Posted by David Taylor on August 11, 2007 at 5:37 PM
This greenbottle was soaking in the sun today on a twisted hazel leaf Corylus avellana 'Contorta'. I think it is Gymnochaeta viridis but stand to be corrected.
Sigma SD14 dslr
Sigma 50mm macro lens
f/9.0
ISO 100
1/200s
Hand held
Natural light
Aperture priority
RAW adjustment SPP3
Resized and cropped in PS Elements 5
Despite flies not being the most welcome of guests, your image just shows that even they can be pretty attractive (as flies go ) when seen up close like this.
Posted by Mark Fellowes on August 12, 2007 at 2:58 AM
Lovely shot, full of detail. I think that flies make great macro subjects.
Mark
Posted by Alan Bryant on August 12, 2007 at 5:03 AM
Fantastic detail in this one
Posted by David Kjaer on August 12, 2007 at 5:18 AM
Superb detail and colours!
David
Posted by brendon lees on August 12, 2007 at 5:35 AM
Quite an attractive little chap, with that metalic paint job!!
I shall look at the in a different light from now on
Nicely taken
Alan
Posted by Mark Fellowes on August 12, 2007 at 9:02 AM
Hi David
Thinking about this, I think that it's more likely to be Lucilia caesar (the 'true' greenbottle, a common calliphorid) rather than Gymnochaeta viridis (a tachinid - its larvae are parasites of stem-boring moths), as the latter's flight season should have been over a while ago, and it has large pale calypters. Happy to be diagreed with though. Excellent shot whatever species it is!
Mark
Posted by David Taylor on August 12, 2007 at 12:30 PM
Hello Mark,
I think you may be right. It was a toss up between Gymnochaeta viridis and Lucilia caesar looking at my venerable Collins 'A Field Guide to the Insects of Britain and Northern Europe'. Last night I favoured the former now with your suggestion I think it is almost certainly the latter. What a difference a day makes! Here is a picture, head on, of the same species this time on a pear leaf taken the same day.
Thanks Philip
The Sigma SD14 can certainly produce superb results but I find it very unforgiving of my poor technique (which is the way I like it, how else do you learn?). I must admit it has taken me a few months to come to terms with it and am now seriously considering buying another body now the price as dropped. IMHO the IQ is hard to beat at the new price,
Discussion
9 repliesSigma SD14 dslr
Sigma 50mm macro lens
f/9.0
ISO 100
1/200s
Hand held
Natural light
Aperture priority
RAW adjustment SPP3
Resized and cropped in PS Elements 5
Mark
David
You certainly produce some great results with that camera. The detail and colours here are simply superb.
Best wishes
Phil
I shall look at the in a different light from now on
Nicely taken
Alan
Thinking about this, I think that it's more likely to be Lucilia caesar (the 'true' greenbottle, a common calliphorid) rather than Gymnochaeta viridis (a tachinid - its larvae are parasites of stem-boring moths), as the latter's flight season should have been over a while ago, and it has large pale calypters. Happy to be diagreed with though. Excellent shot whatever species it is!
I think you may be right. It was a toss up between Gymnochaeta viridis and Lucilia caesar looking at my venerable Collins 'A Field Guide to the Insects of Britain and Northern Europe'. Last night I favoured the former now with your suggestion I think it is almost certainly the latter. What a difference a day makes! Here is a picture, head on, of the same species this time on a pear leaf taken the same day.
Thanks Philip
The Sigma SD14 can certainly produce superb results but I find it very unforgiving of my poor technique (which is the way I like it, how else do you learn?). I must admit it has taken me a few months to come to terms with it and am now seriously considering buying another body now the price as dropped. IMHO the IQ is hard to beat at the new price,