about to fly

[macro junkie]

1st time i got the female with her wings open

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2174/2132087219_4492a248ce_b.jpg

[ALaS]

Now THAT is awesome!

[LordV]

Lovely shot - perhaps a bit dark ?
Magnificent looking mantid.

Brian V.

[jsanz11]

The way you got it with the wings up looks awsome. Great capture!

[GaryT]

Great shot MJ. Looks a tad dark on my screen, but the pic is beautiful, spot on.

[macro junkie]

looks perfect on mine and mine is a 300£ LCD which has just been celebrated..does this one seem dark to?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2109/2133236696_58b5d2a91b_b.jpg

[LLBNY]

It look good and very impressive here!

[macro junkie]

2nd pic is kind of dark but 1st pic its face is perfect light imo.

[4g63photo]

Very nice shot MJ. What did you use for your lighting?

I love the fact that you can just take these guys out of their cage/container/box and take pictures.

Is this guy being aggressive towards you in the picture?

[Bill Pham]

looks good MJ would like to see the detail in the wing next time buddy. :D:D:D

Bill

[Jay Lowery]

yea im with bill but damn it looks awesome.

[Paul A]

Fantastic shot, absolutely awesome. Looks good on my screen perhaps its a matter of taste.

[macro junkie]

Very nice shot MJ. What did you use for your lighting?

I love the fact that you can just take these guys out of their cage/container/box and take pictures.

Is this guy being aggressive towards you in the picture?

sigma ring flash.i hate it..its sold..soon as xmas is over day after boxing day il be selling my nikon set up and getting either 100mm or 65mm and just using 1 rig..not sure yet which i want..the only reson im thinking about 100mm is the ranox..i want that and set of kenko tubes..i need to make my mind up.il be ordering it in next few days.

none of them are aggressive but some times they get a bit scared..this is what was happening in this shot..the female had just laid her ooth which ment she was aboout 6 x lighter than she is before she laid it..this means she can now fly good.i think after me picking her up for few times she wanted to fly off..they dp this amazing thing..they sit there and start flapping there wings..like there flying in the air but sat still..its amazing to watch..this female was doing that for about 1 min..it could be a way to cool them selfs off..im not sure..but when it happens i like to take some pics..next time i hope to lower shutter speed so i get some movement on the wings.

[racketman]

lighting ain't great - doesn't look natural, more like a spot-lit performance, otherwise very fine subject.

[4g63photo]

Do you dislike the ring flash because its not powerful enough?

I think im going to give a mantis a try. I always see them but after watching that HD Discovery show I told you about, i dont know if its a good idea to handle them. I watched a mantis take on a corn snake (finger size) and saw one that ate a mouse.

[4g63photo]

Geez MJ. I was going through your Flicker collection. Very nice man.

[macro junkie]

Geez MJ. I was going through your Flicker collection. Very nice man.
yer i shoot alot of pics every day..lucky i dont have to work so i can shoot all day..shame summer is over..cant wait til next year..im after my 1st dragon flys.

[macro junkie]

Do you dislike the ring flash because its not powerful enough?

I think im going to give a mantis a try. I always see them but after watching that HD Discovery show I told you about, i dont know if its a good idea to handle them. I watched a mantis take on a corn snake (finger size) and saw one that ate a mouse.
i had the dvd your on about..its called alian insect - prayingmantis?my buddie got me it fomr torrent site.HD? yer same one..amazing footage hey..at the end eating that humming bird..lol..what u got to rember is there wild..take a wild dog for instance..would u want to pet it?Hell no..but a captive breed dog thats been loved your will be chilled and not bit..iv never been biting by one.