This Wednesday I discovered a Praying Mantis inside an office building on the window of all things! I gently coaxed him onto a container and he quietly sat there, grooming for a good 10-15 minutes. I decided he was coming home to set up shop in my garden....

He was a larger specimen at 4 inches in length, he had no problem taking the trip home in the car with me. He was very interested in hunting as soon as he saw flies and bees around the hummingbird feeders, but the hummingbirds were a bit too big - he watched them with interest... Literally within 30 seconds of setting him on an outdoor umbrella plant, a hapless bee swung by to investigate the camera gear. With blinding reflexes, the bee was captured within the blink of an eye!

Unfortunately for the bee, the Mantis started dining on it - head first… an amazing display of hunting by this elegant predator. I had to move back some lest I only photograph the head, since it’s a relatively large insect for a long macro lens. I eventually got in tighter to photograph the feeding, but it’s not pretty!

Taken with the K10D, ISO 100 or 200, F/11 to F/13, EV 0, standard X-Sync or HSS (last shot). No sharpening! No cropping unless otherwise stated.



Link to EXIF




Crop of the above image to show some details:



A little closer and near the end (pardon the pun)...

Link to EXIF

Still not sure about HSS mode - still experimenting using flash in shaded daylight areas.

I’ll save the less savory shots for another post… too much goop and internals being pulled/moved around... I hope you enjoy these images!

Regards,
Marc

[kcmadr]

One hundred thumbs up!!!

It's kind of depressing though to see pictures like that. There's no way under the sun *I* could record images of that quality. My best bet is to keep at it for another 25 years - practice makes... well, a lot of pictures.

I agree with Damn Brit - it's not fair if you use the FA* 200mm f4.0 Macro. That's like bringing a gun to a knife fight!!!

Please go rub it in the faces of the Pentax bashers.

[cupic]

You have found a willing model to shot while having lunch ,great macro work detail is excellent


cheers

[timbo13]

great series, Marc, and really well done!

[Rense]

Awesome Marc, these are wonderful pictures! It's hard to pick a favourite, they are all great. Thanks a lot for posting these, it's gives me (another) goal in life (as if I did not have enough goals already....).

[daacon]

Gus said it best ...... Stunning indeed

[Kerrowdown]

I'm sure glad they don't come people eating sizes, great photography.

[Marc Langille]

You don't play fair, you used the 200.

Awesome work Marc. You know they will often feed from your hand if you offer them a piece of meat.

Call it incentive...

Seriously, thank you Gary and they are amazingly quite cooperative with being handled. The funny part is that this big boy didn't wish to leave the feeders when I picked him up to move him to another area with more activity. It was funny watching him wave his forelegs in anxiety or desire to return to the place he was departing. He definitely knows a good spot to hunt at...

My oh my... I see your shots and I just can't stand it

It makes me realize just how far I have to go. Thank you for setting the bar.
Now I am heading to one...

Gus, my honor and I hope the bar issue is resolved...

Thanks again,
Marc

[Marc Langille]

Striking details - the usual story from your macro shots Marc.
Well done and thanks for sharing.

Thank you Ash and the good (goopy) stuff is yet to come!

Another wonderful series Marc and I am still envious of that lens. Thanks for posting them.

My honor Heinrich - hope you are doing well!

Wow. Brilliant pics for a brutal animal, with the leg of the bee in one arm and the body in the other.

Juan, this is the clean stuff...

Thanks to all of you for the very kind words!

Regards,
Marc

[Marc Langille]

Dazzlingly brilliant as usual Marc. Love the images. Praying Mantis' are so COOL! Hopefully we'll have a few around the house this year.

Mike

I agree Mike - they are very cool to watch!!!

Always special Marc.

Tom G

My honor to share Tom!

good lord Marc, those are spectacular to look at.
I just saw my first matis too the other day and ran for my camera and the best shot i could capture rendered it like a far away colorless twig...then i see these images that show the inside of his mouth in a brilliant red...oh man...

Mike, thank you and the best is yet to come! I suspect you'll like my "savory" shots - like pulling taffy...

Regards,
Marc

[knumbnutz]

Well captured Marc.
Stunning detail.
Cheers Neil

[maxwell1295]

Holy cow, Marc!

I've been very busy lately and haven't spent as much time around here as I would like. I'm so glad I clicked on this thread. Incredible images and a great story as well.

[igor]

absolutely stunning! well lit, well shot.

[Marc Langille]

Seriously great stuff, Marc. Although I do feel a bit sorry for the bee.

Jer

I know what you mean Jer about the bee...

It's quite a treat to watch such a predator on the hunt though!

Regards,
Marc

awesome :]

Thank you!

That's an amazing series, Marc. I'm really loving the crop of the second shot. Plenty of detail and a beautiful exposure!

Andrew, thanks so much for looking and commenting - I'm very pleased with the results. My keeper rate (due to minimal movement) was approaching 70% but sometimes the sudden head movement to watch/evaluate a potential meal did factor in to the shoot.

Regards,
Marc

[Marc Langille]

One hundred thumbs up!!!

It's kind of depressing though to see pictures like that. There's no way under the sun *I* could record images of that quality. My best bet is to keep at it for another 25 years - practice makes... well, a lot of pictures.

I agree with Damn Brit - it's not fair if you use the FA* 200mm f4.0 Macro. That's like bringing a gun to a knife fight!!!

Please go rub it in the faces of the Pentax bashers.

Hi kcmadr,

Thank you for the very kind words. I've only been practicing part time with macro as of late, so I was very pleased. The last time I did any real macro shoots was over a year ago. Two of those Pentax images will be published in a nature conservation book very soon... (see VLF link in my signature)

I understand and concur about you and Gary's comments on using this lens. Besides, bringing a gun is only half the battle - knowing how to use it is always a good thing and it's a great took in the quiver of lenses!! I also refuse to engage with those bashing a system, even those against Pentax - why not go master the tools you have and enjoy photography? Image quality is what matters for me.

Regards,
Marc

You have found a willing model to shot while having lunch ,great macro work detail is excellent


cheers

Thank you Nick! Much appreciated.

Regards,
Marc

[MSM]

Great shots, Marc.

I didn't know the Praying Mantis was such a predator. We have all kinds of bees, yellow jackets down here. I need a legion of Praying Mantises!!