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Crouching Tiger!


Crouching Tiger!
Photo Information
Copyright: Leo Baquerfo (shakerz) Silver Note Writer [C: 5 W: 0 N: 230] (1127)
Genre: Monera
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-05-27
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Exposure: f/22, 1/60 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Karatash's other favorite -I-, Tiger beetles (Cicindelidae) of the world [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-02-10 4:26
Viewed: 5743
Favorites: 4 [view]
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
From its crouching perch at the tidal line, a tiger beetle waits for its prey. When a sand flea or gnat passes by, the camouflaged beetle lunges and grabs its target like a tiger, clenching it between powerful sickle-like mandibles and devouring it on the spot. Their ferocity and stealth are why they are called tiger beetles, and like the big cats of Asia and India, the tiger beetle has been pushed out of much of its original habitat.

The tiger beetles are among the most obvious of beetles, yet can be difficult to collect. They are very active and alert, running swiftly over the ground and, unlike almost all other beetles, taking flight without a split second's hesitation.

They are all about the same size and body shape. Tiger beetles may be recognized by their swift actions, large pointed mandibles, antennae that arise from the top of the head, long spindly legs which hold the body well off the ground, narrow thorax and broad, almost oblong, elytra. Ground color ranges from brilliant green, violet, or orange to greyish and black. They range in size from 10-21 mm long.


Camera Set-up
20D, Canon 100-400mm+500D close-up lens, 580EX with omnibounce (tilted about 45degrees), f22, 1/60sec,ISO400, AWB (auto), body flat on the ground with soft paddings on my elbows and knees.
oki, cicindela, eruyanik, jtkerb has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Leo,
incredible picture. It's the most mystery thing on earth to see nature's variety.
This is an awesome animal with amazing colors!
TFS,
Oki

Nice beetle pic, Leo! Great focus on details!
Marius.

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1079 W: 293 N: 4497] (16383)
  • [2007-02-10 6:15]

Hello Leo,
an impressive picture of the tiger beetle. In particular, I like the superb point of view for which you have to lay down flat on the ground. I often use this position in order to really merge with the macro-world. Usually, tiger beetles are very shy and very fast. So, I think it was not easy to obtain this picture which is furthermore well focused and sharp.
Best wishes, Peter

Leo,

This is an excellent macro. The colors are vivid. The sharpness is brilliant. The posture is interesting. The title is apt. A very nice picture. TFS.

Regards,
Murali Santhanam

Superb! POV, colours, blurry bg all are great! Wonderful species.

Hello Leo,
Very nice picture of male specimen of Cosmodela aurulenta juxtata (really the some species is presented on 2 of your earlier pictures).
I like the POV and DOF of this picture. It is really not easy to takea good picture of these very fast beetle group.
Best greetings,
Radomir

What an interesting creature standing tall and erect, Leo!
The image is small and beautiful, and precisely on account of that.
Superb POV, DOF, colours and clarity.
Ram

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2158 W: 224 N: 4749] (16656)
  • [2007-02-10 13:13]

Hi Leo

This is truely a formidable capture!
The details, textures, colors and metallic reflection here are simply PERFECT! You managed them all so well!
urther more, the low POV is exceptional and the DOF is terrific, keeping all the edges of the beetle in full focus while blurring the BG nicely.
The exposure and flash work is also great and the composition is lovely!
All-in-all a fantastic job!

Bravo and TFS
Horia

Great picture, excellent color and composition. I like the DOF.

Thanks
Kris

amazing indect, TFS Ori

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