Alien Visitor to Earth - Mantis Macro

[jeffclow]

This fine looking fellow showed up on our back door screen last Fall and I took this shot of him as I was moving him to a safer place. He was cradled in my left hand and I used my right hand to get a couple of shots.

I used a Nikon D700 coupled with a Sigma 105mm lens. Exposure was 1/2500 at ISO 320 with an aperture setting of f/6.3

C & C always welcome and appreciated.


Alien Handful by Jeff Clow, on Flickr

[jeffclow]

I have mixed emotions about including my presence in a shot.....

I think the hand adds scale, but I would prefer to have the mantis in their environment.

What do you think?

[SCone]

the hands do take away from the mantis... I have two mantis eggs waiting to hatch right now... should be 200-300 little ones...

[jeffclow]

Originally Posted by SCone

the hands do take away from the mantis... I have two mantis eggs waiting to hatch right now... should be 200-300 little ones...

Thanks for the feedback.

And in terms of your mantis eggs - can't wait to see your shots when those two hatch. Not sure I've ever seen more than one mantis in a photo before...

[JohnT]

I like it. Looks like it could a stock image with the right lighting.

[jeffclow]

Originally Posted by JohnT

I like it. Looks like it could a stock image with the right lighting.

Thanks, John - hopefully the Getty editor will like it as you have. Getty has accepted a couple of my mantis images in the past:

Getty Images - Unsupported browser detected

Getty Images - Unsupported browser detected

Appreciate the kind words.

[bunnyfrogs]

I like it very much and don't think the hand diminishes the photo at all.
The only time i don't like a hand in a shot like this is if the person has gnarly looking fingernails, warts, blisters, or something ugly like that.
Although I took a shot of a teeny little toad one time on the tip of my finger with some peeling nail polish and people have raved over it. So you never know!

[corralup]

I had one of those things crawl up my leg the other day wearing shorts. Good thing I didn't slap my leg from the tickle. :) I put him back in some weeds where he belongs.
For the picture...I like it!

[jeffclow]

Originally Posted by bunnyfrogs

I like it very much and don't think the hand diminishes the photo at all.
The only time i don't like a hand in a shot like this is if the person has gnarly looking fingernails, warts, blisters, or something ugly like that.
Although I took a shot of a teeny little toad one time on the tip of my finger with some peeling nail polish and people have raved over it. So you never know!

Thanks - I am ambivalent about being part of the shot, but I do think the hand gives the viewer an indication of the mantis size in relation to a human hand.

[davidlc]

I like it I think the hand adds to the shot.

[surlynkid]

i don't think the hand takes away. it is just a different perspective. i think it is a cool shot on your hand. i like it.

[jfoureyes]

This is fine with me. They are one of my favorite little critters to find and watch while they hunt.

[jeffclow]

Originally Posted by jfoureyes

This is fine with me. They are one of my favorite little critters to find and watch while they hunt.

Thanks - and I concur. I always am excited to see these guys in action in our garden.

Plus, they are so darn photogenic...

[justDave]

Nice macro. Usually I like to see them in their natural surroundings, but I like the sense of scale your hand provides.

[ttusa]

Cool shot, but I'm too chicken to put a mantis on my hand LOL!