Orchid Male Mantis hymenopus coronatus Portrait 2 of 9 is a photograph by Leslie Crotty which was uploaded on June 19th, 2012.
Orchid Male Mantis hymenopus coronatus Portrait 2 of 9
This Orchid Male Mantis is found in the Rain Forests of Malaysia, Indonesia and Sumatra. They need to be in a humid warm environment to survive. As... more
Title
Orchid Male Mantis hymenopus coronatus Portrait 2 of 9
Artist
Leslie Crotty
Medium
Photograph
Description
This Orchid Male Mantis is found in the Rain Forests of Malaysia, Indonesia and Sumatra. They need to be in a humid warm environment to survive. As first instar hatchlings orchid mantises resemble ants with black bodies and red legs. It matures earlier than the female and and only grows to 1" to 11/4" in length, quite a difference in size. The male is also different in appearance, it has white wings and and a brownish necklace around the lower part of its neck area, and is able to fly. For such a small mantis it can take down prey half its size. This mantis is very difficult to photograph, they are small in stature and can fly. I had lost two of them in my studio but found them three days later. I was so lucky to have found them. They required constant monitoring or else they're gone, that quick! I photographed this portrait #2 of 9 in my photo studio. I placed him on a small cactus plant in front of a fresh red rose which you can see in the background of the image which is softly out of focus! I used a 140 macro lens with two extension tubes, #1 and #2 mounted on my RZ Pro 2 Mamiya medium format camera bringing me approximately two inches from the mantis filling up the whole frame of the view finder. Depth of Field was very shallow only 1/2" to 3/4" deep. I had to have him positioned in a way where I could focus sharply on his eyes, face, claws, and some of his body! This was one of the results I was happy with! This species of mantis was the most difficult one and took the most time to photograph. The only advice I can give someone if they choose to photograph this little guy is "never take your eyes off him and walk backwards to your viewfinder, good luck!
Uploaded
June 19th, 2012
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Comments (9)
Mariola Bitner
He is posing, that is fantastic! You are the BEST LES! V/F
Leslie Crotty replied:
MARIOLA, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR WONDERFUL COMMENT! I HAD 3 OF THESE LITTLE GUYS, ONLY 11/4" IN LENGTH AND HAD LOST 2 OF THEM IN THE PHOTO STUDIO NOT FINDING THEM FOR 2 DAYS LATER ON THE WINDOW SILL. LUCKILY THIS WAS THIRD ONE WHICH I GOT VERY LUCKY WITH. AFTER MANY HOURS OF HIM JUMPING AND FLYING OFF I THINK I TIRED HIM OUT! FINALLY HE GAVE ME THIS POSE, THEN I CLICKED THE SHUTTER AND THIS WAS THE RESULT! BY THE WAY, THE EXTENSION TUBES I HAD ON THE 140 MACRO LENS HELPED ALOT, BRINGING ME TO ABOUT 2" FROM HIM! EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS! THANKS SO MUCH FOR STOPPING BY TO SEE MY LITTLE GUY! IN ANOTHER MONTH OR TWO I HOPE TO BE GETTING SOME OTHER DIFFERENT MANTISES TO PHOTOGRAPH, THANKS AGAIN, LES
LESLIE CROTTY
DENNIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FEATURING MY MALE ORCHID MANTIS IN YOUR GROUP "PHOTOGRAPHY THE FINE ART", LES
Andrew Govan Dantzler
I am a fellow member of ‘Macro photographs’ and I am just taking a quick run though to vote your FEATURED work. V &F … Elaine
Lois Bryan
HAHA!!!! What a cutie!!!!! Fabulous capture!!!!!! He looks so friendly!!!!!!
Leslie Crotty replied:
LOIS, HE IS CUTE BUT VERY QUICK AND ONLY 11/2" LONG. VERY DIFFICULT TO PHOTOGRAPH. I LOST 2 OF THEM IN MY STUDIO AND DID NOT FIND THEM UNTIL 3 DAYS LATER. THANKS FOR YOUR'E COMMENT, LES
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