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Tormentor


Tormentor
Photo Information
Copyright: Anna Eksteen (Miss_Piggy) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2285 W: 5 N: 5300] (18714)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-21
Categories: Insects
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC H9, Digital ISO 250
Exposure: f/3.2, 1/80 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Animals from my garden [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-07-18 6:14
Viewed: 5661
Points: 120
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Flesh Fly / Sarcophaga species

I am sure you have seen many fly images on the site, I for one have, and normally I will take a glance at the image and pass it by. Lets be honest, it is one of those insects that the most of us would rather not want to see, as it is a pest all over especially in our homes and in our kitchens. There will not be a single fly in sight until you start preparing something to eat. Then it seems as if they where all invited to share the meal. Uninvited of course.

Personally, I thought a fly is just a fly. - All others were considered as some kind of insect. Until I started with photography. May oh may how quickly did I realise that there is more than just one kind of fly. Since I started to make it a habit to take a daily walk through the garden with the camera in hand, all for the sake of exercise and not for photography (that is of course if you are naïve enough to believe me about the exercise part), I started to realise how blind I was for not noticing all these different kinds of insects, including the flies. I can in all honesty say that some of the flies I have come accross have the most beautiful colours and I never thought I will say it but some of them are even very beautiful to look at.

On one of my strolls, I was astouned to come across no less than four different types of flies on the same plant. Needles to say I no longer think a fly is just a fly.

I could have given you the detailed description of a flesh fly, but there is enough information about this on the site so once again, I wanted to make my note a bit different from the usual. Upon my research I found such a lot of interesting information about this pest of a insect and thought I'll share it with you by ways of a "Did you know?" trivia.

Flies have been pursuing humankind throughout all of recorded history. They are depicted in the oldest writings from the ancient world. Hieroglyphics from Egyptian chronicles included writings of these tormentors. Flies are referenced in the Bible as one of the plagues Moses brought down upon the house of Pharaoh. They have even been taken aboard the space shuttle into outer space.

Interesting facts about flies
- A fly's wings beat 200 times per second.
- They do not grow. They are born full size.
- They jump up and backwards when taking off.
- Average speed of a fly in flight is 7.3km/h (4.5mph).
- One of the things that separate flies from other flying insects are their wings. They are the only insects that have only two. All other insects have four wings.
- They do not bite or sting. They have neither teeth nor a stinger. A fly thrust a needle like spike into their victims and injects a digestive juice that breaks down the victim’s cell tissue.
- No fly can chew its food. The mouthparts of flies are all designed for sucking, sponging, or piercing.
- Flies will only continue to beat their wings so long as their feet are free.
- The overall life cycle of the housefly (from egg – adult) is about 7–10 days.
- Flies taste, smell, and feel with the hairs that cover their bodies or with their antennae.
- When writing the name of true flies, which are in the order Diptera, use the word 'fly' in a separate word; ex. Blow fly. When writing the name of other insects with the word 'fly' in their name, write one word; ex. firefly or dragonfly. (Even Loot said he did not know this and it is useful information to him, as it seems then that many so-called entomological authorities are not familiar with this rule.)
- A fly can travel 300 times the length of its body in one second.
- The eyes of a fly do not have eyelids, so flies rub their eyes with their feet to keep them clean.
- Flies can carry typhoid, cholera, diarrhoea, amoebic dysentery, tuberculosis, anthrax, gangrene, bubonic plague, leprosy, scarlet fever and yellow fever. (That is why they are called pests and apparently, it is only Ramthakur who loves them.)
- After studying 300,000 flies, researchers concluded that an average fly carries 2 million bacteria on its body.
- It has been reported that as many as 1 million children in Africa die each year from dysentery spread, by flies.
- A fly cleans itself constantly.
- There are ±20,000 species of flies, and ±6,500 of these are found in Britain alone.
- Flies vomit on food before eating it, to soften the meal up.
- A fly's vision is only sharp for 60-90cm.
- Despite having 4,000 lenses in each eye, flies have bad vision, but are good at detecting movement.
- According to researchers, the favourite colour of flies is red, followed by orange, black, violet, green, blue, white and yellow.
- A coffin fly can live for up to a year inside a sealed coffin. It can produce many generations that will feed off the dead body.
- Fly eggs hatch into maggots within 24 hours.
- The house fly hums in the middle octave, key of F.
- The largest kind of fly is probably the robber fly from South America - almost 6.4cms long.
- Though some flies are very common and can be found all over the world some are very rare i.e. Mormotomyia hirsuta a large fly which lives in a crack in the rocky outcrop at the top of a hill in Kenya. This is the only place in the world where this fly has ever been found.

