What you don't know... can KILL ya!
Uploaded: October 01, 2005
A praying mantis looms forebodingly over an unsuspecting fly...
The interesting thing about this is that I noted that the praying mantis isn't a perfect hunter like you see in all the nature films. I watched this guy take 10 stabs before catching one. Those just get edited out of the film. :)
I decided to enter this in the "animals" category instead of the "details and macro" one because I felt that the focus was more on the story behind the shot and not the detail of the shot.
Taken with my Sigma 70-300mm in macro mode: 1/2000s f/10.0 at 300.0mm iso1600.
Tonya R. Boles October 01, 2005
Very interesting shot, and story. What a great find... #319601Dan McConoughey October 01, 2005
Cool shot Bill. I think the soft focus of the Mantis and the good focus on the fly is perfect for this kind of image and story. It lends to the mystique and drama of the scene. #1906467Bill K. Ko October 01, 2005
Thanks, Tonya and Dan, for your kind words. :)I have to admit that I imagined this shot as a horror movie like "Friday the 13th," where the camera is focused on the victim, and you see Jason in the background, out of focus, sneaking up on him/her. #1907011
Kara L. Hendricks January 08, 2006
What a fantatic shot Bill... A wonderful macro with perfect timing.. Looks like what you don't know CAN hurt you.. Great gallery! #2264924Bill K. Ko January 08, 2006
Thank you, Kara, for the kind words, and for recognizing the effort that went into the making of this shot. :) #2265181Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.
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