Cluttered Chaos at Sunset

• Photo Discussion Friday

Cluttered Chaos at Sunset

PDF Week 18/2016: Canon 7D, 100mm (on 100-400mm lens), 1/400, f5.6, ISO 640.

'Those Who Dance Are Considered Insane by Those Who Can’t Hear the Music'

(see http://quoteinvestigator.com/2012/06/05/dance-insane/#return-note-3913-24)

This quote, attributed to Friedrich Nietzsche, might resonate in a lot of us or make us reflect. Can it be true? Am I dreaming? What on earth made other people do certain things? It is often that we can't hear the music when others dance. Reversely, it also happens that we are dancing along our music while anonymous people are watching, reading or listening to us. They must think we have gone insane. The music is muted for them, as it is often muted for us. Is there really a 'them' and 'us' by default? Is that a natural, necessary state?

Following Australian politics a bit, I have started to realise what this music is, that some weird politicians are dancing to. Frankly, I don't like the music. It seems to be pumping statements through the loudspeakers and TV screens. The message is often that the guys outside are considered too dumb and irrelevant to be heard and respected. How would I know and be sure though, only hearing some low sound waves and the monotony of repeating tones. Half the population outside even cheers to what they can't hear properly, what they don't know and understand, and as a consequence don't really care much about.

Australia celebrated ANZAC day last week. It was also announced that our next submarine fleet is going to be built by - drumrolls - France. There was hardly any mention of the 30th anniversary of the Tchernobyl catastrophe. There was also no time to commemorate Fukoshima or reflect on diabolically located nuclear power plants in the San Andreas fault. While we could read about North Korea's provocative activities, France's nuclear testing on Australia's neighboring Pacific atolls in the past finds no mentioning.

In times, where people all over the world, start pre-ordering electric Tesla cars, when the Netherlands considers banning the sale of fossil fueled cars, it is obvious that we need clean energy. Australia is still debating whether they should continue to fight over climate change. It is roasting the CSIRO boss and forcing him to admit guilt for moving on his concentrate of federally subsidised intelligentia. Collecting data can be done by free slaves or Citizen Scientists. From the ballroom, there comes laughter. Renewable energy has copped a beating in the very recent past, is diligently worked against. Equally demonised is decentralised power generation. The grid locks to consider such options.

Scientists and David Attenborough are crying over the dying Great Barrier Reef on national and international TV. Queensland gives approval to build and operate the biggest coal mine in the world, with ports being installed and channelling ship traffic right through an allegedly fragile environment and a World Heritage site. Fly-in/Fly-out jobs are traded in for our cultural and natural environment and a more sustainable future. We chime in the crying but decide to turn our ears and eyes away for comfort.

The 'cashed-up backpacker tourism strategists' from Queensland ask to be moderate in showing and warning of the devastation at the Great Barrier Reef. We also saw the video of a "Greeny" go viral. It showed an explosive situation, the politician sitting in a boat and putting a river on fire. Fracking forces the gas out of the ground and produces bubbles in the remaining water that has not been dried up upstream by excessive irrigation yet. How can someone *peeptone* swear and blame greedy politics and industry when the bubbles burst with a big bang? Why would you light it, when sitting in the middle of it? Why would you not have documents and scientific analysis ready to prove that some greedy corporation is to blame? Especially if you don't want to be subjected to our new warfare, namely legal swatting!

Australia has a black coal record. But it hasn't got a Fukoshima or a Tchernobyl, not even a nuclear power plant. Not many people know, that the UK conducted atmospheric nuclear tests in Australia in the 1950s, as far as I know killing indigenous people happening to live in the area. Lest we forget. The country is big, and the traditional owners and the general population is often not invited to dance. They are just here to pay the bills, along with nature and future generations.

Soon, we'll have the first nuclear waste site in the country. And we'll have our submarines built by Australians under the command of the nuclear superpower France. The subs are not driven with Tesla technology like the Japanese proposed models. All Australians care about is that, obviously or allegedly, the many jobs remain or are created in the country. The decision is applauded mainly because the billions of taxpayers' money doesn't go to what some still consider the old war enemy, Japan. After all, they kill our whales, don't they.

