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hidden forms
12th of March 2007 (Mon), 02:37
Heres some portrait shots of praying mantis having a snack on a fly, one individual can eat 25 flies a day and this species is found only in New Zealand (orthodera novaezealandiae) c and c most welcome, Photos have been slightly cropped

http://www.pbase.com/hidden_forms/image/75524874/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hidden_forms/image/75524877/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hidden_forms/image/75524880/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hidden_forms/image/75524870/original.jpg
calicokat
12th of March 2007 (Mon), 02:40
Awesome capture
LordV
12th of March 2007 (Mon), 03:13
Wonderful series :)
detail is a bit graphic when you have just had your breakfast ;) :D
Brian V
hidden forms
12th of March 2007 (Mon), 03:30
Thanks calicokat and Brian, and next time i'll put a warning saying do not look if having breakfast,it may be harmful;) :D
dpastern
12th of March 2007 (Mon), 03:52
Wonderful series :)
detail is a bit graphic when you have just had your breakfast ;) :D
Brian V

Or if you've only recently had your dinner ;-) Lovely shots Craig, wish I'd find a mantis chowing down! Well captured by all concerned :) Are you starting to see a decline in insect activity over in NZ btw?

Dave
hidden forms
12th of March 2007 (Mon), 04:41
Thanks for the comments Dave, the insect activity here still ok, weathers been good lately, but i don't know how long thats going to last, but then winters not far away
Franko515
12th of March 2007 (Mon), 04:52
Good shots

Its one of those things where something is gross, but you cant stop looking. You want to turn away, but instead you notice every detail (like how the flies eyes have peeled back).
LindaB
12th of March 2007 (Mon), 07:07
#4 is fabulous! Great to see them in action. All other shots are great of course, but #4 is special.

Linda
Leorooster
12th of March 2007 (Mon), 09:57
Great captures! The fly looks pretty fresh ;)
Bald Eagle
12th of March 2007 (Mon), 19:48
#4 is fabulous! Great to see them in action. All other shots are great of course, but #4 is special.

Linda
I agree with Linda, spectacular captures, but, #4 takes the Cake(I mean Fly):D ;)
zman
12th of March 2007 (Mon), 20:13
Very nice series!
BigAl-SA
12th of March 2007 (Mon), 20:52
Super series HF!
Alex Paul
12th of March 2007 (Mon), 21:14
Beautifully done H F :D
hidden forms
12th of March 2007 (Mon), 22:25
appreciate all the comments everyone, and Linda and BE number four is my favorite to:D
fx_weiss
13th of March 2007 (Tue), 00:55
Haha AWESOME! Why don't you post the tech. data?? (I am curious)
Dalantech
13th of March 2007 (Tue), 01:11
"Hmmm... looking for a fly you say? Funny, I haven't seen any flies around here lately but I'll be sure and let you know if any happen by..."

That went through my head while looking at your photos -especially the last image. Incredible series! :cool:
Stefano
13th of March 2007 (Tue), 12:08
Terrific shots ;)
lcpete
13th of March 2007 (Tue), 12:27
Great shots the 4th is the best one very graphic :D
Pete
CrazyPuma
13th of March 2007 (Tue), 14:25
Love the 1st and 4th - pictures like these make me think I should get some extension tubes. :)
hidden forms
13th of March 2007 (Tue), 22:14
Haha AWESOME! Why don't you post the tech. data?? (I am curious)

thanks for the comment, the info is Iso100,f11,1/200sec, maunal mode, flash setting was about fec -2/3
hidden forms
13th of March 2007 (Tue), 22:21
Thanks again everyone for the kind feed back, CrazyPuma, i had the 36mm ET on but with an mantis of this size(about 40-45mm) i could have got away without using the ET, but i highly recommend in getting a set of ETs