Camomantis

[Don Ellis]

If you never see a mantis in your garden, there's a reason...

http://www.kleptography.com/dl/fm/mantis_leaf640.jpg

This one is five inches long and disappears when you don't watch him.

Don

[pappy]

Whoa, camouflage is right! Excellent, as always Don.

regards,
peter

[marie]

you would definitely have to know the mantis are there to see them at all.
amazing how nature makes the greens blend helping camouflage the insects
lovely shot , showing the pattern on the large leaves as well.

best wishes
marie

[CyberDyneSystems]

Amazing :)

I remember as a child I thought there were different color mantises on our farm,. every now and then I would find one on an old wooden fencepost,. and it would be a mottled brown and grey... like the fence post.

Of course when you put it on a leaf,.. in time, it would turn green!!!!!

[Andy_T]

Don,

so you say that these critters are maybe all around my lawn?

Scary thought... ever since I viewed the comic movie 'Maja the bee' as a kid, they've been pretty menacing to me!

But then, I think that now I'm too big for them :)

Regards,
Andy

[Don Ellis]

I'm running a little behind here, so allow me to say thanks to everyone, rather than individually. Always nice to hear your reactions.

After I photographed him in the garden, I invited him inside... this shot is also in another thread so you may have already seen it...

http://www.kleptography.com/dl/fm/mantis_black_framed640.jpg

As for being afraid of them, yesterday I had two of these giants together and I made the mistake of putting one touching the other. They immediately went at each other and I picked up one of them gently and he grabbed me with his front claw. Almost yelled Ouch! I can see that small creatures would consider this the animal from Planet Death.

Ten seconds later we were all friends again. They're quite easy to pick up and carry around. The easiest ways not to hurt them are to 1) pick them up from behind at the body segment just in front of the four feet (but only if they're not clinging to something), or 2) just hold out your hand in front of them and let them walk on.

Not long after I stuck my lens in his face (first shot), he came out onto the leaf and leaped on me a couple of times. They're really astute, inquisitive creatures and you can tell when they're going to jump you. The stare at you, beginning bobbing and weaving, and then JUMP!

I put him back on his plant and later, when I was in the living room and went near the toned sliding glass door to see if he was still around, he jerked his head up and stared at me again. Very tuned in.

Cheers,

Don

[nucki]

great picture! I dont want to have some of this in my house! ;-)

regards
Peter

[Laziferous]

Camoflauge indeed. Beautiful picture.

I've seen a mantis or two in the bushes outside my front door, but I didn't have a G2 then. I should look closer from now on.

What method are you using to focus? I find the AF on the G2 to be erratic, and I'm not very fond of "manual focus", as it pixelizes the display, and it's hard for me to tell if it is indeed, in focus, or not. Maybe I just have to get used to it... I've only had it since March.

I looked through your gallery. I am amazed. Your images inspire me to learn more about photography... and the G2 specifically. It's almost incomprehensible that you shot those images on your site, with Canon G-series cameras. Maybe someday I'll be able to post something up to the caliber I see on your site. I shall refer to it as "Don Ellis quality" http://photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smile4.gif Thank you for the inspiration.