We need clean energy. How amazing that we can hear hardly anything about how to achieve that. Opinion leaders don't seem to own shares of potentially leading industrial complexes yet. At least, Panama papers (who saw them anyway?) didn't reveal much comPELLing evidence of abuse in Australia. There is one huge issue with solar, wind and other clean energy. They can (and will) be produced decentralised. They not only mark the end of fossil fuel. Energy conglomerates will have to find new ways to maintain their control of the big business. As much fun as it is at the moment, buying, shutting or slowing down alternative energy solutions is not a long term solution.

The question is whether we'll soon hear the music that is being played behind thick walls. Will the communication with weak signals be soon replaced by clear statements. I would not be surprised if - in times when other nations leave nuclear power behind - Australia proudly announces plans to have fossil fueled power plants to be replaced by nuclear production of energy, the National Broadband Fusion project maybe.

Beware! Even if there is an accident involving nuclear power, who cares? Couldn't we all just witness in the media how wildlife and nature is starting to strive when people are forced to leave their contaminated homes? Maybe Australia should build a nuclear reactor right in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef. Maybe at Lizard Island, where all our most competent and licensed marine biologists could be joined by nuclear scientists. They could have a ballroom playing their music. In case of an accident, they could get relief and a nice tan in swimmers and bikinis on a beautifully rich atoll. Snorkelling in heavy water, they could fuse with teeming marine life and never seen before creatures. It doesn't get any CRISPR than that. There is not even a need to describe existing marine species, e.g. non-prioritised nudibranchs, when new ones can be created.

Admittedly, I can't hear the music, but I can see the figurines moving to a distorted rhythm. There is undoubtedly loud music, maybe punk rock. I never liked aggressive music, lyrics and pogo dancing. My own music style is boring, my dancing style virtually nonexistent. I'd love Australia to be able to communicate openly and plan a future based on common sense and decency, beyond greed, exploitation and pretention.

Politicians should care about providing legal and infrastructure framework that allow for jobs. They should neither create them nor in the case of ecological marine exploration and education destroy opportunities. Why doesn't Australia stick to what we have (not talking about Antarctica) and what we are good at (not only talking about repairing Ford and Holden cars and fishing)?

What industries does Australia want to be known for in the future? In my opinion, we have all the ingredients for a prosperous future, including the energy sector. We have decent and hard working people. If we manage to build (and not just pretend to have or import) real skills in creating a good mix of industrial and postindustrial value chains, Australia and the world might profit. Put alternative power generation and reasonable power usage and distribution on the agenda, make coal and nuclear power the alternative and declare it a dead end to be out-phased. Tackle the challenges fairly and openly, not within the ballroom that determines and distributes profits to a few star dancers and the costs to the listeners and hosts.

I am glad, I don't clearly hear the music yet. And I am sure that many people can't follow and wonder what dance I am dancing. The photo 'Cluttered Chaos at Sunset' was taken at the Queensland Sunshine Coast. We had a great time, eating fish and chips at the marina. The boats that we had photographed in the afternoon fishing in or at the edge of marine protected zones (I assume legally) were hauling their catch, even offering us crabs - fresh and cheap. The light was beautiful and I tried to show the cluttered chaos of the marina when boats and the sun went to sleep, a glimpse of hope and energy on the horizon.

Photo Discussion Friday is still open for photos of the public to be discussed or presented. This should not become my own forum. It should be about photography not about politics. However, I do admit that I enjoy mixing photography, art and politics. Art will become more important in the future. It always did when the freedom of speech was bound to be restricted and when humans and nature were exploited excessively, and when people were keen on selfies rather than relevant portraits and reflections of society. There are brilliant people who are starting to come out of hiding, presenting great ideas. Life can be short, so why not dance your own dance!

Enjoy your weekend!

ANZAC day 2016

Picture taken at Maritime Museum, Southbank, Brisbane

ANZAC day 2016: Lest we forget! Today, we remember the fine women and men who have lost their lives serving Australia. May they rest in peace. We also remember all the suffering that war has brought over our own countries and people abroad.

If I could and if it made sense I would apologize and I would bring them back and live happy lives. I would help them erase some memories and remember at the same time. Survivors, mentally and physically ill people and the people that care about them need societal support. We may not forget them and we should not forget that they are among us with all their issues and unheard messages.

It is so delicate to formulate a wish for peace and an abstinence from war on that day. A few Australians and New Zealanders, I am sure, wish for their countries and politicians to mind our own business and being fair and honest players in a global society, e.g. respecting human rights and international treaties.

