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Young praying mantis
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Young praying mantis

by Carolyn Derstine

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted September 15, 2012112 views6 comments
This very young mantis is one of the very few I have seen this year. Last year, we seemed to have a "bumper crop" of these interesting critters in our backyard and I was able to get quite a few photos of them. This little guy was sitting on a yellowish green hosta leaf. The ambient lighting combined with the flash seemed to give an almost neon-like look to this image.

Canon Rebel T1i. 180mm macro lens. F/9 for 1/2 sec. ISO 200. Tripod mounted, on camera flash.

Comments

6 comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on September 15, 2012 at 1:26 PM
Amazing image, Carolyn. It looks like the hosta was lit from within, giving this the neon look you mentioned. Personally, I love it. I also like the way the flash lit the mantis' eyes, which look they they are staring you down. I remember your previous fine mantis images. This is another superb mantis image for your impressive collection. :toast:
Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by Joel DeYoung on September 15, 2012 at 8:42 PM
The leaf and the mantis both look like they are glowing! Nice job keeping the eyes nice and sharp.
Nicely done. :toast:
Registered on July 12, 2009, 92 Posts, 1074 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on September 15, 2012 at 11:19 PM
Wild light, Carolyn. I like the perspective with the head in sharp focus.

:toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Tonia Graves on September 15, 2012 at 11:31 PM
The lighting and colors to this are almost surreal! I like the head-on view as if it's checking you out just as much as the veiwer is checking it out. Nice work!
Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments
Comment posted by Albert Darmo on September 20, 2012 at 10:33 PM
Hi Carolyn :wavey: Amazing effects from the light :eek: very creative, and stunning :toast:
Albert Darmo
Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on September 23, 2012 at 10:05 AM
The leaf & mantid surely glow, great use of the light Carolyn..
Interesting comp with the subject making great eye contact.
And F/9 worked well to isolate those big, "buggy" eyeballs too :wink:
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments