The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
More Arachtober goodness!
Took this today. Whenever we take the dock out for the winter, we discover many spiders because many live on it. Most are like these, Dolomedes tenebrosus, but I did see a gorgeous little Dolomedes scriptus as well. Both are known as fishing spiders and are found near fast moving water a lot of the time.
This is a female and about half-grown (1 1/4 inches from front to back with those legs). The good thing about them at this time of year is that the cool temps keep them from being too energetic. By this time last year we’d had our first dusting of snow, but this year none so far.
I moved her off the dock frame to some leaves where she could find some food and maybe a nice winter nest.
Specific Feedback
Basically this is just a portrait, but I hope it’s at least flattering. Look at those eyes!
Technical Details
Camera on the ground as was the photographer
Lr for most of the heavy work including a nice S-curve for contrast, some texture, sharpening & nr. Photoshop for some Gen Fill and Remove Tool magic. Ended up cropping a bit to center her since she seems to want it.
Yes, the eyes always seem to make a spider, and you did well with the focus on them here. Personal taste, but I’d prefer more DOF in this case, therefore a higher f number and/or (more) flash. I’d also clone out the white spot on the right, again just personal. All-brown shots always look good in autumn, don’t they? Gorgeous fishing spider.
Thanks @Mike_Friel & @Diane_Miller for checking out my girl here. Yes, I could have stopped down more couldn’t I? Darn. Maybe next time I’ll have the presence of mind. I don’t think she was going anywhere and was quite patient and relaxed.
Yes, some spiders do fish in a sense. These are nursery web spiders which means they don’t use a web to catch prey, but for hiding and raising babies. When they hunt they ambush and chase. They have specially adapted hairs on their feet to stabilize them on the surface tension of water and will take insects and basically anything small enough for them to handle - small fish, too, but only the biggest spiders can grab those. They are different from diving bell spiders in that they don’t submerge often if at all, and live on land.
Great capture, Kris. The composition was well done. I like the focus on the subject head as it draws the viewer to the subject. I see how dof could expand the focus, but wouldn’t need much more.
Thanks @Dennis_Plank & @Dean_Salman - glad you found it engaging even if it could use a bit more DOF. I will have to be more mindful when I have such willing subjects.
Kris, that was a good idea to move her from the dock to a nice brown leaf which makes a nice setting for her. I know what you mean about after thought, on f-stops and things like that. Even when I am not pushed I realize later I should have done something different. I try to make a mental note so I don’t do a repeat. Really nice look at this spider.
