Amazing photo!

[caynus]

Here is an amazing award winning photo taken by Laurent Ballesta.

I saw it an immediately thought of all us mantis shrimp fanatics, so I thought I would share it with everyone.

Enjoy.

Caynus

 

[medellia]

that is the most awesome mantis photo i have ever seen!
thanks for posting!

 

[Pea-brain]

I can die happy now (hopefully death by the worlds largest mantis shrimp, caught on photo and tape.....Now I really need to learn to use photoshop!!! )

 

[fanaglethebagle]

Wow, amazing...

 

[justinl]

holy crap!!! that is an AMAZING pic! thx for sharing. can you imagine how hard it must have been to get that shot? mantids do not hunt slowly.

 

[Thurge]

The photographer has a book coming out in Nov 07. I'm hoping its included, or I find a gallery handling his stuff. I want a copy for the wall.

 

[KRussell]

Wow! That is amazing. I wonder how many trys it took to get that shot.

 

[DanInSD]

I have one of those fish -- a Fiji sharpnosed puffer. Poor thing.

I am also a photographer, and am in total awe. That must have pushed the strobe/camera to the edge. It's a single strobe shot, judging from the shadows. Quite a feat. I'm thinking, 1/250, f/8?

 

[Gonodactylus]

This is an amazing shot, but it is not quite what it appears at first light (sorry for the photographic pun). When you first look at the image, it appears to be taken at the moment that the fish was struck. However, the fish has already been impaled and is struggling to break free while the stomatopod is trying to pull it in. The first clue is that the propodus and dactyl joints are extended far beyond what they normally are during a strike. Also, the meral - carpal joints are twisted beyond what they would be during a strike. Finally, look at the blurring. The only place it occurs is at the last two segments of the raptorial appendage. The puffer is probably swimming up and toward you moving the terminal segments of the raptorial appendage while twisting the carpal articulations. The body of the fish is looked into capture position in the burrow to keep from being pulled out. That is why the eyes and and thorax aren't blurred. During most strikes, these would be lunging forward. Still, it is a great shot.

Roy

 

[mattyice]

even better shot now that i know that the fish is practically already dead

im still trying to decide on what i would like to do for my tank at work and its between a small L. Mac or a pair of anglers