Posted by Toni Lankerd on September 16, 2008 at 6:27 PM
...the store? Last week when I needed to make a quick trip to a local store, I found this Chinese Mantis on the hood of my car. Of course I had to get a few shots in, but the car was sitting in the shade by that time and lighting was poor, so I moved the car into the sunshine. Got a few images, then drove off to the store ( I didn't really want to pick him up! ), figuring the Mantis would fly off once I got onto the road...not! With speeds up to 35mph, this thing hung on for the ride of his life....all 6 miles...round trip!
When I returned home, he still refused to leave so I left him alone. On checking the "situation" around 10:00 p.m. that evening, I found he had moved to the roof of the car, and I figured enough was enough. Grabbed a flyswatter and gingerly pushed him off to the ground so I could park the car in the garage.
Posted by wally emmert on September 16, 2008 at 6:43 PM
beautiful shot, i love that long shadow
Posted by Philip Schwarz on September 16, 2008 at 8:02 PM
Beautiful shot. It looks like he is sitting on water.
I also thought it was water at first glance. Wonderful light! Great shot Toni.
Posted by Dave Flaig on September 17, 2008 at 12:29 AM
Awsome shot, Toni!!
The focus, DOF, reflection and shadow are each, spot on! Thanks for the story as well. What fun!! :)
Dave
Dave Flaig
Green Bay Wisconsin
Visit >>>> www.flaigphoto.com
"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." - Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Posted by beth summer on September 17, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Cool shot, Toni Love the long shadows of him...eerie in a way And the story was great too!
Posted by Chuck Beatty on September 18, 2008 at 2:45 PM
Fabulous, Toni. Looks like he's skating on ice.
Posted by Toni Lankerd on September 18, 2008 at 6:10 PM
Thanks everyone!
Chuck..I think he was "skating on thin ice" when he decided to go along for the ride!
Posted by Susie Hopkins on September 19, 2008 at 10:13 AM
OOOOHHH! Wonderful! I love the reflection.. I had one of these guys land on me while I was at work.. Is that good luck or somethig? I wouldn't have known he was there til a customer pointed him out as he was on my back.. I moved him to a nice tree.. No camera to record it.. Bummers.. But your shot, Toni, makes me smile and remember..
Posted by Dan Borzynski on September 23, 2008 at 8:30 PM
That is really cool looking - both the reflection and the shadows!
By the way, mantises are very capable of drawing blood if you try to pick one up wrong. Don't ask how I know that...
Discussion
10 repliesWhen I returned home, he still refused to leave so I left him alone. On checking the "situation" around 10:00 p.m. that evening, I found he had moved to the roof of the car, and I figured enough was enough. Grabbed a flyswatter and gingerly pushed him off to the ground so I could park the car in the garage.
The focus, DOF, reflection and shadow are each, spot on! Thanks for the story as well. What fun!! :)
Dave
Dave Flaig
Green Bay Wisconsin
Visit >>>> www.flaigphoto.com
"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." - Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Chuck..I think he was "skating on thin ice" when he decided to go along for the ride!
By the way, mantises are very capable of drawing blood if you try to pick one up wrong. Don't ask how I know that...