<< Previous Next >>

Episyrphus balteatus


Episyrphus balteatus
Photo Information
Copyright: Jose Ramon Pato (JORAPAVI) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 677 W: 0 N: 629] (4643)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-11-19
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon 20D, Sigma 150mm F2.8 APO Macro DG HSM
Exposure: f/18.0, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Syrphidae (Hover flies) of Europe-1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-02-21 6:18
Viewed: 4982
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 62
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Spanish]
Hoverfly
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Syrphidae

Hoverflies resting on a grass stalk late in the day
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Superfamily: Syrphoidea
Family: Syrphidae

Flies in the Diptera family Syrphidae are commonly known as hoverflies, flower flies, or Syrphid flies.

As their common names suggest, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at flowers; the adults feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while the larvae (maggots) eat a wide range of foods. In some species, the larvae are saprotrophs, eating decaying plant and animal matter in the soil or in ponds and streams. In other species, the larvae are insectivores and prey on aphids, thrips, and other plant-sucking insects. Aphids alone cause tens of millions of dollars of damage to crops worldwide every year, and so aphid-feeding hover-flies are being recognised as important natural enemies of pests, and potential agents for use in biological control. Adult syrphid flies are important pollinators.

Many Syrphids mimic bees or wasps in appearance. It is thought that this mimicry protects hover flies from falling prey to birds and other insectivores which avoid eating true wasps because of their sting. However a flower fly and a wasp can be distinguished by counting the wings: the flies have two wings, and the wasps and bees have four. They can also be distinguished by simply looking at the head: if it looks like a fly's head, then it is likely a fly. Hover flies get their name from their characteristic flight pattern of hovering nearly still, then darting a short distance very rapidly only to start hovering again, a pattern not seen in the wasps and bees they mimic.

About 6,000 species in 200 genera have been described.

HERE
ellis49, cicindela, peter_stoeckl, SkyF, star74, fartash, dew77, wkshelton, meyerd, fiyo, Necipp, JoseMiguel, RAP, vanderschelden, extramundi has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To cicindela: SpeciesJORAPAVI 1 02-21 07:41
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hi Jose,
you have captured a very nice close-up picture, this is really close. Good details, nice colour and lioght.
The exposure is good too. Maybe it's a but tight to left, just a wee bit more space had been nice.
Well done.

  • Great 
  • fthsm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 172 W: 56 N: 512] (3689)
  • [2007-02-21 7:12]

Wow. As far as I know, this fly is really small. But looks like a giant one here.
Very good details and notes. More neat BG would be great.
Thanks for sharing Jose.

Hello Jose!
Very nice picture of member of one of the most colourful (even if mainly black-yellow) fly families :)
Nice details, good contrast and sharpness.
Only in the note I found a small thing which was overlooked by you: at first (after systematic) you wrote that there are known about 5,000 species while in the last sentence there is an information that 6,000 species from this family have been described. So what is the correst one? :>
Best regards,
Radomir

Hello José,
fine illumination and an excellent depth of field.
This is a very good looking, marvellously detailed macro.
The left wing should be prevented from exactly touching the left border, however.
Tried a little workshop to cure that.
With thanks, and best regards,
Peter

bonjour josé ramon
je n'ai jamais reussi a avoir une mouche syrphe de cette maniere avec un aussi bon DOF,et une telle netteté.
felicitations.
laurent

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2007-02-21 7:52]

Hello Jose,
Most impressive capture of this Hoverfly.
Excellent sharp details and beautiful colours.
More space on the left needed but the composition is excellent.
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2234 W: 188 N: 1912] (8073)
  • [2007-02-21 7:54]

Hello Jose,
excellent macro composition, full of great details. Great POV, colors and sharpness.
A bit tight on the right but it still works.
TFS..Sky

  • Great 
  • yllen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 230 W: 0 N: 16] (641)
  • [2007-02-21 8:42]

Hola JR:
Gran tiro. Excelentes detalles, POV, DOF, hermosos colores, buen punto de vista y encuadre para esta genial captura. ¡Bravo!
Felicitaciones y un cordial saludo desde Argenrtina.
Nelly

Hello Jose
What a great shot of this Hoverfly,
Excellent sharpness and composition,
Perfect lighting, Welldone.

