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Mantis on Agave

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted May 6, 2013159 views8 comments

I found this mantis in it's well-fortified home during a three-week backpacking trip through central Arizona. It was the middle of summer and extremely dry, so when a thunderstorm came through and dumped rain for an hour or so, the desert seemed to come alive as I ran around looking for a subject. I've always loved mantises for how easy they are to anthropomorphize, and for their habit of holding still!

Minolta Maxxum 7, 100mm Macro Lens, 2 seconds at f/4, Velvia 50, Gitzo tripod

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on May 6, 2013 at 6:48 PM

I like the upward perspective at the mantis peering down from the cactus ledge. The uniform green cactus provides a nice, non distracting bg. Good detail throughout the mantis.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on May 7, 2013 at 2:59 AM

Thomas:

Yes, mantises are really fun to photograph, always very co-operative and many humanoid antics. Love the framing by the cactus.

Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on May 7, 2013 at 4:17 PM

The lines here are great. I love the placement of the mantis between the edges of the plant. A bit more breathing room at the top might have been nice (if possible), but this still works quite well as presented.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Genny K. on May 8, 2013 at 3:03 AM

Good detail, and an interesting viewpoint!! Nice.

Registered on June 5, 2006, 132 Posts, 2001 Comments

Comment posted by Steeve Marcoux on May 8, 2013 at 8:38 PM

Nice composition, i like it !

Registered on November 23, 2012, 15 Posts, 76 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on May 9, 2013 at 11:25 PM

Very cool! I think I'd call this "Appriased by a Mantis" or something like that. The pose between the two cacti pads is great. My only nit (and it's very minor) is the cut off antenna at the top.

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

Comment posted by Bill Fach on May 12, 2013 at 5:34 PM

Thomas: A great find and capture. Really well done.>=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Anne K. Rusk on June 1, 2013 at 10:46 AM

One of the more interesting and well composed images of a mantis I have seen! I agree that I wish that the antenna weren't cut off. Excellent image!!

Registered on October 10, 2010, 65 Posts, 904 Comments