Spider portraits are always fun, but action shots are harder. I found this furrow orb weaver (male - just look at those boxing glove pedi palps!) by the dock and took several traditional shots (see below), but spiders are rarely still and finding a way to show them doing stuff is more what you’ll get. It’s harder though and so I wonder about this shot … I like how it shows how carefully and easily they can get around - they make their own roads! The precise way he has to place his feet is interesting to watch. At least to me. I spent quite a time with this little one (with legs relaxed about the size of an American nickel). This species is known to hang out by bodies of water with sometimes dense clusters of webs.
VERY cool! Both shots show the precise use of his legs very well. I don’t think you could ever get everything in focus with a live spider so the OOF legs don’t bother me at all – in fact they contribute to the impression of how small he is.
Really good job getting sharp focus in what sounds like an awkward position. I don’t mind focus in either photo. I like how the colors stand out esp. in first one.
Hi Kristen, quite cool to see how this guy gets around on a single strand. Nice behavioral capture. The spider stands out well also from that smooth background. A fine image. I like the head on shot too.
Both super shots, @Kris_Smith. I prefer the second one (Sitting on the Dock of the Bay?) - the face may be partially hidden but the eyes and boxing gloves are everything, especially with the lovely blurry surround. An open aperture works much better for this one - whereas, in the first one, with a higher f number we could have a bit more leg focus which would please me (but then you’d maybe lose that good bg).
