photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
ctfchallenge | all galleries >> The Best of CTF Challenges >> Best of 2006 > 4th place
New and tiny by Techo
previous | next
13-MAY-2006 Techo

4th place
New and tiny by Techo

Photographed just a few days ago, when the mantis was only 2-3 days old. Recently hatched from the mantis sack I found in the backyard. I await more of these to emerge from two other sacks near by. They've been hanging attached to branches all Winter long, waiting for the warmer sunny rays of Spring when they would emerge. Hope they keep the mosquito population at bay ;)


other sizes: small medium original auto
comment | share
don nieman23-May-2006 00:02
I like the color!
ctfchallenge22-May-2006 02:57
Thanks for your comments everyone :)
-Techo
ctfchallenge20-May-2006 07:16
Techo, that's a great macro, very sharp, and I love the colors and the shallow DOF. Very nice! :-) CJ
ctfchallenge20-May-2006 01:57
Nice macro work Techo. - RK
ctfchallenge19-May-2006 01:01
Hey, thanks for sharing the info techo. I hope to make it over to the city rose garden this weekend and I'll try some of your technique out. I've tried doing similar a bit, but think the burst of a few to get a good one is something I really should try.
-Brent
ctfchallenge19-May-2006 00:49
Brent, thanks for the kind comment :)

For this closeup I tried to work autofocus but it just didn't turn out too well, even with only the center focus point activated. A lot of the time I use the lens in manual for extreme closeups, and step in/out slightly to get the focus just right. Really glad it was a bright day out, so the fast shutter speed helped with handshake which is extremely obvious when working so close to the subject. Then take a burst of two or three to make sure at least one is in perfect focus.

Here's the exif:
2006:05:13 13:53:58
1/640 sec, f/7.1
Mode: Program
Metering: Evaluative
Exp comp: +1/3
ISO: 200
AF mode: Manual focus
Drive: Continuous: frame 1
White balance: Auto
Flash: Off

-Techo
Brent 18-May-2006 23:38
Really dreamy color here Techo. I actually thought it was a mosquito at first glance. Great job with the focus here. I got the same lens you used here for my camera recently and can only hope to control it as well as you do yours some day.
ctfchallenge17-May-2006 21:34
Thanks for the comments everyone.

That day , out in the yard, I saw at least 4 more of these on near by greenery. You can see how tiny the baby mantis is when compared to the average sized rose bud, and boy do they hop!

-Techo
Guest 17-May-2006 16:28
Great shot. Where do you get all the bugs???
theFly
alexeig17-May-2006 14:09
Great shades of orange and beautifully captured grasshopper
janewigginsphotography17-May-2006 01:57
Awesome! and on a rose too :) jano
ctfchallenge16-May-2006 20:59
Good capture, Techo. It does suggest spring...and even summer.
--Mary Anne
Rod 16-May-2006 19:14
Excellent shot Techo, well done mate:-)