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Mesembrina meridiana


Mesembrina meridiana
Photo Information
Copyright: Dietrich Meyer (meyerd) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 585 W: 64 N: 2238] (7531)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-10-02
Categories: Insects
Camera: Konika Minolta Dynax 7D, Minolta AF 100 Macro & Kenko tube
Exposure: f/20.0, 1/125 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Dipterans (except Hover flies) of Europe-1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-11-06 2:12
Viewed: 2880
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Back to Black

The title refers to a song of Amy Winehouse of course. The picture presented however has more to do with a discussion I had once with Catherine Dijon (CatherineD) on the difficulties of photographing a black and shiny animal. The fly is a 13 mm long Mesembrina meridiana (Diptera; Muscidae) sitting on a wilted flower in my yard. Its larvae live in cow pads.

Technical stuff: I used a double flash covered with paper. One flash was hand held to the left, the other one mounted on the macro lens-. I had to post process in PS, covering some glares by stamping and darkening the flower to the left. Still, it could be done better and I wait for the next fly season to try again.
loot, Heaven, anel, flashpoint has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5524 W: 722 N: 4163] (11276)
  • [2009-11-06 2:35]

Hi Dietrich

I can only imagine the "black" discussion you refer to. Yes, black is not so easy, especially if the image (or photo) is overwhelmingly black. After all, what is black? It is the absence (or absorption) of any other colour. I.e. a big hole in the image. The only way to bring it "out" is by allowing the light and / or different other colour hues to impact upon it. In this case with the fly you managed some bottle green (torso) and some golden hues (head) to influence the black of the fly and for the rest it is really the brighter highlights (tail end) that show or hint to texture and definition. Of course the diffused dual flashes had much to do with the success achieved. The details are nice and sharp brought about by the extended f/20 aperture.

Very well done and TFS.
Regards
Loot

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 967 W: 26 N: 3888] (16941)
  • [2009-11-06 4:00]

Hello Dietrich
Interesting fly taken with great details and natural colors
Well done
Regards
Razvan

Hallo Dieter!

Dass Du Dich auch für Amy Winehouse interessierst, zeigt nur, wie vielseitig interessiert Du bist! Dein Bild ist eines der besonderen Art, der Vergleich mit bzw. der Bezug auf Amy Winehouse drängt sich fast auf... Ich finde das Bild ganz einfach genial und seine Wirkung sprengt den dokumentarischen Rahmen. Der künstlerische Aspekt und die fotografische Meisterleistung stehen hier im Vordergrund.

Asliebs Grüessli

Markus

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2009-11-06 5:13]

Lieber Dieter,
Wieder ein sehr gekonntes Bild. Diesmal eine nicht gerade attraktive Fliege, aber mit einem Lied von Amy Winehouse lässt sich alles schöner sehen.. Die verschiedenen Farbnuancen sind sehr fein widergeben. Bravo!
Und was Follatères betrifft, da muss man mich nicht überreden, ich bin dabei!
Ae schöns Wuchenend no
Anne

  • Great 
  • joska Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 806 W: 0 N: 4092] (22535)
  • [2009-11-06 5:40]

Very good macro, very good presentation!

hello Dietrich
great shot of a strange fly
very nice composition
good sharpness

i have also a strange fly is this the same?
greeting lou

ciao Dietrich!
alto valore di difficolta' in questa macro
di Diptera,che hai saputo gestire al meglio
con un ottimo risultato di dettagli e perfetto uso del flash.....
complimenti sERGIO

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