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Mantis I: The Shaolin Kid


Mantis I: The Shaolin Kid
Photo Information
Copyright: Agoes SK (wieyos) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1115 W: 43 N: 2145] (8970)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-02-11
Categories: Nature, Decisive Moment, Macro, Action
Camera: Pentax K20D, PENTAX DFA MACRO 100mm F2.8
Exposure: f/9.5, 1/20 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Small World of Macros [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-02-11 6:51
Viewed: 295
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi Folks,

Posted here today is an image of a juvenile mantis.

Mantodea or mantises is an order of insects which contains approximately 2,200 species in 9 families worldwide in temperate and tropical habitats. Most of the species are in the family Mantidae.

Historically, the term "mantid" was used to refer to any member of the order because for most of the past century, only one family was recognized within the order; technically, however, the term only refers to this one family, meaning the species in the other eight recently-established families are not mantids, by definition (i.e., they are empusids, or hymenopodids, etc.), and the term "mantises" should be used when referring to the entire order.

A colloquial name for the order is "praying mantises", because of the typical "prayer-like" stance. The term is often mis-spelled as "preying mantis", and this is an eggcorn since mantises are notoriously predatory.

The word mantis is Greek for "prophet" or "fortune teller". In Europe, the name "praying mantis" refers to only a single species, Mantis religiosa. The closest relatives of mantises are the orders Isoptera (termites) and Blattodea (cockroaches), and these three groups together are sometimes ranked as an order rather than a superorder. (from Wikipedia)

I would say that this insect’s stance is more like in a shaolin kung fu.

Shaolin Kung Fu refers to a collection of Chinese martial arts that claim affiliation with the Shaolin Monastery. Of the tens of thousands of kung fu wushu styles, several hundred might have some relationship to Shaolin.

Stance are structural postures employed in Chinese martial arts training. They represent the foundation and exaggerated form of a fighter's base.

Each style has different names and variations for each stance. Stances may be differentiated by foot position, weight distribution, body alignment, etc.

Stance training can be practiced statically, the goal of which is to maintain the structure of the stance through a set time period, or dynamically, in which case a series of movements is performed repeatedly. (from Wikipedia).

From this juvenile mantis’ posture here, came the idea of the title The Shaolin Kid, and the sequel begins…..

Thanking you in advance for viewing and your kind words.

Agoes
CallMeMaria, szekelykristof, mortcdz, manujmehta, machinelove has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To kickback: focal lengthwieyos 1 02-12 18:11
To crisgotiny: the kidwieyos 1 02-11 21:11
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Agoes.

LOL. Indeed, looks like the Shaolin Kid. ;-) Nice picture and very good DOF. Colors are very nice too.

Regards
Pascal-Eric

Hello,
wonderful mantis pose, excellent macro with nicely blurred BG
regards
Ryszard

  • Great 
  • jazrr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 317 W: 72 N: 82] (1883)
  • [2009-02-11 10:12]

Hi Agoes:

Wonderful macro.
Very nice details and sharpness.
What an impressive pose! Very nice background.

Regards,
Jafar

Hi Agoes,
Wow, what a stunning macro of this mantis, it really looks like making some special movements of Shaolin priests. :) Perfect sharpness on the subject, your timing was good as well to capture such a moment. TFS.
Greetings,
Kristof

Hi Agoes,
I love mantis - those insects are fantastic and you captured yours in excellent sharpness and with a beautiful pose.
Very good shot, thanks and greetings
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Sharp details, bright colours, good composition and superb DOF - what more can anyone ask for in a photo?
Thanks for sharing
Mark

wow very sharp macro, it looks like a kungfu kid in practice(:>) . . . very nice capture colors are good

tfs
cris(",)

  • Great 
  • AndroK Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 1461 W: 23 N: 0] (11694)
  • [2009-02-11 23:17]

Hi Agoes...
Beautiful macro...
Nice composition...
Regards...
Andro

wonderful macro here friend
good sharpness and nicely focused
i like the pov
good shot

regards
Manuj Mehta

Excelent

I like it very much.

www.bulentkahraman.com

hi agoes, another great one,
is the only difference between the 50mm macro and your 100mm that it is double the focal length? same great qaulity? same build? do you know?
thanks hope to hear from you.
scott

Again, just masterful work, here I love the portrait approach.
A bokeh that is wonderful and magical. Great high quality work my friend.
- Vincent

Hi Agoes,
All insects fascinate me to be honest. But this one has always arose quite a lot of enthusiasm because I always imagined that I would never have the opportunity of seeing one in person...but I did...a few months ago. There it was seeking refuge on a towel hanging on my clothes line. The excitement was overwhelming followed by the BIG disappointment because, by then, I had no camera :(
But anyway, it's always so pleasant to see them here. You've captured this one in such a marvellous pose. The sharpness, colors and DOF are simply fantastic.
TFS
Regards,
Lurdes

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 592 W: 0 N: 957] (4596)
  • [2009-03-10 2:22]

Salam Agoes,
it is not that easy to capture this mantis in its best pose. Not easy too to have the lovely greenish background to push the subject into clarity. It is always not easy to have the opportunity to have the light falling into it making the whole shot splendid.
wonderful composition Brother.
Just simply pleasant.

regards,
Foozi

Great selective focus.
Lovely greens ! Best regards, Daniel

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