Common expressions using flies:
- Your fly is down.
- Waiter, there is a fly in my soup.
- A fly in the ointment.
- Said the spider to the fly.
- I would like to be a fly on the wall at that meeting. Source

I hope you enjoy looking at this photo as much as I took pleasure in taking it.
Aaltjie, eqshannon, cataclysta, robindb, albert, maurydv, red45, jaycee, xTauruSx, bahadir, Alex99, GLEM, Juyona, haraprasan, boreocypriensis, ramthakur, uleko, cicindela, Silvio2006, jan515, marhowie, gracious, Silke, writerscrawlz, hester, dB_grafix, Dillinger, goldyrs, Jamesp, Luis52, Dis. Ac., sweet_universe, eng55, jusninasirun, tuslaw, CeltickRanger, Rehanna, tiobibi, techranger, amanengone has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Rehanna: Hare om die oëMiss_Piggy 1 08-19 02:47
To yasemin: Thank youMiss_Piggy 2 07-20 12:44
To maurydv: Thank youMiss_Piggy 1 07-19 21:41
To jaycee: Thank youMiss_Piggy 1 07-19 21:37
To xTauruSx: Thank youMiss_Piggy 1 07-19 21:34
To bahadir: Thank youMiss_Piggy 1 07-19 21:33
To robgra: Thank youMiss_Piggy 1 07-19 21:31
To boreocypriensis: Flesh flyMiss_Piggy 1 07-19 21:22
To mickey: Hallo Gannu and VigneshMiss_Piggy 1 07-19 21:15
To Alex99: Ugly flyMiss_Piggy 1 07-19 21:04
To albert: Ugly fliesMiss_Piggy 1 07-19 21:02
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hallo Ms Piggy
I do not even want to think about the many many times I have cursed a fly. They are PESTS as you also state in your notes. To me they have always been ugly until now. Did you wash or spit and polish this one before you photographed it? This is the best looking fly I have seen and probably want to see from so close. I am sure after this posting many members will look with other eyes to flies, because this one is really displayed very well and clear with obvious markings. I just love the white frilliness around the huge red eyes. Thanks for sharing lots and lots and lots of useful information. I am sure 95% of the members did not know half of what you told us in your notes. You see even Loot mentioned that he learned something new today. I am 75 years old and I learnt a lot, and Hettie my friend is 78 years old and she learnt even more with the information given. Thanks a span!
Kind regards.
Aaltjie & Hettie

Ah yes. You at one time there became enlightened...and all this time you thought it was some gnostic group eh? You know the secret of making sense out of the simple. You pass along through your notes, a most uncommon and goodly rare quality. There is beauty in all things...it's all in how we perceive it at any given time...fascinating and glad to have you "on the bus" Ken Kesey used to say, "You're either on the bus or you're off the bus"..this was as pertains his bus called "Further" and of the story Electric Kool Aid Acid Trip...Tom Wolf..
Bob

Hi Anna
Great macro shot. Nice POV beautiful saturated green and quite good sharpness. Also good note
TFS
Krzysztof

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  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2008-07-18 6:52]

Hello Anna
A very good macro of this fly,really up close and personal.The details and colours are very good.Very good eye contact,he is looking at you with his big ,beautiful compound fly eyes.Nicely composed.TFS
Siggi

Hello Anna,
I don't like flies and find them ugly but I have to admit that the one on your photo is really nice looking!
Very good photo with sharp details and natural colours
Well done
Warm regards
Albert

Meravigliosa macro, guardando le tue immagini rimango stupito dalla cura e dalla ricerca di perfezione di ogni aspetto a partire da quello compositivo per arrivare a quelli più strettamente tecnici. Le tue note inoltre sono sempre ricche non solo di informazioni scientifiche di approfondimento, ma anche di considerazioni e riflessioni personali molto interessanti. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

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  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1393 W: 119 N: 5267] (23955)
  • [2008-07-18 7:37]

Hello Anna! What a great macro of the fly, the details are very sharp and the exposure is fine, the colors are vibrant and the final result is impressive. Good note too, thanks!

