The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
That’s its real English name. Or perhaps you prefer the Latin name, Phrynarachne katoi. Anyway, I saw this a few weeks ago. They are very confident of their ability to repel with their mimicry, as they pose on green leaves like this one and don’t move when stimulated by a photographer.
Tonal adjustments in LR, Denoise and Shadows/Highlights in PS. Small amount of cropping.
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I always find bird dropping mimics fascinating. I love the detail here and you have excellent diffusion (something I have yet to master).
We recently photographed a spider in Borneo that at first glance appeared to be a guano mimic, but when we stepped away, it actually arched itself upward, into what seemed like more of an aggressive stance. I found it odd that this only occurred when we moved away (i.e., it wasn’t being aggressive toward us, preferring to lay flat like this one when we were close)… until we found small white flowers that looked almost exactly like that spider in the pose. Maybe I’ll have to share when I get a chance.
What a fascinating creature! And very nicely photographed. You found a good angle – there is something about a spider staring directly at the viewer to get their attention…
Beautiful detail, Mike. With this level of detail the resemblance to a bird dropping kind of goes away, but I can see it would work at a reasonable distance. You didn’t by chance take a distant shot for comparison?
That’s a great example of a creature using disguise to both repel and attract, @Max_Waugh. Thank you for your comments - I use an AK diffuser, which came by post from Florida in under a week. It folds flat which is great for travel.
Yes, especially when all 8 eyes are doing it! I’m hoping to attach the TCX2 to my macro set-up to get some really close-up images of things like this cooperative spider. This article explains how it can be done: Micro 4/3 - Using the MC-20 with the Olympus 60mm macro lens | Cameraderie. If anyone has time to check out the writer’s website gallery, he produces amazing macros.
No, Dennis, no distant shot on this occasion, but as this spider is so stationary I’ll try and get a distant shot next time I see one. For a bird flying around it would definitely be deceptive.
The smaller image does not do this image any justice. When expanded on the “bigger view” it absolutely is quite astonishing. From his tiny wee eyes to the little prickly hair. Wonderfully seen, captured and processed.
I do something similar: Canon RF (mirrorless) body > adapter to older EF lenses > EF TC 2X > 16mm extension tube > older EF mount 100mm lens. That costs some light, infinity focus is reduced to a few feet or less, DOF is close to a negative number and it gets awkward to support as the tripod foot on the lens is not good.
Canon used to make a super-macro lens that went from 1X to 5X. Doesn’t look like it is still available but there is a 2x to 5x manual macro that looks interesting, and at $250 (!) it may be worth playing with. It comes in several mounts.
Mike, I have been slow getting to this one. Just been busy. I started to comment the other day but got pulled away with other duties. Excellent capture with wonderful details. I never knew that there was a spider called “Bird-dropping Crab Spider”, so that is a new one for me. Well done!
