Crystal Mantis

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Crystal Mantis
Photo Information
Copyright: John Plumb (JPlumb) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 654 W: 159 N: 889] (2827)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-25
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D-200, AF-S VR Micro Nikkor 105mm w/ TC20EII
Exposure: f/8, 1/90 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Mantids with unusual and very big prey [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-03-31 17:51
Viewed: 520
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is my foray into the world of macro (or actually micro as I shoot with Nikon). I was playing / experimenting with my camera just outside my door when I saw this guy on a shrub of ours. I measured the leaf after our session. It is about a centimeter wide.

It is a mantis, but I can’t tell what type he is. It is a nymph so doesn’t exhibit many of the characteristics yet that an adult would. Based on the very translucent “crystalline” colouring my guess was that it was less than a day old. I looked around for an egg case or others like him but couldn’t find any.

There are about 2000 different species of Praying Mantis around the world, ranging in size from 1 cm to 15 cm. They are carnivores that “prey” mainly on other insects and spiders, though larger ones are said to be able to capture and consume vertebrates such as frogs, lizards and even mice.

On hatching the mantids first meal is often other young, hatching just after them. They then feed on leafhoppers, aphids, or small flies as they grow. They will shed their skin many times as they morph into adults.

I took several shots of this mantis, before it decided to head under the leaf, and I lost him. I liked this one as it showed the characteristic “praying” attitude with the forelegs clutched up ready to snatch some prey and the bent body and turned head. This is also very characteristic of these insects. Mantids are the only insects that can turn their head 180 degrees.

Some of this from: http://www.walkaboutpark.com.au/index.php?id=57

Workflow for this shot was as follows:
The shoot – shot in Raw with Jpeg reference (210 mm ISO 250 f8 1/90)
NEF file adjusted for exposure and shadow, vignetting, and colour fringing
Levels – adjusted white and black points then slight midpoint by eye
Curves - adjusted RGB for contrast – s-curve
Dodged and Burned with overlay layer (5-10% opacity white and black)
Added saturation layer +25 to master
Saved as a tiff
for this post cropped for position, resized, selected on and reduced noise in background, created a new layer, inversed selection, selectively sharpened, framed and saved as a jpeg
rcrick, Adanac, waylim, mariki, keanhoon, jhm, Necipp, jrobertop, jusninasirun has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To pablominto: I Named HimJPlumb 1 04-01 00:45
To rcrick: How I Saw ItJPlumb 1 04-01 00:18
To mariki: Had to Try a MacroJPlumb 1 03-31 23:33
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Critiques [Translate]

Hey Mate,
Welcome to the world of the Praying Mantis, that is an amazing shot, how on earth did you even see it, I would think this would have to be a first for posting TN, excellent detail, wonderful composition, all the best Cheers Rick :)

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1029 W: 1 N: 3932] (13252)
  • [2008-03-31 19:32]

Hello John,
Exceptional macro image of this crystal creature. Wonderful details and colors from your great camera work. Thanks for sharing John.
Rick

Oh my good, it's a little mantis ghost. This is my many wows of the day. I never know this exist. How interesting. Off course, you have to be the one to show us. John, it’s another great image with the unusual specie from you. I love it. It looks like it’s dancing too, what a great pose. Thanks so much for posting.
Way

Hello John,
This is indeed a strange fellow!
As judged by the looks I can understand why he got the name...
A well composed presentation with this unusual creature!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Hello John,

Excellent picture of this mantis nymph. What a great capture. Fantastic pose of the nymph. Very good sharpness. Excellent contrast against the green of the leaf.
Thanks for sharing,
Mariki

Wow, what a splendid take, like an angel dancing in the nature green.
TFS
Best regards,
Kean

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1687 W: 20 N: 4738] (15476)
  • [2008-04-01 5:02]

Hi John,
Splendid 'micro' shot of this interesting Mantis. Very skilful camera work and it stands out well against the darkish BG. Very sharp image with spot-on focus. Excellent POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Ciao John,
davvero un'immagine molto ben realizzata e assai suggestiva di questa piccola mantide di cristallo :)
Un ottimo lavoro, complimenti.
Saluti dalla Sicilia,
Marcello

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 661 W: 0 N: 176] (620)
  • [2008-04-01 9:13]

Hello John,

What a fine picture, exceptional macro image of this crystal creature.
This is the first time that I see this Crystal Mantis.
You play with your camera, but you make a very extraordinarily photograph, my compliments for this one.

Best regards,
John.

  • Great 
  • Necipp Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1151 W: 15 N: 2073] (12390)
  • [2008-04-01 10:23]

Hello John, what an amazing crystal mantis this is, I've never seen one. I thought the lighting, exposure is perfect, contrast is excellent. Well seen, captured and composed. You've a great eye for composition. tfs Rgds Necip

Hi John.
Wonderful macro!
I liked this perspective!
Great details of this beautiful and strange insect.
Interesting register!
Best wishes,
José Roberto

  • Great 
  • RP1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 154 W: 1 N: 124] (1840)
  • [2008-04-01 17:32]

Hi John,
I like your picture. Very impressive nice scene . Amazing pose, pleasant colours and perfect details. My compliments and kind regards.
Roger

Hello John. I have never seen this creature before and thanks for sharing this one here on TN. Your notes explained the variety of them on earth. Excellent sharpness in the image area where it matters and very pleasant blurry background too. A good start for your venture and your optics and precision equipment are ready to be exploited. I know there are plenty more up your sleeves I'm sure and maybe tucked away in your digital shoeboxes :-) Well done John and keep looking down close and very best regards. Jusni

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2447 W: 207 N: 2035] (8113)
  • [2008-04-04 11:04]

Hi John,
I think this is the first on TN, seen many of those Mantis, but never a nymph. Excellent macro shot, the details are nice and very interesting.
Thanks for sharing this unusual find.
Sky

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