Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.

Lunch

Discussion

12 replies
Posted by Peter Edge on July 23, 2009 at 5:08 AM
Lunch
Another Mantis, i hope its not too boring.
Taken yesterday. He was determined not to give up his grasshopper despite a lens being pushed up close.
Canon 1D mark3 180mm f3.5mm macro
1/60 sec f18 iso200 no flash
C&C most welcome
Pete
Posted by Rene de Heer on July 23, 2009 at 5:10 AM
Such strange animals, very nicely executed.
Rene de Heer
Posted by Justin on July 23, 2009 at 5:12 AM
A little over-sharpened but the subject matter, behaviour and uncluttered setting works great. :cool:
Posted by Paul Inglis on July 23, 2009 at 5:30 AM
Superb Peter! :cool:
Posted by Craig Jones on July 23, 2009 at 6:48 AM
I've been fascinated by these since a child,always asking my mum for one as we passed the pet shop, with their unique shape, and powerful jaws and the grapic way in which they devour their prey they have always fascinated me, this image is a lovely illustration of this and the detail is spot on, I like it a great deal Peter :wink: :wink: :wavey:
Posted by Brett Lewis on July 23, 2009 at 7:49 AM
Very nice detail and uncluttered BG.. I'm not sure on the lighting in this one though as it appears to be coming from underneath the branch/insect casting some dark shadows in the upper parts of the image. Did you use some kind of flash set up for this.? Otherwise a great subject and an encounter I hope to have someday soon.. might have to play with my friend's stick insects until then though..! :biggrin:

Thanks for sharing..

Brett :toast: :toast:
Posted by Greg Hitchcock on July 23, 2009 at 7:49 AM
Interesting shot but looks a bit odd to me - why is the light coming from below - has it been rotated?

Apart from that, nice simple composition and uncluttered background.

Greg
Posted by Des Ong on July 23, 2009 at 9:51 AM
A great subject/s and pose but the angle of the light looks unnatural to me. Was this originally an upside down image, or did you use reflectors?

Des
Posted by Andy Shepherd on July 23, 2009 at 11:57 AM


Excellent capture Peter, like it lots.

Andy...
Posted by Peter Edge on July 23, 2009 at 1:38 PM
When i took it the mantis was upside down. I rotated it to work on and decided the original composition wasnt great with the head and the meal in the bottom right corner so I left it flipped. I agree with the comments on the lighting but I did think they added a little to the scariness.
thanks for commenting everyone.
Pete
Posted by eric weight on July 23, 2009 at 3:49 PM
I see what you are saying about the lighting Pete, it does make it look more ominous than when it is the correct way up. Quite unsettling.
:toast: Eric
Posted by David Taylor on July 23, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Great capture. I would have been tempted to leave it the correct way up for reasons of authenticity and my perverse nature. :wink:

:toast: :toast: :jump:
Posted by Mark Hamblin on July 23, 2009 at 4:53 PM
A good piece of natural history photography. The rotation makes the lighting a bit odd but not overly so.