Kamakiri (カマキリ) AKA a Praying Mantis

On an Easter Lily

 

 

It was raining and, I was under a carport when I first spotted the critter.

Don't let the photo fool you.  I rotated it for a better view.

The praying mantis, was using the lily as an umbrella, I think.

The cold rain, soaking me started getting on my nerves so, I came up with an idea.

Without disturbing the predator, I snipped the flower off the plant with some scissors.

And, I brought the Easter Lily into my office. Mrs. Yamashiro will never notice, hope.

While I was running around the office, looking for some white paper, the bug got busy.

It crawled up inside the flower so, I couldn't see its head. That wasn't a good idea.

First, I snipped off the other end of the lily but, still couldn't get a good shot.

The next thing I did, was cut the whole flower wide open and, shook the bug out.

Once, it got on that white paper, I had to do some fast shooting.

The rascal, didn't seem too excited and, just gave me a dirty look.

 Then I decided, it might be a good idea, to tryout a black background.

Only a few quick shots were taken here and, the mantis started running around.

It climbed up the wall, all the way to the ceiling and, I couldn't reach it.

So, I grabbed a stepladder and Mrs. Yamashiro's shredded flower, to catch the thing.

The idea, was to get the thing, back out in nature, untouched by human hands.

When, I bounced off the ladder, with the bug inside the flower, it escaped.

It flew, directly at me and, landed on my shoulder.  Out the door, I went.

Then, I ran back over to the garden, I shook myself like a wet puppy.

The last time I saw the bug, it gave me a dirty look and, ran down my back.

Bugs don't scare me but, praying mantis are, really some wild characters.

Did you know, sometimes a female will bite her mate's head off, while they're having sex ?

Weather Will Determine Whether or Not

Flower Fields or Museums ?

 

 

These last few winter days, just before spring breaks out, drive me crazy.

Where we will go with the cameras, depends on Mother Nature.

Weathermen, in Okinawa, I don't pay any attention to, because they are unpredictable, too.

On a Pacific island the weather just happens.

If the day turns out like this, I'll be in the iris fields of Ogimi.

But, if it rains or gets cold and cloudy, I'll shoot something like this museum.

Maybe we should call outdoors, Plan A.

And, indoors, Plan B.

When the sun comes up tomorrow, I'll sniff the air and make a decision.

Which type of travel personality do you have, plan A or B ?

Shot Myself Today !

This isn't what I usually do but it was freezing cold outside and

 I was trapped indoors.  I felt like a wild animal must feel stuck in a cage.  So, I took my cameras to my office and practiced shooting myself.

Really, I'm not into doing studio shots or any kind of indoor photography but, unfortunately, I have to.  It's part of this school I'm involved in and if I don't finish all my homework and graduate this year there's no telling what they might do to me.

Can they still drag you up in front of the whole class and whack your fanny with the BOARD OF EDUCATION?

That probably got outlawed in the last century, but, I'm not sure because I haven't been back to the USA in awhile.  I hear they have lots of lawyers making people behave and if anyone hurts you they promise to get you millions of dollars as long as you'll split it with them 50/50.

Somebody told me a fat lady spilled her coffee in her lap at a Drive-thru joint and got Six Million Dollars.  Is that true?

Well, anyway, I'm a Grandpa and I don't think I should have to do homework unless it's something that interests me.  Portraits, advertising, and fashion; they're all things I have to shoot to graduate from the professional camera school.  I'll do what I have to do and get it done.  And when I do, I'll go get my....

Millions the hard way, I'll work for them!