My first Praying Mantis pics.

Hi!

Last Saturday I was in a place here in Albania called Gjiri i Lalsit (Lalsi Bay). It's beautiful place by the sea side. I have a small apartment there and was waiting for my Sleeping room and Kitchen stuff to arrive. I was told they'd come at around 10-11 am but then it was postponed after 1 pm. So I went to a nearby restaurant to have lunch.

After some fried squid we got in the car and as I got in this Praying Mantis jumped on the hood. I was very excited as I knew how interesting subjects these insects are and I didn't know I could find them in Albania. I grabbed a plastic bag and caught it. Went back to the home and slowly released it on a plastic chair. I was surprised it didn't get away and it was very calm.

I had some of my camera gear with me but left the shoemount flash at home so I had to use the bounce flash.

The gear: K100D, Super Takumar 50mm f/1.4 and Vivitar 2x Macro teleconverter, bounce flash.

The photos:














Yes, I blew clean the sensor yesterday

[marlon]

Your first?
Nice, so much detail! well done.
I just don't like the lighting, especially in #2
Very "cold" and blue, probably just a WB issue with the flash?

[Warped]

Originally Posted by Deni

.....Yes, I blew clean the sensor yesterday

Some nice dust bunnies there for sure, but still some great shots of the Mantis, they're such a cool insect.

[Deni]

Originally Posted by marlon

Your first?
Nice, so much detail! well done.
I just don't like the lighting, especially in #2
Very "cold" and blue, probably just a WB issue with the flash?

Well the lighting was provided only by the on board flash so I'm pretty happy with it. I can't really see the "blue" light but it must be because the chair being blue and has a reflective surface.

[ChipB]

Nice pics with the available gear. Preying Mantises are so bizaar!!!!