Mantids (Order Mantodea)

Before I started shooting models, these mantids were my muses. These guys will be in my heart as long as I continue to grow and accelerate as a photographer. I shot these around late summer 2006–around the time when I was teaching myself photography. These images were exposed on various chromes–Velvia, Astia, and Provia. Scanned with Konica Minolta DiMAGE Scan Elite 5400II.

For summer 2009, I plan to re-connect with my past. The mantid nymphs hatch around middle/late summer and the oothecaes are usually found in shadow, dry, and humid places. e.g. on dry branches. These mantids are about the size of your middle finger. You can tell a female mantid by the presence of an ovipositor at the end of the abdomen.