[Praying mantis and fly]. From the portfolio: A Sham Saint or the story of the sad end of a Blue Bottle Fly

item details

Name[Praying mantis and fly]. From the portfolio: A Sham Saint or the story of the sad end of a Blue Bottle Fly

ProductionRichard Sharell; photographer; May 1940; New Zealand

Classificationblack-and-white prints, gelatin silver prints, black-and-white photographs

Materialsphotographic gelatin, silver, photographic paper, cardboard

Materials Summaryblack and white photograph, gelatin silver print

Techniquesblack-and-white photography

DimensionsImage: 78mm (height), 103mm (length)

Registration NumberO.033096

Overview

Number four in a series of seven. A close-up view of a praying mantis eating a fly.

Caption: 'Quickly jerking forward its grasping-arms the praying Mantis seizes the fly with never failing certainty. From these clutches there is no escape. The helpless victim is raised towards the mouth and remorselessly eaten'.