Giant Moth

[OMP Ron]

Hello all, Found this giant moth on one of my patio stones, I've seen these before but can never make my mind up as to what it is from web photos. Any suggestions?
Ron

 

[AlanKlein115 4]

Definitely a moth.

Nice shot.

 

[tirediron]

Definitely a moth.

Nice shot.

Specifically a BAM*

*Big-@$$ Moth

 

[Flying Panda]

....can never make my mind up as to what it is from....

It is from a really big mother.... Do you get the green ones?

 

[OMP Ron]

Hello Panda,
The things are really kind of scary and yes we do get the green ones once in a while but they are much more benign looking and really kind of pretty. This guy looks like a bad a##. By the way did you happen to see the 2019 Audubon photography awards, if you aren't submitting I think you should consider it, a great many of your photos are better in my opinion than the winners. In case you haven't seen them here is a link to the NewAtlas site where I saw them. 2019 Audubon Photography Awards include new prizes – and plenty of amazing bird pics

 

[Flying Panda]

Hello Panda,
The things are really kind of scary and yes we do get the green ones once in a while but they are much more benign looking and really kind of pretty. This guy looks like a bad a##. By the way did you happen to see the 2019 Audubon photography awards, if you aren't submitting I think you should consider it, a great many of your photos are better in my opinion than the winners. In case you haven't seen them here is a link to the NewAtlas site where I saw them. 2019 Audubon Photography Awards include new prizes – and plenty of amazing bird pics

Thank you very much Ron for your kind and generous comment. I went to the website you provided and viewed the top ten entries. A lot of these images were really professional and pleasent to view however, from my perspective and experience with well known "photography contest", the winner on this website is typical of most of today's contest. The image of the Red Winged Blackbird is atypical concerning true photography and more in synchrony with computer graphics. The first fault I find is that in all the years I have been photographing wildlife I have never witnessed the frozen breath of an exhaling bird. I have seen the breath of various animals such as fox, deer, elk, etc. but even then not in rainbow colors. In my humble opinion, my photography is not on par with professionals and I sure as hell am not proficient enough with computer graphics to compete with some of the "photography" seen in today's top level contest. Nevertheless, I am joyed that I have received some semblance of acceptance from many of the fine photograpers here on this forum. Thank you!

 

[OMP Ron]

No problem Panda, I think you underrate your work. If you ever do get into the computer graphics software, I can recommend Affinity Photo, it's not too expensive and is arguably on a level with Photoshop but probably the best thing about is that the company has hundreds of tutorial videos posted on YouTube on their channel. By the way I see you were back out a Sleepy again, by any chance do you ever here the theme from the movie "Deliverance" when you're out there?
Ron

 

[zulu421]

Are you saying the RW blackbird image is fake? Hmmmm I hadn't thought of that possibility.

I have never witnessed the frozen breath of an exhaling bird.

Anyway, speaking of giant moths, this guy has been frequenting my petunias after dusk. I've identified it a White-lined Sphinx moth.

 

[Derrel]

That is one large moth!

 

[Flying Panda]

Are you saying the RW blackbird image is fake?

I beleive the image is real. However, it has been modified in computer graphics software to the point that it is no longer what I consider a "photograph". Others may differ and that is OK but I'm from the old school (the one before computers) and I am an advocate of photography in its purity. Some of the photography giants of old, that have passed on to that dark room in the sky, would roll over in their graves if they saw some of the stuff that passes for photography today. No one in there right mind would enter a vintage painting into a photography contest expecting to win. Graphically modifing a photograph beyond what a camera is capable of producing is the same concept. IMO

 

[zulu421]

Are you saying the RW blackbird image is fake?

I beleive the image is real. However, it has been modified in computer graphics software to the point that it is no longer what I consider a "photograph". Others may differ and that is OK but I'm from the old school (the one before computers) and I am an advocate of photography in its purity. Some of the photography giants of old, that have passed on to that dark room in the sky, would roll over in their graves if they saw some of the stuff that passes for photography today. No one in there right mind would enter a vintage painting into a photography contest expecting to win. Graphically modifing a photograph beyond what a camera is capable of producing is the same concept. IMO

Very interesting and I value your opinion. Skipping the whole analog versus digital post process debate, what I find interesting here is that we see an image like this and we don't know which it is! Or rather, you assumed digital manipulation was involved- but that thought hadn't even occurred to me

I first saw that blackbird photo and thought it was a perfectly-timed and lucky catch. The low angle of light catching the frozen breath and refracting into colors. A chance moment almost impossible to have that timing or be close enough to see. Worthy of an Audubon award because of the rarity of the moment and competency of the capture. I was also viewing with the assumption that the Audubon Society would have some standards under which a composite or drastically altered image would be disqualified. I have never seen an eagle carrying a rabbit with a fox attached either, but I didn't assume digital manipulation.

 

[K9Kirk]

No problem Panda, I think you underrate your work. If you ever do get into the computer graphics software, I can recommend Affinity Photo, it's not too expensive and is arguably on a level with Photoshop but probably the best thing about is that the company has hundreds of tutorial videos posted on YouTube on their channel. By the way I see you were back out a Sleepy again, by any chance do you ever here the theme from the movie "Deliverance" when you're out there?
Ron

If he took his queues from Burt like I did he always hits "the wilds" with bow & arrow. Greatly reduces squealing.

 

[K9Kirk]

Hello all, Found this giant moth on one of my patio stones, I've seen these before but can never make my mind up as to what it is from web photos. Any suggestions?
Ron

There are a number of species of Hawk Moth's, it appears it could be one of them. Here's a pic off the web I pulled up of one that's very similar.



Edit: Just pulled up another and we may have a match. It may be the Convolvulus Hawk Moth.



Convolvulus Hawk-moth Photos, Convolvulus Hawk-moth Images, Nature Wildlife Pictures | NaturePhoto

 

[Derrel]

I saw that red wing blackbird photo about a week ago. I have never seen "dragon's breath" from a small animal like a bird, but I have seen it in photos of elk and cattle. Under just the right circumstances I believe it is possible, and I assumed that with the right relative humidity and temperature and a low,backlighting early morning sun,that such a photo would be actually possible.

Of course in this day and age it would be very easy to take such a photo and enhance it. This photo is so perfect that it is understandable that people would immediately suspect digital manipulation or enhancement. But once in a great while nature is so perfect and so beautiful that extraordinary photos are possible.

I expect that in the near future there will be quite a bit of exploration behind the circumstances that led to this image.

 

[K9Kirk]

I saw that red wing blackbird photo about a week ago. I have never seen "dragon's breath" from a small animal like a bird, but I have seen it in photos of elk and cattle. Under just the right circumstances I believe it is possible, and I assumed that with the right relative humidity and temperature and a low,backlighting early morning sun,that such a photo would be actually possible.

Of course in this day and age it would be very easy to take such a photo and enhance it. This photo is so perfect that it is understandable that people would immediately suspect digital manipulation or enhancement. But once in a great while nature is so perfect and so beautiful that extraordinary photos are possible.

I expect that in the near future there will be quite a bit of exploration behind the circumstances that led to this image.

Agreed. Anyone that's seen the Aurora Borealis, has followed undersea exploration or watched Ancient Aliens has seen plenty of weird stuff, much of which is still unexplained.
I'm still trying to figure out the PEE-WEE HERMAN show.