Giant Devil Flower Mantis

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Nice photo and great portofolio !

I wonder how would it looked if you have made another exposure for the "wings" and stack the two of them. Or use a real background not a backdrop like a tree bark...but nevermind, it would have ended in a totaly different concept. 

Is it dead ? Where do you find such great specimen ? Behind the fridge ?! :)

Aliens !

Thanks Mihai.  Yeah, that would be a totally different concept for sure.  No, it is alive.  I found it online from a mantis enthusiast.  It will have wings and be white with different colors after its next molt, which is still another month away.  I will be doing a lot shooting of it with normal lighting then.  Right now, I don't find the brown that attractive.

Scott, thanks for commenting on my SNOW DESIGNER.

I have never seen a shot like this one. The backlight really shows the wings off. I would like to see more light on the head as well though.

Look forward to seeing how you develop this subject over the next month or so. Have fun shooting, Dave

Thanks.  That's actually his hood.  He won't have wings until he molts into an adult in a month.  The wings will start a the bottom of the hood and extend down a ways.

Excellent shot, Scott...lovely light, colors and details...my best

Ok first, what a concept to photograph this guy all the way through his development. Second, he looks like something out of Star Wars. Would love to see his head a better but overall what a photo! Looking forward to the photos to come.