Mantis Portrait 1 – D700, 70-200mm w/500D

Two mantis portraits, one 3/4 view with a 100% enlargement of the head area and one straight on also with a 100% enlargement of the head area…can’t decide which one I like better. Again in their favorite hunting ground, the Russian Sage…

Mantis Portrait 1 – 100% Enlargement

Mantis Portrait 2 – D700, 70-200mm w/500D

Mantis Portrait 2 – 100% Enlargement

New Skin Mantis – D700, 85mm PC

Here is a shot of one of our mantis right after she shed her skin, hanging on a dead rose bush branch drying out. I popped a translucent white reflector behind her to clean up the background.

Here is a 100% enlargement of the head area:

New Skin Mantis 100% Enlargement

Morning Mantis – D700, 85mm PC

The mantis in the yard have been eating well and have grown to full size now. I have been shooting images all along but haven’t had time to process all of them yet. This female was posing nicely in the Russian sage, a favorite hunting ground, this morning in the sunlight. I could not resist processing this image right away… Shot this in some pretty strong back-light and bounced some fill in with a small silver reflector. Here is a 100% view of the head…

Morning Mantis 100%