Inspiring Photo: Mantodea #5493332

Mantodea

Uploaded: January 17, 2008

Description

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.

Exif: F Number: 5.6, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/250 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 400, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 54.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL

Comments

Dominick M. Dimacale January 17, 2008 0

Great find here, Steven.

Dominick #832026

Dr. Harmeet Singh January 17, 2008 0

This is wonderful.it looked like a part of the wood.Great find and capture.The green BG is making it beautiful. #5351463

Evy Johansen January 17, 2008 0

Awesome capture, Steven!! #5351484

Teresa Burnett January 17, 2008 0

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!! #5351487

Jennifer L. Alder January 17, 2008 0

LOL-- Christmas vacation series?!?!?!?!
Well, at least you got some fantastic images ;)
Awesome clarity, detail, color and everything else #5351522

Nancy (Peaches) Harker January 17, 2008 0

I almost thought it looked like a praying Mantis, AWSOME find and capture Steven!!! #5351757

Steven E. Ray January 17, 2008 0

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. #5351826

Michelle Alton January 17, 2008 0

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 #5351929

Donald K. Cherry January 17, 2008 0

Awesome macro work, Steven! Good detail, light and color! #5352095

January 17, 2008 0

Holy cr@p! This is Fantastic! Never seen one like that before. #5352267

Colette M. Metcalf January 17, 2008 0

GREAT capture!!! #5352460

Kirsten Kiki Kjaer January 17, 2008 0

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. #5352615

Bernice Wood January 17, 2008 0

I believe everyone has already said it all, so WHOA~! #5352821

Angie Sidles January 17, 2008 0

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! #5352928

Kay Beausoleil January 17, 2008 0

Like everyone, my first reaction was WOW, what a find, what a great background and what wonderful detail, Steven! #5353405

Melissa Olsen January 17, 2008 0

WOW, cool bug!! Great clarity and color! #5353472

Terry L. Ellis January 17, 2008 0

A fantastic capture, Steven! Such detail! I enjoyed viewing your lovely gallery, too! #5354092

Michael Umbreit January 18, 2008 0

Steven - Wow!! Excellent find and capture! I have never seen anything like that before! - Mike #5355520

Melissa McCabe January 18, 2008 0

Cool capture, and great macro - love the all-green background, makes this crazy creature stand out!! -mm #5355779

Stefania Barbier January 18, 2008 0

OMG look at the details!!! amazing macro! #5356215

Kathy L. Clark January 18, 2008 0

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. #5358182

Heather L. Haderly January 19, 2008 0

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! #5360632

Christina C. Moore January 19, 2008 0

I love this mantis! Nicely done. Good DOF. #5361867

Betsy Labuschagne January 20, 2008 0

Fantastic capture Steven!! #5367180

Sue Marshall January 20, 2008 0

Excellent clarity on this little critter Steven very well done!
He is just soooo cute! :-)
#5367680

Teresa Norris January 20, 2008 0

This is just super! Beautiful details on this amazing little fellow...love him against the vibrant green. Gorgeous capture! #5367945

Sandra R. Alvey January 21, 2008 0

Wowie gorgeous detail and the lighting is AMAZING! Wonderful capture Steven! #5369640

Jennifer A. Lambert January 21, 2008 0

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 #5372766

James Quantz Jr. January 22, 2008 0

Something from another time...mighty brave with that macro lens! #5377830

Barbara Waldoch January 23, 2008 0

This is great, Steve! #5380276

Fanie Heymans January 23, 2008 0

Amazing clarity and detail, Outstanding color, lighting and contrast... Beautiful Macro #5382081

Reynaldo D. Reyes January 24, 2008 0

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! #5384323

Kristi A. Howson January 24, 2008 0

An amazing insect and you sure did a perfect job in capturing the impact of it too. Nice work Steve! #5384342

Shelly A. Van Camp January 24, 2008 0

Super capture, macro, details and colors!! #5388138

Gail Vitikacs January 24, 2008 0

This is such a wonderful image Steve! Love the details and clarity! #5388165

Carol Teal January 25, 2008 0

Me neither Steve, but you sure gave us an excellent view of this creature! Great detail and clarity! #5389841

Ermanno Radice January 25, 2008 0

Superb capture, excellent image, great DOF, many congratulations on your wonderful gallery, Steven!!! #5389950

Alex T. Mizuno January 25, 2008 0

A fascinating creature! Excellent macro, Steven!! #5390121

Danielle Fuller January 25, 2008 0

Very cool. Love the details and tones! #5391319

Sarah G January 25, 2008 0

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! #5392074

Steven E. Ray January 25, 2008 0

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. #5393365

Sarah G January 25, 2008 0

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. #5393739

Teresa Norris January 25, 2008 0

Steven, congratulations on this wonderful finalist!!! #5394210

Jean-Pierre Ducondi February 01, 2008 0

This is an amazing capture Steven. Excellent macro. Fascinating work. Thank you for the details on this creature.
JP #5426098

Lisa J. Boulden February 05, 2008 0

Holy Macro!
What amazing details and lighting!
Love this, Steven!
--Lisa #5444251

Erika Haight February 06, 2008 0

Great lines in this one Steven! WTG! erika haight #5449854

Christopher Jamison February 20, 2008 0

excellent macro shot. fantastic detail! #5520684

Joseph M. Muench March 22, 2008 0

This is just so cool! Nice macro.
-Joe #5678588

Amy JACKSON April 25, 2008 0

What a cool find and of course and an excellent macro, Steven!! #5838044

ALLEN O. HOWARD March 26, 2009 0

WOW! This is a STUNNING macro! Holy Macro is right! #7331705

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