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Magpie Moth


Magpie Moth
Photo Information
Copyright: Monika MvJ (thistle) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1309 W: 74 N: 3014] (9282)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-06-02
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 4200, Nikkor ED 38-114 F/2.8-4.8
Exposure: f/4.8, 1/313 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): European caterpilars, Macros [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-06-06 3:32
Viewed: 5672
Points: 62
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I think this is a caterpillar of Magpie Moth Abraxas grossulariata.

I found quite many of these fellows on the sunny edge of the forest. They were feeding on small shrubs growing there. It was the same forest where last year I took a picture of adult Magpie moth. You can see it in my WORKSHOP. The forest is very dark inside and it's almost impossible to take a picture withouth flash there.
I must say that these moths were one of the most difficult to photograph. This is because they seem to be very shy and fly away if you make any sudden move or get too close. I've been chasing them for a while to get one shot at last.

As you can see it's quite amazing how similar in colouration the caterpilar and adult moth are.

Generally this is highly variable species. The wings are usually white and are marked with black spots and pale orange crossline running across the wings. The caterpillar is also white and has a black spots and orange line as well.

These moths are sometimes called Currant moth and it's Polish name can be translated as Spotted Gooseberry moth. The origin of these names is the fact that caterpillars like to feed especially on fruit shrubs. Apart from Currant and Gooseberry they can also be found on Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Hazel and some other trees and shrubs.
soccer, dew77, valy67, jcoowanitwong, Dando, timonejoon, phlr, aido, AndyB, scottevers7, TAZ, marhowie, jmp, ramthakur, liziafa, SkyF, wallhalla15, hekcik, saguzar, red45, firelord, eruyanik, jeanpaul, Signal-Womb has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To eruyanik: Ersin "Flash" Uyanikthistle 4 06-10 02:22
To aido: OEthistle 2 06-06 15:46
To Christopher_PL: Your websitethistle 1 06-06 13:21
To Dando: WSthistle 1 06-06 13:15
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Critiques [Translate]

Monika,

Another excellent posting. The Composition, POV, Sharpness, BG and detail of subject are all great. The back looks like the hand in a boxing glove with the thumb on the side. TFS,
Sheriff

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4432 W: 248 N: 4028] (13270)
  • [2006-06-06 3:48]

Hello Monika,
Excellent close up.Details,colors,sharpness and composition are wonderful.TFS...:-)

Hi Monika, another excellent capture from you ! The colors of this caterpillar are wonderful, and I love its pose. Sharpness, details, colors, composition, POV and DOF are perfect... Very well done !
Valérie.

Hello Monika,
Look like this caterpillar is inching forward and you had a nice captured while in action. Well observed. Good POV and composition. TFS
JC

Hi Monika, excellent close-up of this caterpillar. Good details, lighting and well exposed colours. It's also good to see your workshop aswell, like you say the markings are very similar. Very well composed shot on both accounts. Well done and TFS.
Dean.

Hi Monika

wow, intresting. sharp details and very nice DOF. briliant.
well done

TFS
timon

You're absolotely right - it's a Abraxas grossulariata.
Perfect shot - you can even upload it into my website ;-D

Chris

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 1044 W: 156 N: 1218] (4046)
  • [2006-06-06 6:12]
  • [+]

Hi Monika,
Great shot, first of all I have to say your exposure control is perfect, I don't think I've ever seen a spot of OE in any of your pictures, nor any strong flash, or under-exposed backgrounds. This is great, everything is perfectly exposed. Great detail and colours too and an interesting note. A great post from you :-)
Cheers,
Adrian

Great shot Monika.
Compositin is up to your usual high standard.
You have developed your talent very well since joining TN, well done.

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1366 W: 32 N: 1351] (3982)
  • [2006-06-06 7:16]

Hello Monika,
A very good macro of this caterpllar.
You've captured it with a good pose.
Nice detail,great colours and very good DOF.
Excellent work and an interesting note.