In his memoirs, Winston Churchill bashed appeasement policies beyond recovery, once and for all. In my opinion, he was right, that we must not let down our guards. However, does that mean, that we are obliged to defend, even aggressively promote our own world views and values at any cost? Adam Smith - the first modern economist (1723-1790) - comes to mind with his 'Wealth of Nations' opus . What is the cost of war?

Interestingly enough, we might all agree that cost relating to war can not be limited to financial expenditures. What about widows/widowers, orphans and other victims of war, their emotional and physical tribute they are paying?

Of course, this is the day to commemorate the benefits of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. Is it provocative on ANZAC day to think of the costs? Is it even allowed to extend thoughts beyond the battle front? Should our enemies have a say or be included in our thoughts?

If so, what would we hear from them? Where are the enemies in those days? Are they really where nation leaders make us believe? Driving on Australian's roads, walking on the streets and even being at home, we can witness people who don't care about rules, respect and decency. Even laws are ignored as if they didn't exist or were simply abused pamphlets created by political leaders to suit their private agendas.

Also, we are not allowed or supposed to listen to the arguments of people we are told are wrong. Voicing differing opinions has become the crime, using arguments useless. Every day, I see and feel bound by more rules, on how we have to communicate. Don't be controversial, be politically correct, don't offend, don't become aggressive! If banks or big companies, politicians, religious and scientific groups would not lie, cheat, abuse and ignore their customers and constituency, destroy our living arrangements, could we appease beyond being restricted to talking about the weather? Could we save ourselves to take out the big cannons (the picture was shot with an Olympus by the way)?

Has war come to Australia and New Zealand already? Do we need to fight our wars back home, in our front and back yards, even in ourselves? Can we be more tolerant of opposing views based on fair communication and actions? Can we try to understand our opponents' views and arguments at the same time as paying tribute to war veterans and actively serving army corps members protecting Australia and New Zealand? What do we stand for on ANZAC day?

If we can learn from wars, the many victims and huge costs for society might teach us to keep out of power games, but also to speak up about abuse and a lack of respect for reason, common sense and decency. The few mates, who see the ultimate goal in fighting and aggression need to be heard. They might need help and compassion.

Of course, these are my values that I would like to have defended and I am aware that this might insult as much as it is not intended to. I promise I will listen to any story and insight that I might not have, reflect on them and be a responsible Australian on ANZAC day and any other day. Enjoy the day!

Patrik, Brisbane 25/4/2016


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German translation - Deutsche Uebersetzung


Foto: aufgenommen im Maritime Museum, Southbank, Brisbane


ANZAC Tag 2016: Ausser wir vergessen!

Heute erinnern wir uns an die noblen Frauen und Männer, die ihr Leben für Australien verloren haben. Mögen sie in Frieden ruhen. Wir erinnern uns auch an all das Leid, das der Krieg in unser eigenes Land und Leben im Ausland gebracht hat.

Wenn ich könnte, und wenn es Sinn machte, würde ich mich entschuldigen. Ich würde sie zurück bringen und sie ein glückliches Leben leben lassen. Ich würde ihnen helfen, einige Erinnerungen auszulöschen sowie ihnen gleichzeitig zu erlauben, sich und uns zu erinnern. Ueberlebende, geistig und körperlich kranke Menschen und die Menschen, die sich um sie kümmern, brauchen gesellschaftliche Unterstützung. Wir dürfen sie nicht vergessen und wir sollten nicht vergessen, dass sie unter uns sind, mit all ihren Anliegen und ungehörten Botschaften.

Es ist eine ziemlich delikate Angelegenheit, an diesem Tag einen Wunsch nach Frieden und Fernhalten von Krieg zu formulieren. Einige Australier und Neuseeländer, da bin ich mir sicher, wuenschten sich, dass ihr Land und ihre Politiker sich um unsere eigenen Angelegenheiten kümmern wuerde sowie faire und ehrliche Spieler in einer globalen Gesellschaft waeren, z.B. durch die Achtung von Menschenrechten und internationalen Verträgen.

In seinen Memoiren hat Winston Churchill jegliche Appeasement-Politik unwiederbringlich zerstueckelt, ein für allemal. Meiner Meinung nach lag er richtig in der Forderung, dass wir unsere Achtsamkeit nicht vernachlaessigen sollten. Bedeutet das allerdings, dass wir verpflichtet sind, unsere eigene Weltanschauungen und Werte um jeden Preis zu verteidigen, ja sogar aggressiv in die Welt hinauszutragen? Adam Smith - der erste moderne Ökonom (1723-1790) - kommt mit seinem Werk "Wealth of Nations" in den Sinn. Was sind die Kosten des Krieges?

