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Lunchtime!

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted May 3, 2017159 views6 comments

I watched this Bearded Robberfly chase and catch the little white fluttering bug (no action pix) now in it's mouth, and sit on this leaf for several minutes. Not a gobbler, nibbles at first. Perhaps he was waiting for the little thing to stop screaming and writhing in pain? (kidding) But, I managed to get a few half way decent shots before lunchtime was over...I was getting devoured by the skeeters and gnats.
I was practicing with dof, so any comments appreciated.

Make: SONY
Model: DSC-RX10M3
Software: DSC-RX10M3 v1.00
Date/Time: 2016-08-29 15:03:10
Exposure Time: 1/80 sec
Exposure Program: Aperture priority
Exposure Bias: 0.3 EV
F Number: F 3.5
Max Aperture: F 3.5
ISO Speed ratings: ISO 640
Flash: Flash did not fire [off]
Focal Length: 22.19 mm
35mm Equivalent: 61 mm
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
GPS:

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on May 3, 2017 at 10:53 AM

Lori, this is a fine, tight look at this robber fly. The details, especially in the eye but also the thorax look great. I was wishing for a bit more dof, but your techs indicate that the light levels were fairly low and I understand that trying to get a shot at a slower shutter would have been very challenging. I tried to look up Bearded Flycatcher and only got bird references. Yes, the little bug was probably being eaten alive, nature is not nearly as "clean" as most film and video presentations would like us to believe.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Lori Lafargue on May 3, 2017 at 11:03 AM

Thanks, Mark. I knew i had the name of this critter inside out and wrong! I'll correct it right away. You caught me on angles...the flycatcher surely is a bird. I created a new animal. I have a question...I think I shot this on RAW as well as jpeg...would the aspects you mentioned be any clearer on that shot?

Registered on September 30, 2016, 54 Posts, 59 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on May 3, 2017 at 11:39 PM

The details are nice in the eyes and thorax Lori. You might have gotten away with a bit more DOF with a smaller aperture setting such as an f6.3, or f7.1 since the robberfly was sitting pretty still munching on its prey. Cool to catch the eating action here in great detail.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on May 4, 2017 at 10:33 AM

Lori, depth of field is determined by the lens focal length, subject distance and the aperture settings, raw or jpg has no effect. The big advantage of shooting raw is that you have much more ability to adjust brightness, darkness, and even colors as you process a raw file. When you shoot jpg, you can still adjust those, but the range of adjustment is much more limited.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on May 6, 2017 at 8:18 AM

a great look at the robber fly - sharp where it matters, and a great perspective to catch the "action."
The bright pinkish branch is a little distracting, so might be darkened a bit.
Very nice!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Balan Vinod on May 10, 2017 at 4:13 AM

Lori, robberflies are the leopards of the insect world, and fun to make images. Experts have already mentioned my mind.

Balan Vinod

Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments