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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> The Story of a Mantis
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07/04/2007 07:33:17 AM · #1
I have always had an affinity to Praying Manti. Growing up they seemed so rare that whenever I saw one it was just so cool. But I could probably count on both hands how many times I had seen one alive in the wild in the first 30 years of my life.

Last year though it all seemed to change. While mowing our lawn I came across a huge mantis. It was in August and I was pretty head deep into DPC so I did what I had heard others do. I caught her, popped her in a big cup and stuck her in the fridge until i finished mowing the lawn. Rule of Thirds challenge was up so I got a twig and some poster board and set it up for her to pose on. I had no clue if she would stay or just take off once i let her go. Amazingly she was probably one of the most courteous models I had ever worked with. Even after the cold of the fridge wore off she basically just moved where I guided her and then stayed put. I took a ton of pics and then let her go underneath my back porch where I had found her. In she went to the Rule of Thirds challenge and she scored very well for me.

A couple of weeks later, I believe while mowing the lawn again, I came across her once more. Now I guess I can't be completely sure it was her since I didn't tag her or anything, but she was the same color and size as before, maybe even a tad bigger, and in the same location. I grabbed her again and put her in the fridge, finished mowing the lawn and set up for another shoot. This time the challenge was Seeds. I at first had her posing on a stack of sunflower seeds with a posterboard of sky behind her. I then shifted to a half papaya which gave better colors and such. And like the previous time, she posed like a star. Aimee and the kids were on the porch with me and she just hung in there like a trooper. Popped off a bunch of shots, thanked her for her time and let her go once again under the porch. Entered into Seeds and scored well (though much lower than I had hoped).

I believe I came across her once more before fall really set in but I didnt use her for photos. It was just nice to come across her again.

Jump ahead almost ten months.

We are getting our house ready to put up for sale. I was cleaning my back porch and moved away a container and there in the corner was a tiny little praying mantis. And I mean tiny. Couple inches long at most. I caught her and popped her in a cup. This one was feisty. Really fast and almost agressive. I knew burst of color was up and thought she might make a good model. I went next door and picked one of their tiger lillies and set up in my back yard to shoot. This little one ended up being a great model. She posed well, but unfortunately the wind was blowing so hard that I had a really hard time getting any shot to work out. She hung out on that flower for a good 20 minutes as I woud shoot and then go inside to preview. Ultimately I had nothing and wasnt going to get anything. So I let her go in the woods in my far back yard.

The next day I picked up a flower bouquet of painted daisies in hopes of maybe pulling off another Ursula type shot to enter into burst. While doing some more work on the deck, I came across another baby mantis. Figured it had to be a different one as I couldnt see the first one making the trek back to under my porch. I popper her in a cup and in the fridge again for just a minute or so as I got my daisy set up. And once again - just like every mantis I had found previous, she posed for me like a pro. Little nudges into place and then she would stay right there. She hung on that flower for a good 30 minutes if not longer as I shot and previewed. After the shoot I thanker her and let her go under the porch hoping to come across her again. Entered her into Burst of Color and she did pretty darned well. (It was her suggestion for the border) ;)

A couple of days later I went outside to work on my door. AS I went out I thought to myself maybe I would come across another baby mantis. And just as I walked out I saw one. Unfortunately not in a position I wanted to see.

This jumping spider had snagged her. Now I dont know if this was the same one from my color burst entry. Its possible because I let her go in this general area but I cant be certain. I was bummed, but I I do also like spiders so I cant be too mad. Both of these critters take out the bugs I hate so they are all good. Just a shame to see em at each other.

In the end though, what I found really cool is that I think I had a family of models under my back porch. While I can't be for sure the geneology of my manti, I believe that I was shooting the mom last August and I was shooting her brood this June. If by some freak chance I come across one on the day that we are moving across town I might have to relocate her with us. Maybe she will continue on around our home and we can have praying manti for years to come. They are truly a pleasure to photograph.
07/04/2007 08:21:27 AM · #2
Cool story! I'm always happy to have some in my garden. If you keep this up you will have to name them and start posting them in the Pets thread ;-)
07/04/2007 08:29:08 AM · #3
I guess this one didn't pray quite hard enough huh lol.

nice story and shots, I love praying mantis they are so cool looking.
07/04/2007 08:57:32 AM · #4
I suppose if the one that got "got" is the one from your blue ribbon entry, at least it had it's moment of fame!
07/04/2007 08:59:36 AM · #5
OMG!!! Tim, this is incredibly ironic - - I was in Walmart last night, perusing the <> magazines (of course!), when an advertisement really caught my eye... and your title & photos here reminded me of the ad immediately.

It seems that the advertiser liked seeing these small wonders too, as there was a small picture of a little praying mantis. Strangely, there was a big write-up to go with the picture (odd, since most ads are short & sweet). Funny thing was, you had to read the text in order to 'get' the picture (or look really really close!)

I don't want to spoil it, so I'll try to find a link for you. Trust me, it will be worth the wait! (Erm, anyone else who might know the ad, please feel free to link it here!)

BTW - Your images are FAR better than the ad - and it was in a well known magazine!
07/04/2007 09:10:38 AM · #6
Congrats on your ribbon and wonderful story. I too became closely 'acquainted' with a praying mantis last August and have a large portfolio of shots which I took over several months. She resided in a cluster of grape bushes and could always be counted on to pose in all different weather conditions and times of day. She became my 'muse' and I named her Edwina. I've posted a few shots of her, here on DPC. I am hoping to see some offsprings this year, but haven't yet. Thanks for sharing and it's great to meet another mantis fan.
07/04/2007 12:04:49 PM · #7
Originally posted by timfythetoo:

I have always had an affinity to Praying Manti.


I hear that having one around is a sign of good luck in some Asian countries. But don't think they're all cuddly and wonderful. When a mantis is looking at you their only concern is: is that thing too big to eat? or Is it big enough to eat me? hehehehe
Great challenge entry btw. I like manti myself and have never gotten a very good shot of one. I think this one shows their evil side.

This link shows that insects are not the only creatures in danger with a mantis around.
Hummer
They've also been known to kill mice.

Mouse killer

Congrats on your ribbon.

Forgot to add, the largest I've found in yard was about 10 inches in length. At that size they can make nasty cuts on humans if you're not careful with them. Of course if you've half froze them to death I suspect the danger is less. hehehehe

Message edited by author 2007-07-04 12:26:21.
07/04/2007 12:25:54 PM · #8
Originally posted by fir3bird:


This link shows that insects are not the only creatures in danger with a mantis around.
Hummer
They've also been known to kill mice.

Dang! Thats one hungry mantis.
07/04/2007 12:41:32 PM · #9
Originally posted by timfythetoo:

Originally posted by fir3bird:


This link shows that insects are not the only creatures in danger with a mantis around.
Hummer
They've also been known to kill mice.

Dang! Thats one hungry mantis.


They can pick the wrong opponent:

vs. Asian giant hornet

These hornet kill about 100 humans a year in Japan an other Asian countries.

Message edited by author 2007-07-04 12:41:45.
07/05/2007 12:24:34 PM · #10
Originally posted by fir3bird:


They can pick the wrong opponent:

vs. Asian giant hornet

These hornet kill about 100 humans a year in Japan an other Asian countries.

This link goes to the Mantis/Mouse video...?
07/05/2007 12:49:54 PM · #11
That was wonderful to read.. Thank you for sharing.. After I saw your photo in the challenge, I thought to myself, I've never seen one of these in real life.. To my surprise last Sunday while heading out for our bike ride, there was a little visitor on my porch... I didn't get very good shots of it, for some reason I was scared it was going to jump on me... So, I was shaking..:-(.. But, it was huuuuge... Here's a shot that I was playing around with..



also, this guy was a yucky dull yellowish cream color.. He played on the porch for a while then climed around.. I would have sat there for hours taking pictures, but my little guy was all straped in & ready to go.. Of course, he was gone by the time we came back..
07/08/2007 08:23:22 AM · #12
Last night Glenda & I found ourselves in Books A Million, and I finally found the magazine/picture mentioned above - it wasn't an advertisement, just a reader's submission:

Little Visitor
07/08/2007 11:48:46 AM · #13
Originally posted by glad2badad:

Originally posted by fir3bird:


They can pick the wrong opponent:

vs. Asian giant hornet

These hornet kill about 100 humans a year in Japan an other Asian countries.

This link goes to the Mantis/Mouse video...?


Oooops, messed that one up. Can't find the one I meant.... :(
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