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European Praying Mantis | Mantis religiosa | 08-2022 | Ticino | Switzerland
My best photos are here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/ticino-best-photos-of-southern-...
More Ticino/Tessin Wildlife Photos (all taken in my garden in Monteggio/Ti, Switzerland): it.lacerta-bilineata.com/ramarro-occidentale-lacerta-bili...
My latest ANIMAL VIDEO (warning, it's a bit shocking): www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2-Xszz7FI
ABOUT THE PHOTO:
I originally titled the image above 'Pray, Love, Eat (Your Husband)' as a joking reference to a bestselling novel and to the name of the insect depicted in the photo as well as to the species' well-documented gruesome mating behavior. I changed it now, because I wanted to be sure nobody would take the title as a recommendation (let me be very clear: if you are in fact NOT a female praying mantis, please refrain from eating your husband - regardless how tempted you may be - I'm sure he will thank you later 😉).
To provide a bit of context how I got the shot, as most of you will be well aware, this past summer was rather hot in many parts of the world, and Ticino in Switzerland (where I take all my photos), was no exception. It was in fact exceptionally hot for a long period without any rain in sight, and so I found myself getting up every morning before sunrise to water the garden.
On one such occasion in late August I noticed the frantic movement of a rather large insect that was trying to get away from the splashing water drops. I immediately put the hose down and went to investigate. I could hardly believe my luck: it was a (in Switzerland very rare) European mantis, a species I hadn't seen in a long time in my garden (certainly not since my dear mother's ill-fated attempt to transform part of the garden into a "flowery meadow" - a sad anecdote you can read all about here IF you have the stomach for it: www.flickr.com/photos/191055893@N07/52177556047/in/datepo... )
The mantis had sought shelter from the water between the blooming phlox and was now resting completely motionless among the flower petals, and so I dropped everything and ran for my camera. Once I was back at the scene I realized to my horror that it was still far too dark to get a usable photo; I was sure my "rare prize" would fly away at any instant, but all I could do now was anxiously wait for the sun to come up.
Minute after agonizing minute went by (and Mrs Mantis made suspicious "I-think-I'm-going-to-leave-now" movements several times that had me hold my breath in utter terror), but finally my camera was satisfied with the available light, and once I had shot about 800 photos, I started to relax a little.
In the end, I couldn't have been happier; it had long been my hope that my little oasis of botanic chaos would attract this rare species, and that I even got to photograph it was a dream come true. And apparently I needn't have worried about it flying away; it was a female, and as I later read mantis ladies are in most cases too heavy to fly.
And they seem to be territorial (or at least this one was); to my delight, I would find Mrs Mantis either in the phlox plants or on the nearby hibiscus every day for the remainder of my holiday (here's a photo on the hibiscus: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/western-green-lizard-lacerta-bi... ), and so I got to photograph her plenty (suspiciouly there was never any sign of a Mr Mantis though...).
Anyway, many greetings and have a lovely weekend ahead everyone - and as always, let me know what you think in the comments 😊
Relations Are Like Electric Currants. Wrong Connection Will Give You Shocks Throughout Your Life, But The Rights One Will Light Up Your Life.
I spotted this Great Blue Heron hitting the surface of the water with its beak, but was shocked to see what it had found. I had no idea that we had snakes this size at the wetlands! I watched for 15 minutes before the heron had worn it out and ate it - even as it was still moving, albeit slower!
Pareidolia "for this theme, you are to look for and photograph faces in everyday objects or in your surroundings."
It looks like this lighthouse actually lights up. How would you like to be delivering mail In the rain to this person. You stick your wet hand too far into the mailbox and someone turns on the switch ... shocking!
I have seen all kinds of decorative uses for lighthouses in the yard around here. Surprisingly, this is the first mailbox lighthouse I have seen. I suppose a boat mailbox will be next.
Had to make cover under the deck canopy while the rain got heavier. The result was shooting this scene further back than I normally would, and like this perspective from the deck.
The lightning display was terrific.
Middle River, Maryland
Another from the lightning series along Middle River. These bolts were at least farther off, and not so close like some of them were overhead ... getting to close to comfort!
The final day of July also marked the last full day of our MRL trip. We awoke to a shockingly clear morning with virtually no haze from the surrounding wildfires. The morning's agenda included trying to shoot the Livingston Helpers doing their thing while we still had good AM light. Luckily for us, by the time we left the hotel two heavy westbound unit trains were queued up waiting to be shoved up Bozeman Pass. We latched onto the first one, BNSF U-HTLTAC7-28A, for several shots on the way up the mountain. With their climb complete, the train passes the east end of West End siding. If my memory is correct, they stuck on to Bozeman before cutting off to help an eastbound up the mountain. The spacer hoppers in the background are for the mid-train helpers that will cut in later on for the climb up Mullan Pass.
I find the dark leaves of this dahlia the perfect foil for the vibrant colour of its flowers.
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Street photography from Glasgow, Scotland.
Previously unpublished shot from August 2019. Enjoy!
A rare early evening thunderstorm provided an opportunity to visit to my go-to spot for lighting photos, Coot Lake in North Boulder. The core of the storm is approaching with a sheet of rain illuminated by the lightning. The lightning also illuminated hunting bats over the water- one is visible as a spot just a bit to the right of the center near the top of the frame.
Oregon sure was putting on one hell of a show in the skies tonight! While out capturing HDR shots of the clouds, I by chance, caught a nice lightning show :)
There are several motivations to this post. First and foremost is the existence of the lightning which has been remarkably absent in our area this year. While we would certainly welcome the rain associated with thunderstorms the lack of a common ignition source for forest and grass fires is appreciated.
Shocking also is the high court of the land displaying its increasing political nature by enhancing the potential for gun violence while a polarized Senate exhibits rare bipartisanship in taking baby steps to enhance gun safety.
Finally, there is the gathering energy of snow in the mountains of Colorado ready to smother the lightning moving in from the southeast (sigh...Avs in 6 !?!)
Note the "smudge" in the upper mid-right portion of the photo, which is actually a bat illuminated by the lightning flash.
Pink that is:) This romper from Glitzz at the Fameshed event, rigged for Bombshell and other popular sizes.