Regards
Fartash

Hello Jose,
Again another magnificent shot.
Beautiful colors and details.
Great job.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4432 W: 248 N: 4028] (13270)
  • [2007-02-21 9:18]

Hello Jose,
Beautiful capture of this hoverly.Sharpness,vivid colors,details,DOF and visual impact are excellent.
TFS..:-)

Hi Jose,
that's soooo beautiful, a perfect arrangement with pretty colours and excellent sharpness.
I realy love it, thanks and greetings
Sabine - wishnugaruda

A faultless macro of this hoverfly, Jose.
Extraordinarily sharp focus, perfectly natural colours and a superb composition.
Nothing is out of place in this fabulous image.
Best regards.
Ram

Jose Ramón: realizas siempre unas fotos con unas texturas magníficas. Esta preciosa la foto que nos muestras. Enhorabuena y saludos,

Hello Jose,

well done and capture perfect colors Bg POV DOF details very crisp Nice work

TFS Kyle

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1772 W: 36 N: 5597] (18598)
  • [2007-02-21 11:59]

Hi Jose,
Wonderful macro shot of the hoverfly. Nice sharp details and natural colours make the composition stand out, although I think the cropping is a bit tight on the left. Anyway, a superb shot. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • meyerd Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 585 W: 64 N: 2238] (7531)
  • [2007-02-21 12:47]

Hi José,
"there is always a way to do it even better" and you give a good example here: I believed I had seen the top in Syrphid photography thanks to TN. And then this: DOF, sharpness, and the supporting flower off focus so the animal seems to hover. Great!
Thanks for sharing,
Cheers,Dietrich

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1053 W: 5 N: 3475] (15161)
  • [2007-02-21 13:05]

Hello Jose,
Great capture.POV,lighting,BG,pose of bird and details are excellent.TFS

  • Great 
  • clnaef Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 778 W: 67 N: 645] (6814)
  • [2007-02-21 13:44]

Bonjour,
Super cadrage et netteté remarquable.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

  • Great 
  • rdfoto Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 372 W: 0 N: 719] (3295)
  • [2007-02-21 13:50]

Bonsoir Jose
Excellente image, Cadrage, Couleurs et netteté
Bravo. Salutations Robi

Hello Jose a very detailed and close shot great work superb technically IMHO, well done can't see anything to complain well done best rgds Necip.

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1079 W: 293 N: 4497] (16383)
  • [2007-02-21 14:14]

Hola Jose,
a phantastic macro of this hoverfly. Clear details and great sharpness in spite of or because of high magnification. Natural colours and well balanced depth of field contribute to the high quality of this picture.
Best wishes, Peter

Hi jose,

A perfect macro , with such great details and rich in colour pic u have frozen. This is one amazing macro , need a bit more spacing rest all is perfect.

Tfs

Pawan

Hola José Ramón,
Menos mal que no me perdí esta maravilla!
Los detalles y nitidez obtenidos son pasmosos!
La saturación del color es muy buena.
El flash de relleno lo manejaste muy bien, las transparencias en las alas son excelentes.
Muy acertado el workshop de Peter con respecto a la distancia del ala y del borde, un detalle menor en esta gran foto.
Enhorabuena y gracias por compartir la foto.
Un gran saludo,
JM

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 2232 W: 10 N: 2971] (16891)
  • [2007-02-21 16:40]

Buenas noches José,
perfecta macro, y excelentes detalles,
nitidez y colorido,
maravillosa imagen, muchos saludos

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2007-02-22 4:22]

Hola Jose Ramon,
Except for tight cropping on the left this is a perfect shot of a hoverfly with excellent detail, good POV and DOF and fine comp. The Bg is suitably OOF too.
TFS and best wishes, Ivan

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2007-02-22 5:28]

Estupenda macro JR con relevantes detalles del insecto y un entorno armónico que conforman una bella composición.
El F18 ha funcionado muy bien aquí con un foco muy apropiado y el necesario desenfoque posterior, con buena iluminación.
Estéticamente el punto de vista es ideal, pero el encuadre demasiado ajustado a la izquierda... con un workshop de Peter que realza la belleza de la presentación.
Un gran saludo... Ricardo

Hi Jose,
Beautiful macro image. A lot of sharpness.
Wings are very sharp. Both!
TFS
Annick

Excelente, esta perfecta.
Me molesta un pelín lo de que el sujeto toque el marco (lo digo por el ala izda.), pero son manias mias.
La foto no tiene desperdicio, de una nitidez envidiable, colores y luz sobresalientes.
Felicidades.

Hola Jose R.
Excelente foto, se le ven todos los detalles.Saludos.
Antonio.

Ola José,
Estavamos eu e meu filho olhando as tuas imagens e ambos apreciamos muito esta!!
Parabéns pelas cores,foco, detalhes,composição,brilho e nitidez!!!
Abraços do Brasil,
Melina e Enzo

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF