Praying mantis

A praying mantis flew into the light on the verandah last night. The kids grabbed it and presented it to me. I popped it into a large jar, then set out to photograph it this morning. Big problem: instead of its being a leisurely morning, I was rushed, so I didn't do a couple of things I had been aiming to do for "the next" macro opportunity.

Just straight stuff with the GX7, Panny 45-150, Raynox 250 supplementary lens, Vivid mode. I took about 60 exposures (including multiples) of which three or four were okay.

I wasn't steady, swaying back and forth, the mantis was constantly moving its head, I wasn't steady swaying from side to side, the mantis did strange things like preferring perching on me to perching on the leaves/flowers (at one stage, flying directly into my face -- my mouth was hanging open at the time, did I think it would act like a sea anchor and make me steadier? -- and I closed it just in time to avoid having a mouthful of mantis!), at one stage, focused on the mantis, I stepped into a bunch of tree ants which have quite a nasty bite, so I wasn't steady back and forth, sideways, and up and down as I attempted to dislodge the ants (successfully, thank goodness!).

Are you getting the impression that I wasn't steady? Good. Yes, next time, tripod, etc., etc. No more happy snaps.

But I do like the colors!

Panny 45-150, no Raynox

Panny 45-150 with Raynox 250

Great shots, the colours certainly give them a good amount of pop.