Mario

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  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2008-07-18 9:14]

Hello Anna!

Superb note! But don't forget about poetry! Then am I A happy fly, If I live, Or if I die :-) Very interesting facts, especially about coffin flies. And of course I like your picture - very sharp and detailed macro. I'm not sure about title :-) There are many worst tormentors :-))

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  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2008-07-18 9:15]

Hello Anna,
Fantastic light in this macro. The colours are very clear. Excellent sharp details. Great POV and composition.
Regards,
Peter

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  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2454 W: 10 N: 8044] (25460)
  • [2008-07-18 10:05]
  • [+]

Hi Anna,

You are so right! A fly was a fly and a moth was a moth and a bee was a bee for most of my life. Oh, am I learning! A magnificent macro of this Flesh Fly with those amazing big red eyes. Colors and details are amazing. A superb picture and excellent notes.

Jane

Hello Anna, perfect macro shot of this flesh fly. TFS. Regards,
Deniz

Hi Anna, wonderful close-up capture of a fly.
TFS and regards, Bahadır

Hi Ann.
Beauty fly. Very good details and beautiful red eyes. Super.
I greet Robert.

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  • GLEM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 540 W: 87 N: 750] (10)
  • [2008-07-18 12:29]

hi Anna,
fantastique qualité d'image, la mouche est nette et joliement colorée.
bravo


gl

Hi Anna ..
Great macro shot..Very clear detail and sharpness..Hairs on the fly looks like needles...Your notes has very good information..Unusual photo from you...
Well done...Thanks to share..
Best wishes,
Leyla

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  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 2232 W: 10 N: 2971] (16891)
  • [2008-07-18 13:23]

Hola Anna,
excelente macro,
buen trabajo y foco estupendo.
saludos amiga.

hello anna,
stunning macro shot, the contrast between the green bg and the insect is so beautiful, liked the pov and the way you have composed this shot,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hi Anna,
A nice capture of this beautiful flesh fly. Very well composed with sharp details. I like the focus in its eyes. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hi, dear Anna.
I will be honest. I do not like flies. However, I always separate flies and photo of these insects. You have produced a great close-up using features of the camera perfectly. All components of a photo art are excellent: magnification, details and sharpness, perfect exposure and wonderful rich natural colours. And your note is simply terrific. Bravo for all and all my best wishes for you.
Alexei.

Hi my friend Anna,
What a glorious macro shot of a meat-eating Flesh Fly {in Lat. sarco: meat + phag: eating] with suuperb details and wonderful POV/DOF. Your notes are excellent as usual. Their eggs and larvae are very dangerous for human health since they cause myasis sicknesses when they early developmental stages grow in any human or other animal body cavities (such as ear, nose, sometimes eyes). Please be care my friend!
TFS this great and important subject my friend!
Have a nice weekend!
Cheers,

Bayram

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  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2008-07-19 4:01]

Hi Anna,isn't easy to found the words to comment a perfection..as the others i give you my best compliments for the details of the eyes,incredbile!!Thanks for share,have a nice week end,Luciano

Hello Anna, Papa is asking hope you better now. This is a nice shot and superb eye catch. Red eye and black wings. Good sharpness too. Vignesh

Hi Anne,
What a detailed view of this"ugly" fly, in close-up insect are oddest than any human can think about they. Sharp details, contrast you´ve added helps to remark its anatomy.
Greetings to you and Loot
Hernán

Loot still has an occasional dig at me for my flies and cockroach pictures I used to shoot in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Anna. :-)
In that country, any wild creature was a God-sent and seeing a Flesh Fly was always an exciting experience, full of hopes and expectations.
Flesh Fly featured numerous times during my postings from Riyadh, so even though it is a vile creature, I get a thrill out of looking at its pictures on TN even now, especially when its eyes look like rubies studded in silver -- like in the case of your picture under review.
It is a fantastic capture with needle-sharp focus on the fly and the colours too are just beautiful.
Loot also used to wish that my picture of a Flesh Fly would, hopefully, be its last, but I never complied to his wishes; after all, how could I kill the proverbial golden goose with my own hands in a country like KSA?

