Empusa mantis on my finger(s)

[MacroLuv]

It was awesome feeling the pressure on my skin induced by her movements.
She is one little gal but with great strength and power according to her size. She was walking like a robot.
She could jump from the high place about meter and half right down on the ground without any trouble.
Hey... just got an idea
Lets make the puzzle from this
Maybe you are asking yourself what is the puzzle about and how to solve it?
You have to name (by guess or figuring out) the finger (and hand!) on which Empusa mantis resides for each of three photographs!
I will not tell you if I'm left-handed or right-handed or if all or any of the photographs are actually upside down.
Good luck!
Rik, I'm counting on you!



Model Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
Date/time original 21.08.2007 12:31:21
Shutter speed value 1/250 s
Aperture value f/8
ISO speed ratings ISO 200
Focal length 100 mm



Model Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
Date/time original 21.08.2007 12:31:30
Shutter speed value 1/250 s
Aperture value f/8
ISO speed ratings ISO 200
Focal length 100 mm



Model Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
Date/time original 23.08.2007 17:23:24
Shutter speed value 1/250 s
Aperture value f/6.3
ISO speed ratings ISO 400
Focal length 100 mm

[jaharris1001]

small little creature there Those are just so very unusual looking to me,, very cool shots, the finger gives a sense of proportion

[Adrian]

wow what a cute little guy, awsome capture's.

[Bruce Williams]

You did an impressive job shooting with one hand Nikola - focus is spot on and no evidence of camera shake - well done. I agree with Jim that the fingers are a useful guide to scale.

Left index (pics1 and 2) right index pic3

Bruce

[Ken Ramos]

I agree, the fingers do give one an idea of the size of this little critter and I am surprised that it is this small. I though they were much bigger or is this just a small one? As for up or down can't say but I vote for all three images being on the left hand. Great shots Nikola

[rjlittlefield]

Wow, this one is hard. In image #1, we see two digits, side by side, with the tip of the shorter one sticking only slightly beyond the joint of the longer. On my hands, that configuration occurs only on the right hand, little and ring fingers. However, I have no reason to think that everybody's hands have the same proportions, and it would be fairly easy for the relative lengths to shift so that left hand index and middle fingers would be lined up that way. In image #2, we see only one digit (could be a thumb!), but the ridge pattern looks identical to image #1, so I'm thinking it's the same finger. Image #3 is obviously not the same fingers (unless the picture has been flipped, not rotated), and I see the first joint of the shorter finger lined up with some joint of the one next to it. On my hands, that configuration occurs on left land, little and ring fingers.

In addition, we know from the description that the pictures were taken with a Canon 400D, and it's a fair presumption that Nikola took the pictures. The 400D is physically very much like my 300D, and I know that to hold it left-handed is very awkward and unstable.

So...balancing this all out... I'd say that most likely pics #1 and 2 are left hand index finger, and pic #3 is left-hand little finger, probably rotated quite a bit because it would have been awkward and pointless to get the whole hand into the position illustrated.

Ignoring the digital aspects (groan...!), these are great pictures. I too am surprised at the small size of this beast. I was thinking that it was probably twice this big.

And the pictures are technically excellent -- sharp, clear, perfectly exposed. Very nicely done!

--Rik

[MacroLuv]

Thanks to all for comments and participation.
And we have the winner! The honorable title "Sherlock Holmes" & "Hercule Poirot" goes to Rik! Rik's little grey cells works perfectly!
I was sure you will notice the ridge pattern! (How clever am I also )
Really unusual position of the left hand on #3. But I was trying to get the best shoting position. Not so awkward... I'm pretty flexible. I can twist my thumb, move my ears...

[beetleman]

You have very clean hands Nikola.....comes from doing IT stuff. I would not like to take pictures of my fingers I thought this mantis was sorta small from your last post but I did not think it was this small. I wish we had them here in the states.

[MacroLuv]

Thanks Doug!

... I though they were much bigger or is this just a small one? ...

I think this one is still very young. Here you can see an adult one.