Dominick

1/16/2008 11:45:25 PM

This is wonderful.it looked like a part of the wood.Great find and capture.The green BG is making it beautiful.

1/16/2008 11:48:38 PM

Awesome capture, Steven!!

1/17/2008 12:07:59 AM

Great eye to spot this guy Steven!! This is a wonderful image! Great clarity and comp, and the green bg really sets off your subject!!

1/17/2008 12:08:45 AM

LOL-- Christmas vacation series?!?!?!?!
Well, at least you got some fantastic images ;)
Awesome clarity, detail, color and everything else

1/17/2008 12:16:23 AM

I almost thought it looked like a praying Mantis, AWSOME find and capture Steven!!!

1/17/2008 1:31:47 AM

Thanks everyone! I added more description to the title. It did seem odd to associate an insect with Christmas vacation :) The condo I stayed at was in the older Vero Beach area. It is the earlier developed part of Florida, very dense with foilage and every type of plant and insect. I went into the back lot of the condo and the whole deck and chairs moved from the motion of creatures. I have several other photos of insect and creature study which I spent half a day shooting. Yes Peaches, Mantodea (Mantises) is the praying Mantis insect classification.

1/17/2008 1:57:06 AM

WOW-EEH! This is one of the most incredible insect captures, because he looks totally made up (though I know he is not). He also looks like a fossil!
What a brilliant sighting, Steven. Amazing.
Michelle

1/17/2008 2:43:24 AM

Awesome macro work, Steven! Good detail, light and color!

1/17/2008 3:30:17 AM

Holy cr@p! This is Fantastic! Never seen one like that before.

1/17/2008 4:09:53 AM

GREAT capture!!!

1/17/2008 4:37:48 AM

WOW! I've never seen one of these either. Fantastic details and capture, Steven. You have the most AMAZING pictures in you gallery. I've really enjoyed looking at them.

1/17/2008 5:17:05 AM

I believe everyone has already said it all, so WHOA~!

1/17/2008 6:21:02 AM

WOW Steven! What an absolutely fantastic find!! Beautiful image. The clarity is amazing. I don't think I could have gotten that close to it. I am a bit skiddish around big bugs so I admire your bravery! LOL!

1/17/2008 6:53:18 AM

Like everyone, my first reaction was WOW, what a find, what a great background and what wonderful detail, Steven!

1/17/2008 8:54:49 AM

WOW, cool bug!! Great clarity and color!

1/17/2008 9:12:12 AM

A fantastic capture, Steven! Such detail! I enjoyed viewing your lovely gallery, too!

1/17/2008 11:58:48 AM

Steven - Wow!! Excellent find and capture! I have never seen anything like that before! - Mike

1/17/2008 5:56:06 PM

Cool capture, and great macro - love the all-green background, makes this crazy creature stand out!! -mm

1/17/2008 7:05:25 PM

OMG look at the details!!! amazing macro!

1/17/2008 10:14:52 PM

This is so fabulous Steven. Perfect detail, comp and light and even better I think you have found the next frightful creature for a world devouring movie.

1/18/2008 6:47:29 AM

FANTASTIC capture Steven!!!!! Mantises Rock! Bought an egg case one year for the garden, my daughter and I loved playing with them. Ours weren't as exotic looking as this little marvel!

1/18/2008 5:58:30 PM

I love this mantis! Nicely done. Good DOF.

1/19/2008 4:27:20 AM

Fantastic capture Steven!!

1/20/2008 9:59:51 AM

Excellent clarity on this little critter Steven very well done!
He is just soooo cute! :-)

1/20/2008 12:20:16 PM

This is just super! Beautiful details on this amazing little fellow...love him against the vibrant green. Gorgeous capture!

1/20/2008 1:17:19 PM

Wowie gorgeous detail and the lighting is AMAZING! Wonderful capture Steven!

1/20/2008 10:00:12 PM

FANTASTIC Macro Steven !!! Sorry I haven't been around for a while...but My husband works in Brazil and he was home for a few weeks...plus I got him a new Puppy for XMas and that has taken alot of my time...LOL He is the CUTEST little WHITE BOXER in the world....just precious. He named him Jack Frost and we call him JACK...he such a love muffin !
This picture is FANTASTIC !!!! Is it a STICK BUG ? I thought it was but them it looks a little different than the ones I have seen....Great capture though..whatever it is.
LOVE the detail in all of your photography, Jenny

1/21/2008 12:27:35 PM

Something from another time...mighty brave with that macro lens!

1/22/2008 1:50:08 PM

This is great, Steve!

1/23/2008 2:15:53 AM

Amazing clarity and detail, Outstanding color, lighting and contrast... Beautiful Macro

1/23/2008 10:02:50 AM

Wonderful macro shot Steven. I love the lighting on this one, shows off the 3 dimensionality of this praying mantis and the composition is topnotch. The blurred background is very clean and compliments the subject very well. Great work!

1/23/2008 7:42:01 PM

An amazing insect and you sure did a perfect job in capturing the impact of it too. Nice work Steve!

1/23/2008 7:47:15 PM

Super capture, macro, details and colors!!

1/24/2008 1:54:40 PM

This is such a wonderful image Steve! Love the details and clarity!

1/24/2008 2:02:38 PM

Me neither Steve, but you sure gave us an excellent view of this creature! Great detail and clarity!

1/24/2008 10:26:33 PM

Superb capture, excellent image, great DOF, many congratulations on your wonderful gallery, Steven!!!

1/24/2008 11:38:36 PM

A fascinating creature! Excellent macro, Steven!!

1/25/2008 1:47:32 AM

Very cool. Love the details and tones!

1/25/2008 5:36:57 AM

A Wondering Violin Mantis in FL? Pretty cool! These guys are from India and Sri Lanka.

...and no I didn't know that until just a few minutes ago. Your photo inspired me and with a little hunting and pecking I found him.

This is such a neat photo and mantis. You really found a great one.

EXCELLENT photography!

1/25/2008 8:16:53 AM

Wow... thanks very much everyone! Macro photos of insects is my favorite subject I think.

Thanks Sarah for your research. This critter is totally in the wrong place then. There are several Indian families in the Vero area, maybe they brought eggs over? Insects get relocated constantly, some of the native Western species are thanks to the Spanish ships and the new world settlers. Example: Earth worms were introduced to the Americas by the English.

1/25/2008 11:22:40 AM

Well, it wasn't the first place that I found a photo of this type of mantis, but when "googled," places where you could buy praying mantis as pets were on the list. I remember this one being on at least one of those sites. It could have been a "used to be" pet or descendent of one. Who knows, but it was an interesting and fun fact finding adventure.

1/25/2008 11:53:30 AM

Steven, congratulations on this wonderful finalist!!!

1/25/2008 12:56:33 PM

This is an amazing capture Steven. Excellent macro. Fascinating work. Thank you for the details on this creature.
JP

1/31/2008 9:33:16 PM

Holy Macro!
What amazing details and lighting!
Love this, Steven!
--Lisa

2/4/2008 6:11:53 PM

Great lines in this one Steven! WTG! erika haight

2/5/2008 5:11:58 PM

excellent macro shot. fantastic detail!

2/20/2008 5:31:29 AM

This is just so cool! Nice macro.
-Joe

3/22/2008 1:54:58 PM

What a cool find and of course and an excellent macro, Steven!!

4/24/2008 6:43:35 PM

WOW! This is a STUNNING macro! Holy Macro is right!

3/25/2009 6:49:19 PM