Thanks for sharing this very compelling picture of a pest and for an interesting note on it.
Regards.
Ram

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  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2008-07-20 0:51]

Hello Anna,
We have the same species here and I often stop to look at it through the camera as it is very beautiful! Those red eyes are amazing and its patterns so beautiful. However nasty many flies are they all play their part on our planet!
This is an excellent macro showing all details sharply.
I like its pose and the green background. Good note too - I love the way they jump up and backwards when they take off!
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

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  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2008-07-20 2:17]

Hello Anna,
I guess there is beauty to be seen, even in the ugly and repulsive! What beauty this Flesh Fly has to offer is well shown in this image, a sharp and well composed one from a fine POV that shows the striking brick-red compound eyes, surrounded by the delicate whitish collar.
The feet are well seen here and remind me of those of a miniature camel with the splayed out toes to support it in the desert sands. Though these are adapted to cling to slippery surfaces.
TFS this 'beauty',
Regards,
Ivan

Hello Anna!
As for me the picture is a little too much sharped, but it still an interesting image. I like especially contrast between fly's red eyes and white "surroundings". Insect has also very nice spines (setae) on its abdomen.
And additional points for very educational and informative note!
Best regards from Poland!
Radomir

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  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 867 W: 24 N: 1008] (5507)
  • [2008-07-20 7:50]

Bonjour Anna, gorgeous macro!! What a "cute" little fellow you have captured!! with sharp details and . Thank for your critique and kind words. Best regards, Didier.

Estupendo enfoque y gran profundidad Anna. Bonita gama de colores y un acertado encuadre.
Saludos: Josep Ignasi Tejedor.

Hi Anna,

A well focused shot with trully amazing colours. Great work.

Thank you for sharing,
Cypturk

Hello Anna,
That is however super picture with these details. The colors are class. The composition is super. Very beautiful perspective. Marvelous and wonderful composition. Wonderful structure in the photo.
My compliment.
Janusz

Hi Anna,
Excellent detail and DOF throughout.
Very nice color, exposure, comp, and a POV that shows the entire insect in the best possible way :)
Well done!
Howard

Hello Anna,
sorry for my delay!
superb macro shot with such sharpness, awesome colour and superb details in every part on the fly!
excellent job well done
greeting from NZ
Tony

Hi Anna
Een van jou beste fotos. Geen wonder 'n vlieg kan soveel kieme oordra - mens sal nooit se dis so harige insek nie! Mooi Anna

Hi Anna, I too recently posted a macro of this fastidious fly, splendid eyes with fantastic colors, fine details and excellent sharpness, very well done, have a great Sunday, ciao Silvio

Wow! great details in this ugly little creature :)
Superb composition and colours too
If I might make one daring suggestion (daring since I don't see others saying anything), I would gently clone out some of the spots and noise I see on the blade around your subject
TFs
silke

First of all, your notes have made me think twice about the fly - they are exceptional...and now, I also realize their value as a subject - although I won't stop complaining when I catch birds eating them!

The photo is splendid - an excellent closeup of what I've always seen as an annoying insect. I'm amazed at all of the details this insect has - things I've never noticed (or cared about) until now.

Every intelligent thing I know about flies I just learned from you - thanks!
Kathy

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  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1515 W: 18 N: 3165] (11638)
  • [2008-07-21 13:12]

Hi Anna

Your tormentor looks almost sweet with the big eyes and tilted head. Great macro work with sharp details, a lovely green leaf BG and a great POV

TFS

Karan

You are absolutely correct in your notes about flies. Each one has such unique characteristics viewed up close in a lens. This one's eyes are amazing. Not sure i have see red eyes on a fly before. I know they aren't really called eyes.
A stunning photo...even though you think of them as pests. Chalk me up for one who kind of does not mind them.Just some of your facts on them make me wonder why I do not find them disgusting.Wasps are pests to me...mosquitoes..
TFS this.... enjoy your week...and your food even with the flies.haha

Hi Anna
Just marking for now

This is a lovely image that makes me think twice about wanting to swat it off my monitor. The clarity and sharpness are superb, and the colors are vibrant and rich! Very well captured. And thanks for the excellent, descriptive note -- it's one of the best I've read on TN!

