KooKa's big Lunch.

[hotspur]

Not sure if this will stay up long-I seem to have images of this nature banned unfortunately on this forum.But I have some of my wildlife images used in many publications recently,and they have been very well received,by various natural history departments,I even had to give an in field tutorial to PHD students the other day.

This large stick/mantis insect fell out of a tree and a Kooka swooped down on it,I swooped over to ute and nabbed the 50D and 400 L and got a few images before it was swallowed whole!

Higher res version here (sorry for the copyright logo-but unfortunately have to start using them,due to thieving)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/106878396@N05/12961937303/sizes/l/in/photostream/

[AstralTraveller]

Beautiful, as usual. Focus, lighting and composition are all great.

I've seen them swallow frogs whole (after bashing them to a pulp) so I'm not surprised they can get a stick insect down. Mind you, for dramatic value this is nothing on the recent shots of a python swallowing a croc.

[Regulus]

That's a really nice photo Chris. Must be glad he hung around while you got organised :-)
Trev

[Astro_Bot]

Can't imagine why. Maybe because the Kookaburra is ... naked!? :eyepop:

Anyway, great shot. The fine detail on the mantis is brilliant. :thumbsup:

[hotspur]

Thanks kindly gentlemen for feed back.It was difficult as sun right over head,and he moving and smashing insect against tree branch,and trying to review/adjust settings quickly.But pleased with this image-there is a heap more,but many duds,I'll go through a couple and might post some more for your thoughts,but this appears the best.It also has that 'twinkle in the eye' editors and such do like that very much.Also I find in a good measure of sharpness-by zooming right into the eye and twinkle when in photoshop,if its a perfect star sharp-its good,if its a bit blurry-either you or the animal has moved a fraction.

Thanks for looking.

[dutch2]

Great shot. Well done.

[leon]

Nice one Chris, you certainly live in natures heaven, crisp and clean, i like it, well done mate.

Leon

[MortonH]

Fantastic shot!

[astronobob]

Awesome Shot Chris, how sharp is that lens, real nice :thumbsup:
I can'T get Mantis that sharp whilst purched on a branch still as a, well, stick :P

[andyc]

Really impressive shot, love the composition!

[Derek Klepp]

Great shot Chris i have a pic of a Crested Hawk eating one of those .Not as sharp as that though. On another note I picked up the 150-600mm Tamron zoom today to use with the 60D.Will be interesting to see how it goes.

[ourkind]

Top shot Chris, great colours and super sharp!

[Geoff66]

Gorgeous image! Great colour and texture and so sharp. And I think the kookaburra is smiling? :)

[ourkind]

Great shot Chris!