Peek-a-boo Praying Mantis

[ktuli]

This is a fun one... my wife found this praying mantis in the gardens, and I was trying to figure out how to get a shot of him while he was hiding in the middle of all of the plants. It was very attentive to us, and would follow me through the plants, and so I took advantage of it and found a tiny little opening to shoot through. He turned his head to see what I was doing, and I fired the shutter...

Thanks for looking.

- Bill

[Katy Noelle]

Wow, Bill! Cute!

[jupiterlush]

Hahaha Bill, I don't like mantis especially how they move and jump! But your mantis seems to be friendly, it smiles!

[KeithH]

Lovely framing Bill. Its creepy how these critters keep their beedy eyes on you when you are near them

[TobyMac]

Great shot

[ktuli]

Wow, Bill! Cute!

Katy - Thanks. Soon you'll have that macro and can start looking for shots like this.

Hahaha Bill, I don't like mantis especially how they move and jump! But your mantis seems to be friendly, it smiles!

Al - Glad you like it. I too thought it was funny how he looked like he was smiling. It added to the peek-a-boo feel to the shot.

Lovely framing Bill. Its creepy how these critters keep their beedy eyes on you when you are near them

Keith - It is a tiny bit unnerving, isn't it? He was well aware of where I was at all times. But all in all, I've found that if you're slow and deliberate with your movements, you're fine. I actually managed to relocate this guy a couple times by simply putting a stick in front of him and rolling it under his legs - he very cooperatively just walked right up on the stick (much like chameleons will do). I think he was still too young to fly, so that might have added to his complacency.

Great shot

Toby - Thanks for looking, glad you liked it.

- Bill