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Mantodea


 

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Mantodea
Mantodea

Florida 2007 Christmas Vacation Series.
The condo I staying at had dense growth in the Vero area.
The community was teaming with critters.
An Entomologist identified this as belonging to the Mantodea (Mantises).
Personally, I have never seen anything like this insect.
Canon 100mm Macro lens. Entered "D&M" moved to "Animals" 1/20.

Steven E. Ray

 
 
 
dmd-photo-art.com - Dominick M. Dimacale

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Great find here, Steven.


Dominick


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January 16, 2008

 

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


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January 16, 2008

 
- Evy Johansen

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  Awesome capture, Steven!!


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January 17, 2008

 
- Teresa Burnett

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  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!!


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January 17, 2008

 

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


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January 17, 2008

 

Nancy (Peaches) Harker
  I almost thought it looked like a praying Mantis, AWSOME find and capture Steven!!!


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January 17, 2008

 

Steven E. Ray
  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.


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January 17, 2008

 

Michelle Alton
  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


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January 17, 2008

 

Donald K. Cherry
  Awesome macro work, Steven! Good detail, light and color!


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January 17, 2008

 

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


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January 17, 2008

 

Colette M. Metcalf
  GREAT capture!!!


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January 17, 2008

 

Kirsten Kiki Kjaer
  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.


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January 17, 2008

 

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


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January 17, 2008

 
- Angie Sidles

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  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!


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January 17, 2008

 

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


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January 17, 2008

 

Melissa Olsen
  WOW, cool bug!! Great clarity and color!


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January 17, 2008

 
- Terry L. Ellis

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


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January 17, 2008

 

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


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January 17, 2008

 

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


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January 17, 2008

 
- Stefania Barbier

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  OMG look at the details!!! amazing macro!


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January 17, 2008

 

Kathy L. Clark
  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.


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January 18, 2008

 

Heather L. Haderly
  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!


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January 18, 2008

 

Christina C. Moore
  I love this mantis! Nicely done. Good DOF.


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January 19, 2008

 

Betsy Labuschagne
  Fantastic capture Steven!!


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January 20, 2008

 

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


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January 20, 2008

 

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


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January 20, 2008

 

Sandra R. Alvey
  Wowie gorgeous detail and the lighting is AMAZING! Wonderful capture Steven!


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January 20, 2008

 

Jennifer A. Lambert
  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


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January 21, 2008

 

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


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January 22, 2008

 

Barbara Waldoch
  This is great, Steve!


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January 23, 2008

 

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


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January 23, 2008

 
- Reynaldo D. Reyes

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  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!


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January 23, 2008

 

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


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January 23, 2008

 
- Shelly A. Van Camp

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  Super capture, macro, details and colors!!


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January 24, 2008

 
- Gail Vitikacs

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


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January 24, 2008

 

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


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January 24, 2008

 

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


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January 24, 2008

 

Alex T. Mizuno
  A fascinating creature! Excellent macro, Steven!!


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January 25, 2008

 

Danielle Fuller
  Very cool. Love the details and tones!


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January 25, 2008

 

Sarah G
  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!


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January 25, 2008

 

Steven E. Ray
  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.


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January 25, 2008

 

Sarah G
  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.


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January 25, 2008

 

Teresa Norris
  Steven, congratulations on this wonderful finalist!!!


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January 25, 2008

 

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


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January 31, 2008

 
- Lisa J. Boulden

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


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February 04, 2008

 

Erika Haight
  Great lines in this one Steven! WTG! erika haight


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February 05, 2008

 

Christopher Jamison
  excellent macro shot. fantastic detail!


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February 20, 2008

 
- Joseph M. Muench

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  This is just so cool! Nice macro.
-Joe


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March 22, 2008

 

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


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April 24, 2008

 

ALLEN O. HOWARD
  WOW! This is a STUNNING macro! Holy Macro is right!


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March 25, 2009

 
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