In the next month or so, it is the time of year again in which Praying Mantises turn into Preying Mantises by hunting, killing, and feeding on pretty large animals, like even birds or mice.
In the following image a Praying Mantis has just killed a Hummingbird and is starting to devour it. That happened in our backyard in the afternoon of 2015.09.04.
ILCE-7RM2 + FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
Of course, the Hummingbirds are aware of the dangers they face in this deadly "cat and mouse" game.
They need to get to the sugar water in the feeder while avoiding being snatched and eaten by a Praying Mantis.
More images from last year to follow as the drama unfolds.
Today we noticed the first Praying Mantis of this season on our patio...
twoeye wrote:
I skied across the the Aletsch Glacier to stay at the Konkordiahütte this winter, the cabin can be spotted above the middle part of the glacier in the left of Kierzkow´s image. This is the final climb up to the cabin :-)
(The stairs have been constructed as the glacier has declined and access to the cabin has become increasingly difficult. The decline of the glacier can also easily be seen in Kierzkow´s image, the glacier used to cover the lower lighter part of the mountain sides along the glacier not too long ago. )
Another upload test. Just trying to find a workflow for posting here while on the road. I'm probably losing some sharpness in the file compression from LR mobile to Dropbox using the "Small 2K" export function in LR mobile but not sure I can really evaluate till I return home and compare with my desktop workflow which includes sharpening for web via resizing. The images are still too big, IMO, but I'm not sure I can resize using the iPad.
Looking from Fishers Gap Overlook as the sun is clearing the Mountains
Tripod mounted A7r and Minolta CLE MC 40mm f2 M-Rokkor lens
ISO 100, probably f11, 1/60 second; processed in LR6
October 20, 2015
At Fishers Gap Overlook, Shenandoah NP, Virginia