TFS

Hi Monika,
An excellent shot on this Magpie Moth Caterpillar! Beautiful saturated colors and tack sharp detail. I love the pose you hae captured. Comp. and framing look perfct. Well done!
Scott

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2006-06-06 7:32]

EXCELLENT !!! I like very much this nice caterpillar with a great pose ! Colors, DOF, BG, sharpness and exposure are super. Interesting complementary note and workshop for the moth, so similar...
Bravo Monika and TFS.

Hello Monika, Great Photo, Perfect details, BG, POV, DOF, details are right on, Everything is really crisp, Perfect Job, TFS Kyle

Hi Monika,
Very good sharpness, detail, color, DOF, and light..Interesting pose and POV, nicely OOF green BG. Great WS photo as well...
Well done!

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1659 W: 95 N: 2273] (8415)
  • [2006-06-06 10:46]

Hi thistle,
Great idea to show caterpillar and moth. Both are beautiful and you have show them very good, with the perfection and elegance you use to do. Very well done!
José M.

Very pretty caterpillar, Monika.
The black spots on white remind me of a breed of dogs they made movies about.
I find the posture you have shot it in quite amusing.
Great image with superb POV, DOF and clarity.

Witaj,
Fantastyczna odmiana dalmatynczyka :-)
BDB kadr, ostrosc i kolory :-)
Pozdrawiam Malgosia

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2234 W: 188 N: 1912] (8073)
  • [2006-06-06 14:42]

Hello Monike,
thats a very nice shot of this caterpillar, I like the pose, looks like its getting ready for a handstand ;-). Great POV, excellent details. Wondefull sharpness and agreat DOF.
Very nice composition.
TFS..Sky

Hi Monika - good macro of a nice caterpilar. ;-) Beautifull colors, good DOF and we can see many details. Well done.
Gr.
Heinz

Hi Monika,
Wonderful!!. I love the right action moment captured here; the details and colours are fabulous. The light is the correct.
TFS
Hernán

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2006-06-06 20:37]

Hello Monika,
What a wonderful looking caterpillar and moth.
I love their colors and markings.
The details are stunningly sharp, and the pose is fantastic,
with his rear end in "half step".
TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2006-06-07 3:28]

Hi Monika!
Another perfect shot! Details are awesome, caterpillar is very colorfull. Interesting pose. Also note is very good. I saw your workshop and I think you should post photo from it as normal post - it is worth it!

  • Great 
  • hekcik Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 291 W: 15 N: 305] (1827)
  • [2006-06-07 16:13]

Witaj,

Piekne makro.
Bardzo dobre szczegoly, ostrosc i kolory.
Doskonaly kadr i POV.

Pozdrowienia
Norbert

Hello Monika!
Great moment, very artistic pose! It looks like doing electric dance! or doing a handstand! You didn't check the flash in the photo information section but it seems that you used it! Sorry but I don't understand your note about the using flash! Did you use flash on this one or on workshop photo? or all of them :-) Anyway, amazing lighting with the flash! Interesting and informative notes also, as usual! Thank you and best regards!
Ersin

  • Great 
  • phlr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1237 W: 130 N: 882] (2821)
  • [2006-06-08 16:48]

Excellent photo of this caterpillar Monika!
Very good POV, colours and BG!
Excellent DOF and details of the ceterpillar!
5* and TFS!

Bonjour Monika
Belle prise de vue avec cette superbe chenille, Félicitations pour l'expositions et les belles couleurs ainsi que le trčs joli BG et les jolis détails.

Merci et au revoir...JP

Excellent Monika, everything about this one is incredible, you nailed it with the perfect exposure. :)

Very striking image with great colour and contrast which really caught my eye Monika. Again you fired that shutter at the right time catching this great pose. Makes all the difference. Very well done.

  • Great 
  • nimou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 148 W: 1 N: 687] (3171)
  • [2006-06-16 16:31]

we have the same exemplar in spain, i hope see and capture one this week end. really good macro. see you soon

Hello Monika,
Good detail, colours and sharpness. exposure and lighting are good. Good POV and composition.

Thanks for posting, have a great weekend ;)

what a wonderful shot. the detail, the composition,the POV and the DOF are all spot on. very nicely done.

TFS
Emma

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