Interessanterweise sind wir uns wahrscheinlich alle einig, dass die Kosten im Zusammenhang mit Krieg nicht nur auf finanzielle Ausgaben eingegrenzt werden koennen. Was ist mit Witwen oder Witwern, Waisen und anderen Opfern des Krieges, ihrem emotionalen und körperlichen Tribut, den sie zahlen?

Natürlich: dies ist der Tag, um der Vorteile der australischen und neuseeländischen Armeekorps zu gedenken. Ist es provokativ am ANZAC Tag an die Kosten zu denken? Ist es ueberhaupt zulaessig, die Gedanken über die Kampffront hinweg zu heben? Sollten unsere Feinde ein Mitspracherecht haben oder in unsere Gedanken aufgenommen werden?

Wenn ja, was würden wir von ihnen hören? Wo sind die Feinde heutzutage? Sind sie wirklich da, wo Landesfuehrer uns glauben machen? Beim Fahren auf australischen Straßen, beim Spazieren auf Fußwegen und sogar von unserem Wohnzimmer aus, werden wir Zeugen von Menschen, die sich nicht um Regeln, Respekt und Anstand kuemmern. Sogar Gesetze werden ignoriert, als ob sie nicht existierten oder als waeren sie einfach missbrauchte Broschüren, von den politischen Führern geschaffen, um ihren privaten Agenden gerecht zu werden.

Uns ist es nicht erlaubt bzw. es ziemt sich nicht, den Argumenten von Leuten zuzuhoeren, von denen uns gesagt wird, sie seien im Irrtum. Abweichende Meinungen zu vertreten ist zum Verbrechen avanciert, mit Argumenten zu diskutieren nutzlos. Jeden Tag sehe und fuehle ich mich mehr durch Regeln gebunden, wie wir kommunizieren sollen. Argumentiere nicht kontrovers, sei politisch korrekt, beleidige nicht, werde nicht aggressiv! Wenn Banken oder großen Unternehmen, Politiker, religiöse und wissenschaftliche Gruppen nicht lügen und betrügen wuerden, sie ihre Kunden und Wähler nicht ignorieren und missbrauchen wuerden, unsere Lebensumstände zerstören, könnten wir dann jenseits von Geschwafel uebers Wetter befriedet werden? Könnten wir es uns sparen, die großen Kanonen herauszufahren (das Bild wurde mit einer Olympus geschossen)?

Hat sich der Krieg bereits nach Australien und Neuseeland selbst verlagert? Müssen wir unsere Kriege wieder zu Hause kämpfen, in unseren Vorgaerten und Hinterhöfen, ja sogar in uns selbst? Können wir auf Basis von fairer Kommunikation und fairen Handlungen toleranter sein gegenueber gegensätzlichen Ansichten? Können wir versuchen, die Ansichten und Argumente unserer Gegner im gleichen Atemzug zu verstehen, wie den Kriegsveteranen und aktiv dienenden Mitgliedern des Armeekorps, die Australien und NEuseeland schuetzen, Tribut zu zollen? Wofür stehen wir am ANZAC Tag?

Wenn wir von Kriegen lernen koennen, dann duerften die vielen Opfer und enormen Kosten für die Gesellschaft uns vielleicht lehren, uns aus Machtspielen heraus zu halten, aber ebenso, uns Gehoer zu verschaffen in Hinblick auf Missbrauch und einen Mangel an Respekt für Vernunft, gesunden Menschenverstand und Anstand. Die wenigen Kollegen, die das ultimative Ziel in Kampf und Aggression sehen, müssen gehört werden. Sie duerften Hilfe und Mitgefühl brauchen.

Natürlich sind dies meine Werte, die ich gerne verteidigt sehen wuerde. Ich bin mir bewusst, dass dies in dem Masse beleidigen koennte, wie wenig dies beabsichtigt ist. Ich verspreche, dass ich mir jede Geschichte und jede mir abhanden gehende Einsicht anhören werde. Ich werde sie mir ueberlegen und ein verantwortlicher Australier sein am ANZAC Tag sowie an jedem anderen Tag. Genießen Sie diesen Tag!

Patrik, Brisbane 25/4/2016

Purple sunset

• Photo Discussion Friday

Purple sunset

PDF Week 17/2016: Canon 7D, 50mm (on 18-200mm lens), 0.3 sec, f5.6, ISO 100.

