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meloid beetle


meloid beetle
Photo Information
Copyright: patrick neuberg (pat) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 87 W: 0 N: 125] (414)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-10-23
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D70, SigmaEX 105macro 2.8
Exposure: f/13.0, 1/80 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2005-10-23 14:32
Viewed: 4789
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
In this late October afternoon I didn't expect to find many insects anymore when I was wandering about in the Rhine river forest. So I was really surprised to find this back beetle highly perched in a dead leaf up in a small shrub. It was immobile only it was balancing its large head constantly from right to left, I presume that it was scanning the air for phermones of some potential partner. Large numbers of these meloid beetle can be found in early spring in the same forest, but I don't know if this autumn species is the same. I guess this one is Meloe rugosus, but I have no certainty on species level, so I thank you for help with ID.
Built-in flash was used with a home-made diffuser (ISO 640). To avoid a black background, inappropriate for this dark beetle, I collected some leaves and hold them in the background at some 20cm from subject.
Postprocessing done with PS : cropped, levels and USM filter.
Thanks for comments and advise :-)

After posting I downloaded the "neatimage" program, and I did a first try on this picture, with autosampling mode for noise. I am real stunned about the performance of the program and recommend it highly.
The result can be seen in workshop at the left side of this text. Thanks again for all comments and advice.
livios, iglootrek, marhowie has marked this note useful
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To ddg: thanks for workshoppat 1 03-19 15:38
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Patrick,
this is a phantastic shot, this insect is sitting on a nice position. You captured it with very good sharpness, not so easy, black bugs are so difficult, I also were in trouble with one of mine. So, very good job, bye
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hi Patric.
It's a great POV and composition. The exposure are spot on, very good details in the black. Only nit is the noise in the BG.
Excellent work.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2005-10-24 3:06]

Very sharp picture here, Patrick. Fascinating details and fantastic POV. Well done and TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2150 W: 319 N: 4263] (16942)
  • [2005-10-24 21:21]

Patrick, congratulations on this. It was really nice to learn how you got rid of the black bg.

I like composition and sharpness. Great pov too.

There seems to some noise on the bg, but that's a minor nit.

Once more, congratulations.

Hi Pat,

I really like this picture. Nice details, nice close-up and thank you for the technical guide for BG

Hi Patrick,
Excellent close-up; fine details, good colors and composition. A bit of noise in background.
Regards
Hernán

Patrick rebonjour, supermacro de se Meloide. Je me suis permis de retoucher votre cliché dans l'atelier en reduisant le bruit avec NeatImage. Dites moi ce que vous en pensez. Didier.

Hello Patrick,
This is an excellent macro with very good DOF, use of flash, sharpness and detail. Composition is great, as is the POV. I think the NI helped here..Very well done!

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