Stick Insect Pictures

While I was taking a break and chatting away with girls at Banteay Kdei temple, someone pointed out a stick insect that was sitting there idly on the side of the garbage bin and started taking pictures of it. I didn’t even see it it was so well camouflaged. Since I haven’t seen one before with my own eyes, I also didn’t realize they were this big.

Photo: Do Birds Feed on Stick Insects or Who Is Their Adversary (Aside from Humans)?
Photo: Do Birds Feed on Stick Insects or Who Is Their Adversary (Aside from Humans)?

This stick insect was just sitting there, minding his own business and didn’t get disturbed not even after we’ve taken notice of him and caused commotion trying to take picture of it. Just as it was with Praying Mantis, I didn’t have good lens to take a decent picture of it, but since stick insects are not particularly known for being vicious predators, I was not as apprehensive trying to get closer to it.

Photo: Very Stationary, Taking Pictures of Stick Insects is Easy
Photo: Very Stationary, Taking Pictures of Stick Insects is Easy

Its overall size also made it easier to compose the picture. It was yet another first for me in one day. The sun was killing me, the touts were driving me insane, but the wildlife made up for it. Stick insects for the win.

Below is a small photo gallery of stick insect pictures:

Taking Photos of Gnarly Bugs in Cambodia

It’s no secret that South East Asia is home to some pretty freaky creatures. For someone like me, who came to Cambodia from Canada, this instant exposure to leagues of tropical insects felt overwhelmingly exciting. Seeing cockroaches three times the size of those from back home made me realize that random encounters with oversized, gnarly bugs will be a daily reality from now on. And so it was.

This Beetle Was Walking Down The Sidewalk in Siem Reap in Cambodia
This Beetle Was Walking Down The Sidewalk in Siem Reap in Cambodia

Even though I was the only one around who got excited and pulled out the camera each time I spotted a gnarly bug, it bugged (no pun intended) me not. Because of extreme heat, I could not carry all of my photography gear with me all the time as it would require carrying heavy bag on my back. One sweats excessively even without extra weight. Nevermind the fact that excessive heat wears you out like you wouldn’t believe. Heavy bags would make this struggle far more challenging.

Looking Big Gnarly Bug in the Face with Wide Angle Lens
Looking Big Gnarly Bug in the Face with Wide Angle Lens

And as Murphy’s Law would have it, I have never had my fast telephoto lens on me when an interesting bug crossed my path. That’s always a bummer. It’s near impossible to take pictures of bugs with a wide angle lens. You can only do it if the bug end fly within your vicinity and doesn’t take off again when you show your camera right in its face, literally just inches from its antennae.

This Beetle Was About 2 Inches in Size - Huge
This Beetle Was About 2 Inches in Size - Huge

Some occasional opportunities do arise though. The beetle in these pictures was over 2 inches long and was pacing its way alongside the pathway lining the east bank of the Siem Reap River in Cambodian Siem Reap. Because it didn’t seem to heed my presence and because I really didn’t care about the locals standing nearby thinking I must be weird for taking pictures of what’s to them a pretty average beetle, I did shove my wide angle lens in its face and snapped a few. My initiation to taking photos of gnarly bugs in Cambodia has been successfully concluded. Ability to handle the heat was much tougher to handle.

Photo of Gnarly Bug Just Walking the Streets of Siem Reap
Photo of Gnarly Bug Just Walking the Streets of Siem Reap