He was an artistic sunrise that could not be reduced to purple rain. This morning the news that Prince has died is all over the media. When there is such a thing as commercialised music to be refreshing, Prince's music warranted a shower of innovative ideas combined with what we were used to. Some of his music was like a nudibranch for ears, tormenting at times when radio stations didn't know the limits of hammering the colour purple into our brains, smearing the beautiful make-up in that much rain. If not for the reigning of commercial pop culture, I'd be tempted to kiss Prince's musical legacy goodbye. And I know that many of my friends are among the mourners.

The colour purple stands for more than music and motion pictures. It doesn't do justice to reduce today's theme and the legacy of Prince to purple. Nevertheless, I decided to present my picture 'Purple sunset' for Photo Discussion Friday, today. Sadness comes from this photo for me personally. These days, many photographers have started to introduce their photos trying to dispel a curse - disclosing their involvement in the Adobe pact and its use for artistic purposes. It feels ridiculous to even mention it because it serves no purpose other than to ask for recognition of a photo, not even the photographer (who normally is an expert in Photoshop and photo manipulation).

Here I declare what should be obvious and irrelevant (but is not any longer): this photo came out of the camera exactly like this, is totally unedited, totally unmanipulated, no colour correction, no filters, just changed from raw format into jpg and copyright watermark added. The purple is true, the sunset colours real, the focus deliberate - as true as it gets on your computer screen.

'Nature as Art' was the theme for a competition. Let me spare you my interpretation and thoughts why this photo fits that bill for me. It was rejected, not even considered to be looked at properly. It did worse than about 99% of all the competition entries. It must be bad - so bad that it fits my bill of being discussed here. And yet, I love the photo with all its imperfections or maybe because of them. I love that the photo is honest, I love the interaction within a colour scheme, the communication of forms and lines. I love the dreamy blurriness. That is why I deemed it fit to be judged by people who I attest a fine photographic background.

The biggest gift of photography as art, to me, is not the true depiction of reality but to transpire a sense of feelings and to create a mood by which the photographer manages to connect to other people. Some forms of photography are like music. You need to listen to them and feel them. Adobe culture seems to have lost that connection. We only listen to patterns, tunes and rhythms we know and recognise. Like at music concerts, it is often the unbearable loudness and the hysterically cheering and stampeding crowd that quality is measured with. We often block tunes if there is too much of controversy in it. Prince was a star to balance that act and often managed to have the crowd follow his experimental leads.

With respect to photos, more and more, I disconnect with perfect focus, contours and colours. I am bored with the rules of the game, with the same repetitions and phrases that I personally use. To me, it feels like we are in a Neo-Realism in terms of photography. For the Adobe cult, it is not even about careful preservation of a perceived reality any longer. It is moreso about creating the perfectly artificial photo of what us as artists think the rest of the world thinks reality looks like or should look like. Maybe inspired by the Canadian Prime Minister, we could call it a Quantum-Realism, where we don't really know anything about reality but everything about the statistical probability of it and how we can make it work for us.

The many ear worms we hear daily on the radio are not supposed to block our antennas (rhinophores) for the voices around us that are true and real. They might, however, make the pendulum of art swing into some areas and forms that are hard to digest. But I am sure that we will see some deconstruction and reconstruction, some failed and some successful experiments in the future. Prince was a king to make this a rather smooth and pleasant experience. May he rest in peace and away from all the noise.

Patrik, Brisbane, 22/4/2016

Green and red

• Photo Discussion Friday

Green and red

PDF Week 16/2016: Canon 7D, 400mm, 1/30, f5.6, ISO 1250.

A beautiful day came to an end. The sun had already gone down. The horizon still showed the outlines of clouds and mountains. It was too late to take pictures. It was the time when normally night dives start, when life under water shifts, when a different beauty shines through and different rules apply. It is about seeing with your heart, trusting a different reality and feeling as part of it.

Standing on shore with a warm breeze blowing felt like being a spectator rather than being in the scene. My land photography eyes spotted a White-bellied Sea Eagle. They are large birds that can be recognised by their short tails. Often immersing in the sea, long feathers would prevent easy lift-off and a swift return into the air and back to land.



What was the bird doing on that marker buoy? Where were its thoughts travelling? Why would you stare into the slowly blinking light rather than out to the sea? Why would you just sit and watch and not go to work, hunt for food? It must be blinding that electronic light and the life with it! It seemed like the bird was hypnotised, fully absorbed by that magic cylinder of unexplained light.