Regards,
Randy

Tormentor, it is, my dear friend and mentor, Anna!The way you've captured it makes it look like a monster, the details are so fine!
Thanks for the very informative note, too!
Cheers!
Goldy

Hi,
These are amazing facts that you have presented in your notes! The picture is exceptionally sharp and the fly is appropriately positioned, i love those blood red eyes :-). It would not be wrong to say that this is one of the best fly pics that i have see around for a while.
Convey my regards to Loot
TFS
Goutham R

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  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1369 W: 9 N: 6334] (18906)
  • [2008-07-22 22:46]

Hi Anna

Great sharpness with superb well-saturated colours. Great work.

James

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  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1175 W: 8 N: 4240] (15809)
  • [2008-07-23 9:02]

Hola Anna.
Sorry I miss this one, probably cousin of the Fly that I have here, but for sure they both belong to the same species. Very clear and fine details in the body, I also learn a lot more about them reading Your interesting Note.
TFS My good friend.
Luis52.

Hello Anne,

exellent macro picture.
So a big fly, these one looks upon a alien.
Great sharpness and lots of details.

Gert

Ciao!
Congratulations for the note...it's simply fantastic.
Congratulations for the shot. It'a beautiful closed up, with excellent POV and very well composed image.
Head details and colors are very nice.
TFS Marco

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  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1256 W: 42 N: 1976] (5892)
  • [2008-07-24 4:28]

Hi Anna,
It's an excellent shot of this common insect.Exposure is spot on,details are crisp clear,focus couldn't be better.Excellent note too!
Thanks for posting.

Hello Anna. This is one stunning macro shot. The detail is amazing and the framing is pristine placing the fly at the tip of the contrasting green leaf. Well metered shot and thanks for sharing. Best regards. Jusni

Hello Anna,
Yes we've seen plenty of flies on this site but why not just one more? It's not like it's the same individual, I personally would like to see each individual fly's picture on this site, maybe we can change the site's name to FlyNature. Anyway great close-up showing a fantastic perspective said the spider to the fly. Oh yeah,...The spider also said your so close I might have to invite you, and if you have any friends to dinner(Slurp!!).

Paul ;)

Hi Anna,
Certainly it's been a while, and I have missed all the people here.
It's so good the way you got so many details on this fly.
I like a lot the close approach and pose got on the insect.
The view of its hairy legs it's kind of frightening when you see it on detail.
Is very appealing to me the contrast made with the green and red of the fly's eye.
Very well done, and thanks so much for share it and also for your kind words to me.
My best regards,
JM

Oh wow! The photo is absolutely stunning!Great comments as usual, you really make an effort with your entries. Well done!

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  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 282 N: 4931] (19883)
  • [2008-07-30 19:30]

Incredible photo Anna,
Your right about taking things for granted until you step back, and take the time to really look at them up close and personal.
Extremely sharp and detailed image. Excellent exposure and wonderful color, especially those big red eyes.
Your notes are very informative, interesting and at times even a bit humorous. TFS
Ron

hello Anna

WOW ! what a superb macro shot of this insect,
excellent focus, fine POV and framing,
beautiful colour tones, excellent sharpness and details
and what a wonderful eye-contact with you, TFS

Asbed

Hello Anna
Uiteraard kan mens dit nie sommer van 'n vlieg sê nie, maar hierdie is duidelik 'n pragtige vlieg. Die fokus is verstommend skerp en kleure is pragtig. Is dit nie die snaakste hare wat die ding om die oë het nie? Welgedaan. Rehanna

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  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2008-08-23 3:27]

I think this is one of your best and sharpest macros Anna.
Very good focus, a feast for the eyes, that is if it wasn't a fly!! Look at all his hairs - they are so sharp
Brilliant shot
Janice

Beautiful, exceptional capture of this necessary pest who helps clean up our garbage. Perhaps there would not be so many of these pests if we did not produce so much waste due to our extravagant desires. ;) Very detailed... TFS And very thorough, informative, and enjoyable notes.

Larry

Great macro shot. Nice POV beautiful saturated green and quite good sharpness.

Hello Anna.

Congratulation for this picture of a fly.

The composition of the picture is attractive and gives us an exact idea on the insect. The sharpness is very good, and gives us many details from it. The depth of field is perfect.

At the question, if i appreciate the fly or i don't like it, my reply is that i don't know. The only one think I'm certain is that flies are in the nature; probably for a reason!

Congratulation for this picture.

I hope to see another time on treknature.

All the best.

Philippe.

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  • Helio Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 44 W: 0 N: 16] (533)
  • [2009-07-16 4:16]

Excellent click and perfect in all details! Great one.

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