Critter pictures
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- MarkSturtevant
- Posts: 1947
- Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2015 6:52 pm
- Location: Michigan, U.S.A.
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Critter pictures
More from last summer.
This clear-winged sphinx moth (Hemaris thysbe) is clearly a bumblebee mimic.
Clear-winged sphinx moth by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Clear-winged sphinx moth by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Ground crab spider (Xysticus sp.).
Ground crab spider by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Ground crab spider by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Bark lice (Cerastipsocus venosus) are a new thing for me. These odd Hemipterans gather in tight clusters. Although they resemble aphids, they are a fair bit larger and they are fast. The least disturbance triggers them to instantly disperse in short, synchronized stampedes. Soon after, they were completely spread out.
Bark lice by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Bark lice by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
I well remember when I first saw this nectar feeding fly. I was all like "What the heck?" This is the scaly bee fly (Lepidophora lepidocera)
Scaly bee fly by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Thanks for looking!
This clear-winged sphinx moth (Hemaris thysbe) is clearly a bumblebee mimic.
Clear-winged sphinx moth by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Clear-winged sphinx moth by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Ground crab spider (Xysticus sp.).
Ground crab spider by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Ground crab spider by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Bark lice (Cerastipsocus venosus) are a new thing for me. These odd Hemipterans gather in tight clusters. Although they resemble aphids, they are a fair bit larger and they are fast. The least disturbance triggers them to instantly disperse in short, synchronized stampedes. Soon after, they were completely spread out.
Bark lice by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Bark lice by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
I well remember when I first saw this nectar feeding fly. I was all like "What the heck?" This is the scaly bee fly (Lepidophora lepidocera)
Scaly bee fly by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Thanks for looking!
Mark Sturtevant
Dept. of Still Waters
Dept. of Still Waters
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- Posts: 713
- Joined: Thu Mar 14, 2013 11:40 am
- Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Re: Critter pictures
Really nice action shot on the sphinx. The spider is more dramatic, but the bark lice steal the show for me. Never heard of them, let alone saw one!
Leonard
Leonard
Re: Critter pictures
The moth photo is wonderful, and the fly is also weird and wonderful. Never heard of such a fly.
Re: Critter pictures
Amazing series expertly taken.
Herman Munster www.flickr.com/photos/153096150@N05
Re: Critter pictures
A really nice set of pictures!
Troels Holm, biologist (retired), environmentalist, amateur photographer.
Visit my Flickr albums
Visit my Flickr albums
Re: Critter pictures
Nice set
Check your diffuser -it has a hot spot in it. The light is not diffused enough, and the specular surfaces are returning the color of the flash and not the color of the surface. Lots of detail getting erased by the light...
Check your diffuser -it has a hot spot in it. The light is not diffused enough, and the specular surfaces are returning the color of the flash and not the color of the surface. Lots of detail getting erased by the light...
Re: Critter pictures
Dalantech, I don't see that, except for very minor reflections on the bark lice abdomens
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Re: Critter pictures
Take a look at the specular highlights in the spider's eyes. Also shows up in the bark lice, on their heads.
Re: Critter pictures
Lots of detail getting erased by the light.
I see those eye highlights, but is there really lots of detail being lost there?Take a look at the specular highlights in the spider's eyes. Also shows up in the bark lice, on their heads.
- MarkSturtevant
- Posts: 1947
- Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2015 6:52 pm
- Location: Michigan, U.S.A.
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Re: Critter pictures
I agree with Dalentech. These were taken with an older diffuser design that pre-dates the internally reflecting twin diffuser design that I featured here recently. That one improves the matter, since all light is reflected from the interior, although it too can be challenged by especially shiny surfaces.
This winter I plan to build another internally reflecting diffuser that is based on these 'party bowls': https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XQNW6K6?ps ... ct_details . I like the shape of these very light and thin-walled bowls b/c it looks like they can distribute light on the subject both in front and from the side. And I can modify them so they fit together to form a larger single bowl with a deeply concave front face. We shall see...
This winter I plan to build another internally reflecting diffuser that is based on these 'party bowls': https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XQNW6K6?ps ... ct_details . I like the shape of these very light and thin-walled bowls b/c it looks like they can distribute light on the subject both in front and from the side. And I can modify them so they fit together to form a larger single bowl with a deeply concave front face. We shall see...
Mark Sturtevant
Dept. of Still Waters
Dept. of Still Waters
Re: Critter pictures
Yup, cause that non-diffused light erases a lot of detail throughout the scene. It is something that I struggled with for years before finally wrapping my head around what was happening, and how to fix it.
Last edited by Dalantech on Sat Aug 21, 2021 3:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Critter pictures
The torture test for any diffuser design is a stainless steal ball berrying. If there is a hot spot in your diffusion it will definitely show up.MarkSturtevant wrote: ↑Sat Aug 21, 2021 10:44 amI agree with Dalentech. These were taken with an older diffuser design that pre-dates the internally reflecting twin diffuser design that I featured here recently. That one improves the matter, since all light is reflected from the interior, although it too can be challenged by especially shiny surfaces.
This winter I plan to build another internally reflecting diffuser that is based on these 'party bowls': https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XQNW6K6?ps ... ct_details . I like the shape of these very light and thin-walled bowls b/c it looks like they can distribute light on the subject both in front and from the side. And I can modify them so they fit together to form a larger single bowl with a deeply concave front face. We shall see...
- MarkSturtevant
- Posts: 1947
- Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2015 6:52 pm
- Location: Michigan, U.S.A.
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Re: Critter pictures
I would be curious to see what would be an ideal look for a ball bearing in such a test (or spherical Christmas tree ornament - that being more my speed as I''m all out of ball bearings).
Mark Sturtevant
Dept. of Still Waters
Dept. of Still Waters
Re: Critter pictures
The larger the specular area, and the smoother the transition between the specular and non-specular areas of the scene, the better. You should see color and texture in the specular surfaces.MarkSturtevant wrote: ↑Sat Aug 21, 2021 5:34 pmI would be curious to see what would be an ideal look for a ball bearing in such a test (or spherical Christmas tree ornament - that being more my speed as I''m all out of ball bearings).