The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.
Feedback Focus: Artistic / Expressive
About This Image
I went to check out one of our apple trees and noticed that a mantidfly landed on me. So, we walked back to my house, retrieved the camera, and carefully herded the insect onto a grass seed head. Shot over hand-held 250 photos and was not overly happy with a lot of them. I returned with my tripod and was able to get some reasonable shots of this interesting bug.
Feedback Requested
How do like the comp? I chose a fairly simple composition to reveal the intricate detail of the mantidfly. The 200mm micro produces some wonderful backgrounds even when using extremely small lens apertures. How do you like the BG? Even though the 200mm micro will only do manual focusing with the Z9, the results are better than using shorter focal length micro lenses.
Technical Details
Camera: Z9
Lens: 200mm f4 micro + 2.0 magnifier
Focal length: 200mm
Shutter speed: 1/200
Aperture: f29
ISO: 3200
Flash: fill at -0.7 and -1.3ev
Tripod/handheld: Tripod
Focus method: Manual
Filters: 2.0 diopter
Technique: single shot, too much wind and bug too wiggly for stacking
Conditions: Window, hazy sun
Processing software: Lightroom Classic, Photoshop 2025
Major adjustments: Levels, DeNoise, Shadows & Highlights Micro-contrast enhancement, curves adjustment for contrast enhancement, Crop for Comp
Blending/stacking: None
Other notes:
I like the composition - the diagonal and the extreme curl of the insect’s body work good together. Background is bright enough to set off the dark tones well, but not intrusive. I’m also once again stunned at nature’s adaptations - this is an amazing looking creature, it’s like part wasp and part mantid. Hey, wasn’t there a Predator v. Mantidfly installment?? LOL, if not, there should be!
Thank you @Kris_Smith, @Mark_Seaver , @alice , @Bill_Fach , @Dennis_Plank and @Mike_Friel . This was fun and well worth the trek into the mass of prairie plants. They are related to lacewings, but unlike other families of Neuroptera, they have reduced wing venation and a dark leading edge on the forewings. I like the small off-camera mounted Nikon macro flashes over a single on camera flash with diffuser. They give better light while preserving necessary soft highlights and shadows. @Mike_Friel , I took a few shots head on, but wiggly antennae and dark colors did not really do it for me. The lateral shots had the most promise of turning out well. They use those raptorial prothoracic legs to snag small insects for a quick meal. In Korea, there are several species of Mantispidae and look for them along forest edges and fields. They are very uncommon to rare and many do mimic wasps like the one pictured here. @Bill_Fach , my Entomology professor would glue various insect parts together for practical exams and students were asked to name how many insect orders were present on this fabricated specimen. In this case, nature fabricated this insect. …Jim
Jim: I have never seen one of these so I was thinking it was something like an insect version of a jackalope and was about to accuse you of some chicanery. I think the comp is fine as is the BG. I haven’t retired my old Minolta 200mm macro but since the arrival of my 1oomm that works great with the 2x aboard I haven’t used the old guy much. Probably should get him out now and then just to let him know he’s still loved, venerated and firmly placed in my lens Hall of Fame. Great work with this subject and this capture. >=))>
The composition works for me, Jim, and you did a fantastic job of getting the plane of focus perfect for maximum detail. A superb shot of this odd looking character,
Jim, the BG is great - as for the composition, a shot with it looking over the end of the stem might have been more dramatic, but probably impossible to set up even if you’d wanted to. I’m curious, do these predate with the mantid-like arms, or is that just mimicry? If the former, scope for more shots there!
Wow, I looked at this image and thought what the heck is this?? It certainly drew me in. How cool that you had time to make such a great capture. Well done!!
Alice Wilson
Jim, wow! This is a great look at a strange critter. It’s definitely well named and your photo shows that off nicely. Yes, it’s sad that none of the optics manufacturer’s are making a long tele macro like the 200, since that extra working distance is critical if you’re chasing things that can move quickly or fly.
