06 13:33
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1740 W: 95 N: 2273] (8411)
  • [2007-01-06 7:22]

Hola Felipe|Cristina.
Si siempre parecen reir estos bichos, éste rie con claridad e intención. Bello contacto visual y unos colores, detalles y composición estupendos.
Saludos, José M.

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2007-01-06 7:27]

Otra excelente macro amigos con la característica que la flor tiene tanta importancia dentro de la composición como el insecto mismo... y eso me gusta.
Encantador punto de vista, bien combinado con el recorte elegido, con colores intensos y saturados, aunque no se aprecia sobre exposición alguna.
El F18 funcionó muy bien en este caso con foco integral más el OOF necesario del fondo, además de una impecable nitidez.
Un gran saludo para ambos... Ricardo

Hi Felipe, wonderful macro, great composition, splendid details, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2173 W: 220 N: 4384] (14904)
  • [2007-01-06 8:03]

Hi Filipe

I know these kinds of damsels...they are so docile and friendly when it comes to getting close :)
You sis another great job here with an excellent macro!
I really like all the details here... i never knew that damsels had a goatee :))
I love all the visible hairs on it's head and legs, the charming natural colors and the great lighting.
Very well done, again :)

Bravo and TFS
Horia

bonjour felipe et cristina
cette macro est tres detaillée,la netteté est impeccable.
une bonne lumiere et un bon pov.
felicitations.
laurent

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 856 W: 2 N: 617] (2142)
  • [2007-01-06 8:42]

Hello Filipe , Great macro shot from the dragonfly ,good sharpnes pov compositie colours and a beauty flower bg and framing,tfs Greetings Teunie .

lovely shot Felipe,
first of all, a good 2007 for you and your family.
the macro is a very good one the composition is good, the quality is super and I like the crop, very nice photo job here. Thank you.
gr. jaap

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2264 W: 10 N: 2633] (15577)
  • [2007-01-06 9:22]

Buen ragalo de Reyes, magnífica macro y los detalles perfectos, un gran trabajo, muchos saludos

Hi Felipe,
That is a superb macro shot. I really like your choice of composition and framing for thos shot. Spot on exposure has perfect colors, and the detail is razor sharp. That is perfection!
Scott

Hi Felipe and Cristina,
A very nice macro picture with good compo and POV.
The details are good but I think it could be a bit sharper,
why use 800ISO for macro's, even if you can control the noise, the finest details will be lost.
Pity about the bright stripes in the BG but thats nature.
Very well done, my friend.

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1060 W: 290 N: 3953] (13364)
  • [2007-01-06 10:58]

Hello Felipe Mateo and Cristina,
the presentation of both the flower and the damselfly is brilliant and vivid. The sharpness is convincing making details of the insect very clear. Nice point of view, too.
Best wishes, Peter

hi felipe,
lovely macro shot,
excellent sharpness,
nice pov, good dof,
well composed shot,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1110 W: 5 N: 3457] (12761)
  • [2007-01-06 11:49]

Hola Felipe.- Exelente Macro de esta Libelula. Grandes detalles se pueden apreciar en ella. Saludos Luis52.

It seems, we have the same friend ;-)
I also love this damsels so much and this one is excellent. A beautiful sunny arrangement on that yellow flower, realy wonderful, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1007 W: 64 N: 1266] (5195)
  • [2007-01-06 16:53]

A mi esos ojos siempre me hacen sonreir. ¿Acaso no parece mirar a la cámara diciendo "Al menos sácame bien"? Y desde luego que lo has hecho! Fenomenal!
Un auténtico lujo de fotografía en color, nitidez, luminosidad, composición... todo.
La información magnífica también.
Saludos
Maite

Hola Felipe y Cristina,
Excelente la composición con gran nitidez y muy bien distribuida la luz a pesar de los contrastes del fondo. Espero que los reyes hayan dejado caer el 150 mm, entonces seguro que los sacas en relieve. Un cordial saludo

Una vision cefalica con nitidez impactante,el labro de su boca las cerdas de sus patas una documental para guia de campo!!!
saludos
CARLOS

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