A Little Face-to-Face

[Don Ellis]

http://www.kleptography.com/dl/mantiseye1024.jpg

Frankly, I thought my Mantisland gallery was full -- I had my four mantids and wasn't looking for any more. But yesterday we were just finishing a late lunch when this one flew into the living room and settled on the carpet.

I picked him up and we wandered about the place looking for an interesting background but the light was poor so we finally went outside where I set him on a branch.

Canon G2
Hoya Macro Lens +10
Shutter speed: 0.6 sec
Aperture: 8.0
Exposure mode: Manual
Tripod

Cheers,

Don

[Leighow]

DON

Perfect.

Now if only this guys could talk.


"...Dear Mr Ellis, let me begin by saying how delighted I am to be outdoors. You see earlier to day I was ...."


HOWIE

[Griffin]

Excellent shot! Why is there always mantis for you and moth/cockroaches for me? :p

Keep us posted.


Griffin.

[bigdave]

Well I don't have the professional eye for quality or years of expertise when it comes to photography, but I know a sweet shot when I see it. The other members who've posted here have probably taken great pictures like the one you shot, but I can only hope to capture such an awesome photograph.

You managed to personify the mantis. When I look at the photo, I want to reach out and say "I'm David, nice to meet you!" It's bizarre in the very best way. Excellent work. I can't wait to see more!

[marie]

Its a great shot
to be able to see these fellows 'faces' so close up
is wonderful .
He is crispy looking too, like something one could bite on : )


Also, the funny remarks from the others here are really good
I agree with them
and think the friendly lilttle fellow is thinking...........
as he peers at us from the 'selected' computers all over the world
'hey, whats all this
this crowd looking in at me ,
they give me the creeps ,
but , very nice to meet them, thanks Don but ............ pssst...........
How many kinds of species are there ?
and are they from outer space
(some of them anyway ? )

end of thoughts from the little green fellow


ps
(postscript .....not photo shop : )
.........has he a sore under the left eye ?

Its a terrific shot
great to see any of these fellows so close up
as they are very difficult to 'capture' long enough
to get a good picture


marie

[cgesteland]

Holy moly! It's a little scary up close, no? Might give me nightmares. ;)

Great stuff as usual, Don.

[Conk]

It's these type of shots that make me want a G2.
What a shot Don!

[Don Ellis]

Thanks, everyone, for your kind and amusing comments.

We live in Clear Water Bay, Griffin, so we get a better class of bug. You're right, David... I almost titled this "Hello." Marie, your flights of fancy are always appreciated. I checked with my mantometrist and he suggested glasses but with this guy's lifespan they wouldn't be ready in time.

One thing I noticed in looking over the series that I shot from different angles is that the eye moves about underneath this external dome. It happens to be looking at me here but it can roll its eyes in almost any direction like miniature eyeball turrets. They do seem to move in sync, like ours.

Personally, I like his Little Orphan Annie eyes and little Jimmy Durante nose.

On a technical-bug note, while the close-up lens gives you very shallow depth of field, his eyes are not in focus in any shot even though parts of his face and antennae both in front of and behind his eyes are.

Cheers,

Don