Lady never had a chance

[Reed Goodwin]

Well, this afternoon I saw a little preying mantis running up the wall of our porch. I decided to take it and put it in the garden where it could chow down and help control the pests. It hadn't been on the corn for more than a minute when it had a meal. I ran in, grabbed the 20D and 17-70mm and proceeded to stick the glass in the little guy's face. These are some of the better ones to come out of the session. EXIF should be intact, but they were all ISO 400 and they were all shot at 70mm f6.3 (I think). C&C away!
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i225/bnnnboy/IMG_4371s.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i225/bnnnboy/IMG_4374s.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i225/bnnnboy/IMG_4380s.jpg

Thanks,
Reed

[Leorooster]

Very nice series! I love the 3rd one :)

[LordV]

Excellent captures- they obviously perform well (the mantid). The prey looks more like a normal beetle than a ladybird.
Brian V.

[Lawrie B]

Nice series Reed

[dpastern]

Excellent series, #1 is my favourite, just those eyes staring at you, wow - it makes you feel like your its next dinner!!!

Dave

[Lester Wareham]

Wonderful series, I like #1 best too - that stare always freaks me out!

[Reed Goodwin]

Thanks guys. I noticed something about their eyes through this series of shots: the little black dots followed me around, obviously keeping an eye om me while it ate. They're amazing creatures.
Reed

[eccles]

I think the little black dots are an optical illusion. If you imagine each compound lens is a tube that's radiating out from a common point then at any viewpoint you look down one or more of these "tubes". Butterfly eyes are different though as with those you see a sort of moire mottled effect.
Sorry getting sidetracked. I like shot three. It's very well composed and framed and the lighting is excellent. But one thing to think about; all three shots are looking along the length of the insect, but losing the tail focus. It wouldn't have made much difference to the viewing angle to line up the camera lens parallel to the insect's body and get its tail in focus. I often try to do this with damselflies. This is because I am not Brian (LordV) who can focus stack most things perfectly because he hypnotises his subjects like Crocodile Dundee. ;)

[wizard13]

Love the third one. Just showing how the mantis is digging right in to its meal. Great find.

[Greg_C]

Great find and great series Reed. I like no3 best also.

[Reed Goodwin]

Thanks guys. I didn't really think about the alignment of the lens and mantis, but I probably should have. Part of my problem was that there was a little wind so the corn was blowing around a little, making the focus hit and miss, especially since I was manual focusing. Oh well. Maybe next time...
Reed