Move on bird, choose the boat, lift the anchor and sail away protected by the night. Forget the green and the red light. Forget the led screen and make the bay yours! Gosh - I miss scuba diving!

This photo is only slightly edited, no colour added, just lightened up.

Male Mosquito

• Photo Discussion Friday

Male Mosquito
PDF Week 15/2016: Canon 7D, 100mm, 1/250, f25, ISO 100, external flash.

Ever since the outbreak of the ZIKA virus, mosquitos stand on my list to photograph. It is a challenge. They are not exactly rare animals around here. But how do you take photographs?

Quite obviously they are small and fine creatures. Macro photography is difficult at the best of times. My only model that would put health and safetly on the stand for my photography is actually myself.
Mosquitos like me but they don't care about my ambition. They willingly accepted my blood donation on my first try, leaving behind a nasty itch but not even trace of a usable frame. Surely, my body distortions trying to make arms and hands meet were funny to watch; holding still to bribe the sample with my blood, aiming a flash and my camera at short distance. It simply did not work.

Shall I really move to the dark side and cheat with my photography? Should I put some of my blood into a container? Shall I put the animal in the fridge for a while (what an odd thought)? And would that guarantee a good photo? I decided that it is simply not worth it.

Exhausted from this week's nature outing odyssee, ready for a well-deserved shower, food and re-hydration, I spotted a mosquito on our kitchen window curtain. The beautiful animal seemed to wait for a meal - a bit similar to me. Was that my opportunity?




While I got my camera and flash it didn't move. For quite some time, I assumed that it was actually dead and dried out. I don't know much about mosquito physiology. But the front legs tilted up simply look wrong to me. It held still for quite a while and only later flew off.

Did you know that male mosquitos don't bite but feed on pollen and nectar. Blood is only sucked by females who need it to breed their eggs. As you can see in the picture the antennae are lined with fine hairs, called antennal flagellum. It allows the males to hear the finest sounds - the lovely mosquito buzzing we all enjoy - extremely well.

With this photo, I would love to get people thinking about eradication programs. In times of Zika and other mosquito born diseases we often forget about the important functions such creatures have, next to being annoying and dangerous to our health. Lots of birds and other animal feed on them directly or indirectly.

Apart from that, I hope you enjoy a mosquito bite free weekend!

Praying Mantis - Orthodoera ministralis

• Photo Discussion Friday

Blue Eye Praying

PDF Week 14/2016: Canon 7D, 100mm, 1/250, f32, ISO 100, external flash.

So exciting to have a Praying mantis back in our basil garden. It is a different species to the resident individual from last year. They are highly welcome since we have lots of Grass hoppers and all sorts of other insects who enjoy and devour most of our garden plants.

This Praying Mantis was found close to a beautiful Assassin Bee Eater. Would they stalk each other? Both of them are exquisite hunters quite high in the food chain. Assassin Bee Eaters jump their prey and suck it out injecting a digestive venom that can hurt humans quite badly.

Suddenly, I noticed a large grasshopper in the equation. Despite having a perfect angle I put my camera away, trying to watch the spectacle without interfering. It was not going to be a love triangle for sure. But who would end up having or being a meal?

The Grasshopper jumped within 3cm (an inch) of the Praying Mantis. The mantis stared for an eternity and finally launched a half hearted attack on the Grasshopper. It missed. All the animals went their unharmed ways for now.


Picture: Bee Killer Assassin-Bug

The Praying Mantis seemed to pose for me a bit later. For  a few seconds it even opened up and moved its front legs away from its body. To my surprise, a blue spot became visible on the inside of those spring loaded, sharp catching tools. Those blue 'eyes' must be the last thing, prey will look at before being killed and eaten.

The Praying Mantis looks like Orthodoera novaezealandiae but since the photo was taken in Brisbane, I assume it is relatively safe to say that the blue eyes identify it as Orthodoera ministralis.

Photographing animals that rely on camouflage and blend into their background is always quite tricky. When the animal opened its front legs, the yellow thighs and the blue spots simply took me by surprise. They complement the green background and getting the (real) eye contact is an added bonus.

Being aware that we already had a Praying Mantis in Photo Discussion Friday this year...I simply can hardly get enough of them. 

Enjoy!

P.S. The original of this article can be found at http://www.goodpicturesonline.com/Blog/PhotoDiscussionFriday/2016-Week-14