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Spinning the Web
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Spinning the Web

by Luke Ormand

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted July 10, 2010217 views7 comments
This is another shot from the mountains of Northern El Salvador. I found this spider while the car was broken down (what can I say, I made good use of the time!). Let me tell you, as happy as I was for La Policia to show up and help us get back on the road, I was a little bummed that I couldn't keep shooting. (By the way, it's really hard to hold still for 1/60s when it's 90* out and you have been crammed in the backseat of a truck for the last 3 hours.)

Nikon D300s 105mm f/2.8 VR + 1.7X TC HH
f/13
1/60s
ISO 320
On-board flash (you gotta improvise when on the side of the road!)

Full Frame, sharpened subject, noise reduction on BG, minor clone to tone down highlights

- Luke

Comments

7 comments
Comment posted by Balakumar Kaushik on July 11, 2010 at 4:16 AM
Wow, a lovely looking spider. Image does not look too sharp but as you already said, you were shooting hand-held and in difficult circumstances.
:toast:
Registered on January 4, 2008, 98 Posts, 1403 Comments
Comment posted by June Marie Wingert on July 11, 2010 at 7:47 AM
Unusual shot and neat looking spider, you captured the moment, thats what its all about.
I like the pic and the wise use of time. well done.
Registered on July 1, 2010, 8 Posts, 137 Comments
Comment posted by John Kerr on July 11, 2010 at 8:33 AM
This is great the way the web frames the spider. I also think it's a great effect to have the web coming out of the spider the way you have captured it. I find spiders tough to photograph and get full detail throught their entire body. You almost nailed it here except for a little lose in the back legs and the rear of the spider, but that's understandable shooting HH at those specs of F/13 @1/60s. Excellant job under those circumstances. :toast:
Registered on October 28, 2009, 111 Posts, 1070 Comments
Comment posted by Monica Siri on July 11, 2010 at 10:41 AM
Great capture, Luke. I really like to see the web coming out from the spider's body. Very nice work in difficult condition. :toast:
Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments
Comment posted by jamie pringle on July 11, 2010 at 12:22 PM
Hand holding a 105 with a 1.7TC must be a real challenge. As stated, the framing of the web and the silk coming from the abdomen make this a very interesting photograph. What I always find difficult about spiders is getting the camera sensor parallel to their body to maximize dof (usually requiring hand held shots). I think you got a good shot considering the situation :toast:
Registered on August 10, 2005, 323 Posts, 1216 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on July 11, 2010 at 10:17 PM
Luke:
Very interesting comp of the spider at work. Spider on web is difficult to capture as the slightest wind will cause movement and you have done well here with HH.
Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Moats on July 12, 2010 at 9:27 PM
Hey Luke, good details, position and BG. :toast:
Registered on October 20, 2004, 892 Posts, 6324 Comments